i used GPARTED software to successfully partition my harddisk which currently is installed with XP operating system (without wiping the existing XP).The problem here is that i cannot successfully install another operating system on the newly created partition.
when i begin installation, while the installation files are being copied from the CD to the harddisk - i mean the stage that the screen displays:
"Windows setup:
Set up is loading files (Window Setup)"

Suddenly the whole proccess stops with an error message saying:
The file pci.sys is corrupted
press any key to continue

and when i press any key, the next message will say:

setup failed press any key to restart your computer

it simply goes on like this and never installs.
This happens when i attempted to install XP but when inserted windows 2000 CD to install, its the same result. I noticed one thing, this above steps works fine on pentium3 machines. but this machine is a new pentium4 (Dell)laptop. whats the cause please, have any one had such experiece? whats the way out?

did you format it?

A corrupt file sounds like a bad cd.

But if it is a partition problem, w/ most partioning software beside the programs that OS Install's use, their is usually a "commit" button, which basically means save. <-- that is a problem I found out when I was a noob :P.

use nlite on another windows box to install a service pack, then make the cd.