Windows 7 Trouble Installing Windows XP Over Newer OS: Need Help Reformatting Hard Drive

I hate these new operating systems. While trying to install xp, my computer said that i couldnt because i have a newer operating system. So i went to reformat my hardrive, only to have my computer tell me that i couldnt because that is the drive that has my operating system on it and the online guide tells me to simply insert the older install disc and install the os, but that is how i got the first result. please help me.

 

[cybercore]

Welcome to the forums.

If you format the partition, you shouldn't experience problems installing XP on it.

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[Basilo]

But it wont let me format it, as i said.

 

[fjgold]

Download Gparted and burn the .iso to a CD.
Run Gparted by booting the CD (click enter at the three dialogs during startup of Gparted to select the defaults) and use Gparted
to format the drive.

GParted -- Welcome

Gparted will format NTFS and Fat 32.
You may need to change the boot order in BIOS to boot the CD.

 

[cybercore]

So i went to reformat my hardrive, only to have my computer tell me that i couldnt because that is the drive that has my operating system on it

This happens because you are probably trying to format it manually. Boot your XP installation CD, and format the partition, as shown in this tutorial :

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Step 1. Boot XP CD

Step 2. When you see the setup menu, press Enter to set up XP

Step 3. Press D to delete the partition

Step 4. Select the deleted partition (unallocated space) and press Enter

Step 5. Choose Format the partition using NTFS, quick or long

Step 6. Follow further on-screen instructions and let the system install


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Do you have XP installation CD (with the boot sector on it)?