Help: Windows XP fresh install - will not boot

[Tuffkix]

Alright, I just want to say thank you in advance for helping me.

So my PC was working fine, I had a 40 gig hard drive in it, and finally had enough spending money to go buy a new 320 gig SATA hard drive.

I installed the SATA hard drive, and debated whether to go XP or Vista, and in the end decided Vista because I had enough space to use Vista restore and stuff. So I installed Vista fine, my hard drive worked and everything, and about a month later Vista broke on me (for reasons which do not matter) and I decided to go to XP (Pro w/SP2).

So I installed XP, and got to the point where it starts copying system files. And then it copied all the files, and goes to restart itself. (I leave the XP install CD in after it restarts) and when it says "Press any button to boot off CD" I get about 4 little . . . . and then I get little, colored squares on my screen, approximately 6 of them, just randomly placed on the screen. So its a black screen, with "Press any button to boot off CD . . . . . _ " and a purple square here, and a green one there, and a blue one over there, just strange.

So I took the CD out, tried to restart it again, and when its supposed to boot off my hard drive, I just get a flashing cursor, I tried and tried, probably 10 times, and finally gave up and installed Ubuntu.

About a week later I gave up trying to learn a new OS, and tried to install XP again, still doesnt work, yet I can install Vista perfectly fine.

So, my problem is that I cannot install XP, because after it finishes copying files to my HDD and restarts, it wont boot. If anyone could tell me or give me clues as to why it is doing this, or what I can do to fix it, please do, help is appreciated. Thanks!!

Specs:
Mobo: Asus A8V-XE
Video: 6800 GS
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (2.0 ghz)
RAM: 1 gig Gskill PC3200
HDD: 320 gig Seagate SATA

Thats all I can think of at the moment. Please help. Thanks!

*edit* Please post relevant information that will help me fix the problem, and not tell me what OS to use. Thanks!

[Ehstii]

stick with vista?

[Cold Storm]

Have you tried doing this.... making one hdd just for xp and use the other as a slave. You have tried putting xp on both hdds?

[Tuffkix]

No, that doesnt work. My PSU doesnt have enough power connectors for both hard drives.

[Cold Storm]

then what are you system specs? here http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp is a website that can help with your psu problem... and if so please tell me what your's say

[keakar]

simple

do this:

use vista cd to reformat and reinstall vista

after reformating the computer will start to reboot

at this time remove the vista cd and replace it with your xp cd

its a thing windows has so you cant go back to an older operating system

follow these steps and you should have no problems

[Cold Storm]

I haven't had a problem with going back and forth... Is that because I reformat my HDD?

[Tuffkix]

Keaker, are you positive? Thats why I get blocks of color on my screen when trying to boot?

Ill try it later tonight, but are you for the most part positive that it will fix my problem?

And I reformat my HDD too, but I have it partitioned and I only reformat the partition that had Windows on it, if that affects it.

Thanks again!

[Tuffkix]

Um...yeah, so this didnt work.

I had the same result, anybody have any other ideas?

Do I have to install a SATA driver when I go to boot up Windows XP?

It sees the drive and everything and installs to it, but Im just wondering.

Please help!