There is no 'upgrade' path from Vista to XP. Any installation of XP will
there will be a 'clean' install [and not an upgrade to a currently installed
operating system].

Yes, you can install froom the XP CD-ROM:

Boot from the CD ROM, then start to go through the steps to *install* XP.
Don't bother with the 'Recovery Console' - even if you simply want to
re-partition at this point - as it won't work.

If you simply want to re-partition, boot from the XP CD-ROM go through the
motions of an XP install - you will get to the part of the install routine
where you can (re)parition the harddrives - do as you will e.g. remove all
partitions - then if you want to stop there, use F3 to exit out of the
install routine instead of continuing on.

I hope you understand that reformatting / repartitioning wipes all the data
from the drive partition. So if you have anything you ever want to see again
make sure to do a backup to somewhere off the drive beforehand.

Saucy


"Joe" <Joe@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:67585561-6736-412C-9980-9065388167B2@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
>I am currently running on Vista reduced functionality.
>
> I have tried to boot off of XP disc and it checks for compatability and
> either states there's an error or stops. It never gives me the option to
> partition a drive.
>
> When I log onto the reduced fucntionality mode, and access the XP
> installation disc, click setup in the disc's folder: either the Install
> Windows XP link is not highlilghted, or when it is, i click Install
> Windows
> XP, it states:
>
> set up cannot continue because the version of windows on your computer is
> newer than the version on the CD. The help link which checks for a
> solution
> states that their is no solution and doesn't bring me to a microsoft url
> for
> help.
>
> I have put the installation disc into another computer and it works fine.
>
> Please let me know if you know what's going on here.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Joe Sal
>
>[/color]