>>>How can vista block the setup program when vista is even running? I have done this successfully in the past. I installed the vista ctp on my old laptop to see if it would run on it. No problems, it ran fine on a 7 year old laptop. Then I simply reinstalled xp. Again no trouble. You must be doing something wrong.
>>>
>>>1. Boot from the xp cd
>>>2. delete the partition and reformat
>>>3. reinstall xp.
>>
>>I think as like you but no success... :(
>>
>>XP install crashes after delete and reformat... :(
>Have you checked for hidden re-install partitions ?
>Cleaned the partition table as well ?
>
>HTH
>
>thomas

Thank you both. I sendback that pc to it's producer. it's their problem anymore... B-)