Installing XP

[Madmax2001]

I am installing XP on a Dell Laptop with intercahngeable cd and floppy drive bays. It is running 98 at the moment and when I insert the XP disc is windows it says that c:/windows/system/version.dll is corrupt and to restart winodws. This however does not change the problem, therefore I cannot install XP from windows. I then tried using the boot disks for XP and swapping the bay for the CD drive but then no cd drive is found. I then tried booting in DOS mode and changing to the CD drive letter. However no cd drive is found until windows is loaded. Only c: and a: can be found. Has anyone any ideas as to how I can install XP in this situation. Thanks

[HAL9000]

Boot from the CD... you don't need to boot from floppy.

[Anjie]

Curious Hal...doesn't he have to make sure it is set to boot from the CD Rom in the bios before it will boot from the XP CD. I had a little difficulty even then as it kept taking me straight into the Windows setup and would not allow me to reformat for a clean install, only install a second copy of the OS. Finally someone mentioned that I should try hitting any key as it was booting up from the CD Rom and this worked. It then took me into a set up where I was allowed to partion and format my drive and install XP on a clean drive. Note: had to watch the screen very close as it only flashed booting from CD Rom very, very breifly.