HP dv2000z; XP install won't recognize partition

Hi. I have an HP Pavilion DV2000z; exact model DV2310us. Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit came preinstalled. I am trying to install Windows XP (boot disc with no service packs) in a dual-boot configuration with Vista. The size of the drive is 160GB using NTFS. Besides the Vista partition, I have a 6.24GB recovery partition (at the end). I used a partitioner, GPartD, to shrink the Vista partition to 30GB and make a new primary NTFS partition (55GB). When the computer boots off the XP disc, it sees the drive, but it only sees one partition, with no free space. It lists the partition as:

131070 MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on atapi [MBR]
C: Partition1 [Unknown] 131072 MB ( 131071 MB free)

I have tried configuring the partitions in several different ways. I have tried Vista + unpartitioned free space + Recovery. I have also tried having Vista + XP partition + free space + recovery. It makes no difference, XP ALWAYS detects the one unknown partition. By the way, when I go into Vista's partition manager, it also sees the same partitions as GPartD (Vista partition + XP partition + free space + recovery).

I have followed the standard procedure for installing XP after Vista. The step of: "Here XP should detect the free space or other partition" is what's not working for me. I have an "nVidia nForce430/410 Serial ATA Controller" hooked to (is seen as) a "Samsung HM160JI SCSI Disk Device." There is no option in the BIOS for "Legacy ATA" or anything like that. I have tried using nLite (using this article http://news.softpedia.com/news/Install-Windows-XP-On-SATA-Without-a-Floppy-F6-47807.shtml) to make a streamlined XP disc containing the drivers. Tried couple of different drivers from nVidia and HP. No difference.

I would really like to get this to work. I am prepared to wipe my Vista, but I want to be able to reinstall it using the recovery DVDs I made. However, it probably must go back onto the first partition in order to be drive C and have all the preinstalled stuff work.

I am desparately trying to find step-by-step instructions to install Vista and XP concurrently on this machine.

thanks for any help you guys can give...........Joseph

 

I find it is usually best to install XP first.

 

You need WinXP with SP2 integrated. There's various ways to slipstream SP2 into an older WinXP CD but the easiest is to use nLite. You might want to head over to http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/ and integrate his Post-SP2 Update Pack afterwards and then burn your updated CD.

There's no need for any additional drivers with these AMD notebooks, just SP2. Ideally you'll start with a plain HP WinXP so it'll have HP's licensing integrated or you could construct a HP disc using the OEMBIOS Method.

 

YES!!! It worked! WinXP with SP2 integrated recognizes my partitions!! thanks a lot for the help brianstretch!