Windows will not start

What problem did you run into when trying to install by booting to DVD?

Well, the DVD start just fine. However when it is checking to make sure everything is ready to begin it tells me I cannot install Windows outside of normal mode and that I should take out the disc and reinsert it in normal mode. I cannot get into Normal mode. This is making me crazy.

I'm not super-savy on all of these things. How would I recover my files? I do not want to lose everything.

Just make sure you don't ever tell it to format anything. NO FORMATTING.

Boot to DVD. It will ask you where to install. Choose where Windows is now. It will put everything Windows related (Program Files, Windows, Users etc...)
into a folder at root called Windows.old.

Nothing will be deleted and gone at all.

When you get to desktop, you can have a look in Windows.old for anything you want to keep.

Then you can run disk cleanup (I believe - been a long time I done this way) to get rid of the folder. If not, then just delete Windows.old

Ok, thanks for all of this help. One important question before I proceed: I started doing this and when it asked where I wanted to install, I was a little unsure of what to click. It was automatically on "Recovery" which was only using around 5 gigs. Below it was "OS" which was using around 90 gigs. Which do I select if I want to keep everything?

Ok, first I want to thank everyone who has helped me so far. You've made a huge difference.

Doing a custom install worked. I can now run normal mode. However I am having issues with figuring out how to get my old programs back. I tried dragging specific programs and files from windows.OLD into the new Windows, but they don't show up, not even on a restart. What exactly is it that I need to do to get my old programs/files back?

Generally, you don't want to take programs from old and place them to new install. You can get away with some apps doing that but you really have to know which by having decent understanding of how the software works.

Rule of thumb: Simpler the software, higher chance you can

To get your programs back, you must reinstall them as normal.

You're welcome.

Ok, that makes sense but I have a dilemma: Microsoft Office Programs and iTunes. If I reinstall iTunes will it populate with my old songs (I did move them from windows.OLD to the new Windows). And what should I do about my Microsoft Office programs? I don't think I was given a backup CD for them. Is there no way to re-install them without paying for them?