How to dual boot on XP?

[xfade]

Hi,

I need help to make my laptop dual boot. Here's what i've tried so far...

I installed partition magic and boot magic, created the small fat32 partition for boot magic, then the larger partition for the second boot. When I restarted the computer, I got a blue screen which I just couldn't get around. So I did a clean install from the xp recovery cd.

Ok so now i'm back to square one! How do I get access to fdisk to create the required partitions? When I boot from the recovery cd, it doesn't give me any options to partition....it just goes ahead and formats the disk then installs xp!! How can I get to the msdos prompt?

This is driving me nuts, and help is appreciated. Thanks!!

p.s my laptop doesn't have a floppy disk

[doctorgonzo]

What are you trying to dual boot with? You have Windows XP, what other OS?

[bailey]

what ever os you want to install, must be set up first, and then xp installed second, that is the normal method for dual booting, useing a recover cd for xp will not allow you to install anything for dual booting, you will need a full version of each os to set up the dual boot. also you need the hard drive partationed in two drives/partitions .

[xfade]

So I cant use the Recovery cd to dual boot????!!!!!!

I don't know why I bother!!!

Thanks anyway

p.s. If I use someone elses copy of xp, but use my own serial number, is that allowed??

[bailey]

I don't think you can do that eather.