You use Windows Vista or Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) 2.0 to create partitions on a hard disk. After you do this, you try to install Microsoft Windows XP on the hard disk without using Windows XP to repartition the disk. In this case, you cannot install Windows XP successfully.

Windows XP Setup successfully completes the text-mode part of Setup. However, after the text-mode part of Setup is complete, the computer cannot be restarted successfully to enter the graphical user interface (GUI)-mode part of Setup. Additionally, the computer may stop responding. You may receive an error message that resembles one of the following: When you deploy a Windows XP Professional sysprep image to a system, the system may continuously restart after you start the system for the first time. If you press F8 and then disable the "automatic restart" option, you may receive the following Stop error: Additionally, if you view the disk in Windows PE 2.0, the disk may appear as "raw."

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This problem occurs because Windows Vista and Windows PE 2.0 create disk partitions differently than Windows XP. This problem occurs only on computers that use certain BIOS firmware.

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To work around this problem, use one of the following methods.

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Method 1: Disable the "automatic disk translation" feature

Before you partition the hard disk, you can disable the "automatic disk translation" feature in the BIOS configuration. For example, you can change the disk type from Auto to Large.

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Method 2: Modify the registry to use the Windows XP disk partition procedure

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Before you partition the hard disk in Windows Vista or in Windows PE 2.0, modify the registry so that the partitions are created by using the Windows XP procedure. To do this, follow these steps:

1.	Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2.	Locate and then click the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\VDS\ALIGNMENT
3.	On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD value.
4.	Type LessThan4GB as the new entry name.
5.	Right-click LessThan4GB, and then click Modify.
6.	In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, click Decimal.
7.	In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
8.	Repeat steps 3 through 7 to add the following registry entries: • Between4_8GB • Between8_32GB • GreaterThan32GB Each registry entry must have a value of 0.
9.	Exit Registry Editor.

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MORE INFORMATION

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To resolve this problem, you must integrate the hotfix into the source files of the Windows XP installation before you install Windows XP. For more information about how to integrate this hotfix into the Windows installation source files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

This hotfix requires Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).

Restart requirement

You have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows XP with SP2, x86-based versions

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform
Ntoskrnl.exe	5.1.2600.3086	2,182,144	19-Feb-2007	10:44	x86

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Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the"Applies to" section.

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