I want to install Windows XP on my laptop that is running gentoo, but don't know how. I can't find anything on the net because everyone is trying to dual boot with XP already on the system. Here's the setup

/dev/hda1 - 64mb - /boot
/dev/hda2 - 1024mb - swap
/dev/hda3 - rest of disk (around 35gb) - /

I need to shrink hda3 by about 10gb for a ntfs partition (without losing any data of course). Then I need to boot from cd and pray to god microshaft's cd will recognize the partition.

Does anyone have any experience with this at all? Please help.

Your going to have to use parted to resize hda3 and make room for windows. Parted can not create NTFS file systems but when you install windows just make sure it installs on this new partition you made. Also, windows will automagically blow away grub from the MBR. You will have to boot the gentoo livecd and re-install grub to the MBR. Make sure you back up your /boot partition before installing windows.