Ubuntu v.8 (stan alone): I cannot install windows XP

Hardy desktop is no longer supported in any way. I recommend you reinstall with a clean install of Precise (Ubuntu 12.04, LTS supported until April 2017), or use Quantal (Ubuntu 12.10 which is supported for a shorter time but has the latest features).

at the moment there is no OS installed on the laptop.
before there was Ubuntu 12.04.

I am only using the Ubuntu 8 Live USB for starting gparted and I would like to reinstall windows not Ubuntu

This is not Windows support forum. Please try searching other forum for releated information.

Are you looking to resize the Linux partition and make space for the XP install. Is that the intention? Is there any data on the Linux partition which you don't need?

Reinstalling XP to a portion of the available space then installing Ubuntu to the free space and the dual boot will be handled. If you install Windows to a freed space on the drive, you will need to reboot to the Ubuntu CD and reinstate Grub to the MBR.

my intention is to simple install windows XP.

the laptop is without any OS or data (before there was Ubuntu Precise stand alone) , the windows CD rom was not working before with Precise installed and is not working now with hard disk empty (all space is unallocated)

which is the simple procedure for installing XP?

How is installing XP an Ubuntu issue?

this laptop had Ubuntu Precise stand alone installation and didn't allow to install windows xp... and I formatted the HD as I was told to do so on the ubuntu forum....

nevermind.... I will reinstall precise, but please help me to install XP alongside Precise.

during the Precise installation, do I need to specify manually any special partition or will I just follow abasic installation?

Resize the Ext4 partition in Ubuntu liveCD, install XP to the freed space and then boot back into the liveCD and reinstate Grub to the MBR

Here is guide as actionparsnip told you
http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_linux_and_windows_xp_linux_installed_first.htm
hope this help

Thanks

I followed the guide (thanks Savio) and now the HD is partioned as suggested:

unallocated 32gb
/dev/sda2 extended 117.05gb
/dev/sda5 ext3 112.26
/dev/sda6 linux swap 4.8gb

but the windows cdrom is not working... it starts the installation then after 5 minutes it always gave me the same error:

si e' verificato un problema e windows e' stato arrestato per impedire danni al computer. se e' la prima volta che appare la schermata di errore relativa all'arresto, riavviare il computer. Se la schermata riappare, procedere come segure:

verificare che il computer non contenga virus. rimuovere tutti i dischi rigidi o il controller dei dischi rigidi di nuova installazione. Controllare che il discorigido sia configurato correttamente e dotato di degli appropriati terminatori.
Eseguire CHKDSK /F per verificare che il disco rigido non sia danneggiato, quindi riavviare il computer.

informazioni tecniche:

***STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF78D2524 , 0xC0000034 , 0x00000000 , 0x00000000)

The cdrom is fine as I have tested it on another laptop... the problem is with this laptop with ubuntu....
any idea? any suggestion?

thanks.

***STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF78D2524 , 0xC0000034 , 0x00000000 , 0x00000000)
This bug you mention is due to boot sector virus or device driver issue I suggest you to follow following links
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156593
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324103

and also search in google using search string "***STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF78D2524 , 0xC0000034 , 0x00000000 , 0x00000000)"

and again this is not microsoft forum.