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I use a HP Pavilion slimline s5108UK model, with a 320GB disc with an OEM Vista OS. I want to partition this disc to install Windows XP. This disc is already partitioned , it includes a backup. Disc is therefore partitioned as C (Vista) D XP, H (backup). Despite my best efforts I cannot get XP to load despite setting BIOS to load from CD. I cannot get a dual boot so I can change between partitions.
HP do not seem interested and seem to indicate that their systems will not support XP. Microsoft help does not work either.
Very grateful for any help. Many thanks. Still Stymied.

You should always install Microsoft Operating Systems in order from oldest to newest. Your best bet is to erase the lot and install XP and then install Vista.

dave

PS. I know Vista is not liked by many but why a backward step?
Why not upgrade to Win7 which you can do from Vista.

Thanks. I suspected that this may be the case. I am getting 7 shortly.
Have decided to do without XP as I can do without odler software that I wanted to use on it.
However would still like to use the partitions for different things like music on one, photos on another but have no idea how to achieve this. Everything seem to go on the "main" partition.
Grateful for past and future help. G

The first thing to do is to format the D:/ partition to get rid of anything on it such a the failed XP install.

Go to Start > My Computer, right click the D:/ drive icon.
In the drop down menu select 'Format'.
In the Format window select NTFS Format and place a tick in the Quick Format box, click Start.

Once formatted you can use the partition to store what you want on it.

Instructions with pictures on how to transfer files and folders in Vista to another partition:

http://www.vista4beginners.com/Move-use ... -partition

Hope that helps.

dave

Try this

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_vist ... _guide.htm

Many many thanks. I will follow these tips up shortly and report back. G

Some success thanks to the tips received. Sods law seem to be working as I now cannot move my desktop items around the screen and then save this setting. Downloaded a programme which is not working at present. However as Windows 7 is due to put on the computer soon I am not over fussed as I think it will need to to a "clean" install which will no doubt erase settings. Thanks again for all the help. Gene

If your planning to install windows7 it should give you an option when installing as long as you dont wipe the drive so when install completes your old files are saved, you access them as old files or somthing same with vista when u reinstall.

Many thanks, will watch out for this when I install windows7. Solved the desktop problem, just right clicking the wrong place. G. Thanks again.