Windows 7 - help! Dual boot Windows 7 and XP issues

hi , please help me
i have a fresh installation of windows 7...then i try to instal xp.when windows xp requires first restart at boot it says error loading operating systems.then i cant do nothing , i cant even start windows 7 . the only way is to instal windows 7 (again)on local disk D and then to delete it when i finaly startup. this was the first time.. now i tried again and this time its the same just there is no error loading operating system message...only a black screen...
should i try to install xp first... i was thinking about when i were installing xp it asked me to format ( ntsf(quick) , ntfs or leave current settings (or something like that)) i selected the last one...does this have anything to do with it since i formated it on windows 7 before. and i saw you wrote that it might be a bad copy of xp , but that is impossible is there any other solution ??

Where you are exactly is a little confusing, so maybe some information will help.

Which hard drive you have set as primary in the bios is very important. If you change the drive order or remove the primary drive and boot, the other drive will become primary and the boot files will be put there.

XP will overwrite the Win 7 boot files, so if you can, you should install XP first and then Win 7.

You might try doing a startup repair using the Win 7 DVD to see if you can get Win 7 running and then we can fix the XP install and get you dual booting.

I personally like to use independent installs on 2 hard drives, so if I ever want to remove one, it is easy.

Take look at this tutorial:

Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

As stated, the way to restart Windows 7 is to run Startup Repair from DVD repeatedly until Windows 7 starts.

Yes, using Windows 7 formatting for XP can cause problems as there is a slightly different partition table. Use full XP NTFS formatting.

As given in the tutorial linked above Method 2, you'll need to add XP to Dual Boot menu using EasyBCD if XP is installed last.

thank you all for your replies!!
to Saltgrass : i dont really understand you about the driver order,bios and that stuff,my knowledge about that isn't the best,i could use some explanation. And i tried to start windows 7 with startup repair, but without succes. I'm planning to buy more RAM (i have 2gb,i will buy 2gb more) and i would upgrade to windows 7 64 bit. then i can install xp first.
to theog : i posted my problems there , but the admin moved my post here,he thought i would get more help here thanks anyways
to gregrocker : i have started windows 7 .... i haven't tried Startup Repair repeatedly ... but thank you for the tip

and a question : so what what is the best way ... to install xp and then 7 ? but what to do with the hard disk partition and formating. if i install xp first on one partition should i leave the other one and format it with the windos 7 dvd , and vice versa.should i make partition for xp , and the other partition to make when i insert windows 7 dvd , so to leave unallocated space....

sorry for my english

The drive order in the bios is only important if you have more than one hard drive. It appears you do not.

If you did have 2 or more hard drives, the order can be changed by connecting just the drive you want primary, booting, then shutting down and reconnecting the other drive.

If you ever want to play and have not seen the bios setup before, you can normally hit the F2 or Del key to enter the Bios setup, but it can be different for your system. There should also be instructions in your owners manual about how to enter and leave. Don't change anything you do not know for sure needs to be changed.

The best way to install Win XP & Win 7 is Method one in the tutorial below:

Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

ok thanks , now i'm gonna do the installation (method one)
i'll let you know the result

everything is working !!