Install XP from Toshiba Recovery Disk to D:???

Perhaps an odd problem, but I need help:

I have a Toshiba A205 that came with Vista installed. I’ve obtained a set of XP Toshiba recovery disks for this computer which I want to install in a dual-boot arrangement. I know how to set up the dual-boot but I am afraid to run the XP recovery disk for fear it will over-write my Vista partition (C instead of installing to the D: partition I’ve set up.

Does anyone know how to use a Toshiba recovery disc to install to an alternate partition? Thanks!

I think the recovery disk will disregard the partition and overwrite vista unless you first make the C: drive partition invisible (non-bootable). Then you may be able to run teh recovery disk to the D: drive. Then....re-enable your C: partition.

Beware...this idea is messy because your MFT is getting re-written 3-4 times

Thanks for the insight. But while I have no idea what a MFT is, I can follow directions well. Can you help me do what needs to be done?

Thanks!

The MFt is the Master File Table. I should have sais MSB, Master Boot Record. This is the information your puta uses to boot properly.

Do you have a 3rd party partitioning program?

To start, you will need to make your C: drive non-bootable, and make the D: partition bootable (not sure what program you are using, so i can't specify the actual steps. Are these two partions going to be on separate drives (please say yes)?

In every case I have seen (and I have seen a few) the recovery disk only restores to the C partition. If that were not enough, it assumes that the partition it is restoring to, is the same size as the original C partition when it was shipped from the factory. If your alternate drive is not the same size as the original C drive, you may have other problems.

Hi, I am trying to do a fresh install on a 2nd partition from a Toshiba Recovery CD. I partitioned my hard drive with Gparted, but I likewise need to make the first XP partition invisible or non-bootable so I can use the Toshiba Recovery CD to install on the 2nd partition. Is this possible? I can choose the flag in Gparted to "hidden," but I am worried, because if Gparted can see the partition, then perhaps the Toshiba Recovery CD can too. Also, I have several other partitions running Linux, and for some reason Gparted won't allow me to select the flag hidden - which wouldn't be the end of the world as I recently installed those linux partitions, but most importantly, I don't want to loose my primary XP partition.

My Toshiba Recovery CD also has Office and Works on it, so I want to at least use this to dual boot 2 versions of Windows XP on the same hard drive.

My specs are:
Toshiba Satellite A45-S120
1.26 Ghz Celeron
1.256 GB Ram
40 GB HD