Installing Win XP over Win 7 Acer startup laptop

[Smudger85]

I have tried to format a partition with windows 7 on the C: drive ,( I

am trying to install XP on the Laptop which does not have a CD drive so

I have to use an external one) and I am told that I cannot format a

partition with an O/S on it. Can you help,. I am getting the errors

that are posted.
I loaded Win XP and it started to install, during installation I was

told that these where missing

cmnicfg.xml
ipcfg.xml
osinfo.xml Also i386: Which I think is the
potscfg.xml main part of the O/S
pppcfg.xml

So in the end I got a Fatal error notice. I cannot get back to

the old partition to manage it because the XP install deleted the Win7

O/S. so I am unable to shrink the partition with the old Win 7 on it.

Thanks Johnny

 

[USAFRet]

1. You can't format a drive or partition from inside the currently running OS. That is like asking it to cut its own head off.

2. Why XP? That has been off any support and updates for almost a year. At the very most, I'd run that XP in a VM, NOT as the primary OS on an externally connected machine

3. Are there XP drivers for that machine?

4. Without a CD drive, how are you trying to install it?

 

[Smudger85]

1 Can I format partition through DOS

2 I have Win 8 But I like Win XP so I would like to hang on to it

3 I have a DVD with some of the drives on for the XP

4 Are you saying I cannot install DVD through a external DVD Rom Drive ?

 

[USAFRet]

4. Maybe. What happens when you try?

3. XP drivers for that specific hardware?

2. There is no way I would run XP as a primary, internet facing system. At most, inside of a VM.

1. The install routine should allow the option to format the drive. Or boot from something like Hirens BootCD. Format from that.

But again....it is time to move off XP.

 

[Smudger85]

4. Maybe. What happens when you try?

3. XP drivers for that specific hardware?

2. There is no way I would run XP as a primary, internet facing system. At most, inside of a VM.

1. The install routine should allow the option to format the drive. Or boot from something like Hirens BootCD. Format from that.

But again....it is time to move off XP.

4 Win XP will install, telling me those items listed in original Question did not install.

3 I have not installed driver because fatal error stops Win XP from finishing instalment