I run a laptop Advent 8117 duo T2080 1.73 Ghz 1meg ram installed with Vista premium.
What i am trying to do is install Win XP Pro as a dual boot system, I have partitioned
the HDD 10 gig formatted the partition using NTFS named it Win XP.
My laptop does not have a floppy drive, The BIOS is set 1st boot CD-rom then HDD.
Install XP disk started PC. Ignored the cd-rom booted Vista from the HDD.
Installed USB floppy, changed BIOS again 1st boot USB, then cd-rom.
Started to install win XP using microsoft floppies, 1,2,3,4,5, all installed okay, floppy No 6
error message (aborted install may damage windows).
So that is as far as i got, and i confess i'm stuck.
Any body out their can help would appleciate it, Start thinking lads,

grimmjimm

Here are some details on that laptop:

http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/advent/laptop/8117.htm

I can find no direct support from the manufacturer.

The laptop already has a recovery partition.

From your error post floppies I will posit that there is a mechanism in place to prevent the addition or change of operating system.

XP will try to overwrite the Vista boot sector and Vista (on your machine) may have the ability to defend itself.

That would be my guess based on the error received.

Have you tried booting another bootable CD? Say GParted or Ubuntu or any Live CD?

I hav'nt tried using another OS boot disk but i will, The laptop is retailed by Dixons. and the BIOS
seems to have their name on it ,basically the laptop although new is a piece of junk.

grimmjimm