On the mini 1000 - tried to install Windows xp (tried Vista and 2000 also) after a system crash. Since there is no dvd/cd drive I used an external drive with a usb interface. It starts to install and then hangs. Ram and hdd tested out ok. Thanks

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Hi, you have to have an external drive / USB since HP minies does not have CD Drive, if u already have the cd installer of the XP operating system, just connect the USB / external drive to the computer then insert the cd installer, then follow the prompt on the screen on how to install the system, should be licensed installer with product key. If you have saved the installer in a flash drive, just insert the flash drive and install, no need for cd.

Thank you.

You cannot use another laptop as an external drive.
I would not try a re-install just yet though. The bios will try to boot from your selected device and a failure to boot usually gives an error message of some sort. I would first try to get a boot CD/DVD that will let you boot up and check the hard drive for errors. If you have a bootable windows CD/DVD this may allow you to carry out diagnostics before you resort to full re-install.

Boot Manager is compressed??? 

here are two solution:
1.
"BOOTMGR is compressed. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart" 
Check points for fixing compressed boot-manager:
Boot into Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and perform a "Startup Repair".
If the above doesn't solve the problem then boot into WinRE again, but when selecting the Vista-installation, then press "Load Drivers" (Instead of "Next") and use the mini Windows Explorer to right-click the boot-drive and deselect "Compress this Drive" and choose Apply to sub-folders and files.
If that also fails then boot into WinRE again, and go to the "Command Prompt" and execute these commands:
compact /U C:\bootmgr
compact /U C:\ntldr
If you for some strange reason have lost your Vista DVD, then you can also use a Windows 2000 / XP install CD and enter the recovery console instead and execute the following commands:
attrib -c c:\bootmgr
attrib -c c:\ntldr

2.if the above solution did not work for you try this easy way:
reboot, push open the dvd drive, load OS Vista CD/DVD, before the ridiculed bootmgr compressed shows, shutdown, boot from the dvd, let the installer do it’s job.
when reach choice “install now” choose “repair the pc” instead.
In the System Recovery Options dialog box, choose the drive of your Windows installation and click Next.
click Startup Repair.
Just click “load drives”since you know the answer about “repair”….nothing wrong..)=:
see that??, you’re inside your HD!! I assuming that from here everybody knows what to do, if not, that what follow:
Browse for your “C” Drive, right click properties and fellas, reverse what you did, exit, reboot.

You will have to purchase an external dvd rom drive. Then select the external to boot from in system bios. You can copy win cd to usb stick and install from that but it is a little tricky. Good Luck.

Greetings.
There is no direct path to downgrade Vista to XP. You can’t simply insert the XP installation CD media into the CD-ROM drive and hope to ‘upgrade’ and replace the Vista with Windows XP usual install routine because Vista won’t allow it to be overwritten. XP will treat Vista as ’superior’ operating system and refuse to install over it. There’re actually few options available instead of completely uninstall Vista as listed below. But if you decide to downgrade from Vista to install XP, there is also a simple guideline that you can observe to ensure that the migration goes smoothly.
Option 1 – Dual Boot:
It’s by far the easier and best method to run XP instead of Vista if you have another partition or hard disk. Simply boot up any XP setup media and install XP into different partition or hard drive than the Vista installation. Once completed, you can choose to boot up either XP or Vista, and has the best of both world.

Option 2 – Virtual Machine:
Install VMware Server or Virtual PC 2007 (both free) or any other virtualization software, and then install Windows XP into the virtual machine
environment. You will get XP which runs inside Vista, with minor compromise on speed, performance and have to go through Vista first on every bootup.

Option 3 – Format the Hard Drive, Wipe Off Vista and Install XP:
For those who totally fed up with Vista and just want XP, or prefer a clean installation of OS has only this option to rely on. To downgrade to XP from Vista, you have to basically delete the whole hard disk that installed with Vista, and start anew with XP. Here’s a simple guide and procedures that you can try to follow to switch to XP. However, each system configuration is different, so you may have to adapt the steps to suit your own need.

1. Download all drivers for your system for Windows XP from the manufacturer’s website(in case if you don't have the CD/DVD installers). Copy the drivers files to a USB flash driver or external hard drive or burn them to CD/DVD.
2. Find a Windows XP installation CD (should be pretty easy to find or else you can search in torrent sites such as Demonoid to download via BT network such as uTorrent and BitComet or search and download via ED2K network client such as eMule. You can also use Volume Licensing (VL) CD, retail (FPP) disc, or system builder hologram CD provided by Microsoft.
3. You will also need a XP product key even if you legally can downgrade from Vista Ultimate or Business edition. The Vista serial number won’t works with XP. (try to search for XP product key on web).
4. Backup to USB flash disk, external portable hard disk or CD/DVD every data files and any other things such as documents, downloads, pictures, movies, programs and etc that you need and want to keep. You can also create a second partition with disk management utilities such as Acronis Director or Partition Magic, and then move the data files to the new partition.
5. Ensure that also you have CD or DVD setup media for the software applications that you want to install and use after wiping off your system from Vista.
6. If your OEM doesn’t provide you with recovery CD/DVD discs and Windows setup media discs (it’s because they’re stored in the hard disk in hidden location), you may want to burn a copy of recovery CD to CD/DVD first before you proceed, just in case the hidden partition is lost and you want to recover your computer to original state. (How-to Guide: IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad recovery CD)
7. If the system has SATA (Serial ATA) hard drive, locate the driver for SATA controller and put it in USB flash drive, diskette or CD first. If you have PATA (normal IDE) hard disk, simply go to BIOS CMOS to disable SATA or Native SATA mode if you don’t want to install XP on SATA hard drive. Else, you can also create an XP install disc with the SATA drivers integrated by using tool such as nLite.
8. In the BIOS, also set the CD or DVD optical drive as the first boot device in the boot sequence.
9. Put in the Windows XP installation CD into CDROM drive and boot up the computer by using the CD. You probably need to press a key when prompted with “Press Any Key to Boot from CD…”.
10. If you’re using SATA hard disk with driver on external media (not integrated into XP setup disk), remember to press F6 when you see the message at the status base: “Press F6 if you need to install a third party SCSI or RAID driver…” during the very initial stage of setup to load the SATA driver so that the SATA hard disk can be recognized.
11. Run through the setup wizard at per normal. However, when prompting for where to install Windows Vista, delete (by pressing D and then confirmation), create and format the Vista disk drive or partition (if you have multiple partition). And then choose to install on that just formatted partition or hard drive.

IMPORTANT: If you choose the wrong hard disk or partition with data to delete, you will lose your essential data.

Note: If the setup does not allow you to delete or format the Vista partition or drive, you will need to find a third party software that can recognize and read NTFS filesystem to clear the drive or partition first.
12. Enter any product key for XP. Vista product key will not work.
13. If you own a legitimate Windows Vista edition that allows for downgrade (See Vista downgrade rights), call Microsoft after performing the clean install of Windows XP Pro to activate the XP installation. Notify Microsoft that you’re downgrading from Vista and require to activate XP Professional or other version allowed newly installed. You won’t get a new Windows XP product key though. You will have to read out the long Installation ID plus your original Vista serial key, and Microsoft will provide an activation ID that will make the XP usable.
14. Install the drivers for your system devices.
15. Reinstall any software programs that you want to use.
16. Move back the data files and documents.

Thanks

When you install a new harddrive, it has no Operating System on it.
Windows XP and Windows Vista, are examples of an Operating System.

Each laptop manufacturer, has their own system of changing a laptop harddrive. Some allow you to press a key or two, to put the laptop in a state where it will save the basic Operating System files, and when you install the new harddrive, it will transfer them over to it.

Some laptop manufacturers do have this option.

You either have to take the harddrive out, install it into an external enclosure for a harddrive, (Uses a USB cable) Then attach the external enclosure via the USB cable, to another computer, and use a 'mirror' imaging program to save the Operating System to that computer.

Then the new harddrive is installed in that external enclosure, and the Operating System is 'mirrored' over to it.

Just information for you, as you cannot do this now with a crashed harddrive.
Your option now, is to buy a genuine copy of the Operating System you had on the laptop, and install it.
Not what you wanted to hear, huh?

You need to buy whatever version of Windows XP it had, (WinXP Home or WinXP Pro), or Windows Vista.
If it was Windows Vista, I suggest getting at least the Windows Vista Home Premium version.

I personally prefer Xp over Vista.
Tigerdirect.com, and Newegg.com, have these.
Look for Software>Operating Systems.

OR, you can simply put Ubuntu Linux on it for free.

Each computer needs its own operating system in which you do you have linux as a pre-install. If you want XP, you will need an external dvd/cd rom drive. It is worth it if you think about it...running xp, you're bound to run into other software you will likely need in the future, so getting an external cd/dvd drive would not be a waste of your money.

Hello Paulraven,
You can use an external USB DVD ROM drive, put the Vista disk in it and you will be able to install it via USB (once XP is fully Booted).
If you want to Boot to the Vista disk using a USB port, then you should check your Boot Order in your BIOS and make sure that you set it to check CD/DVD drives before the hard drive, then you'll be able to touch any key on reboot to Boot to CD for a few seconds when that option appears on your screen (at the top left of the screen) after a Boot/re Boot with the Vista disk in the USB DVD drive.
I hope this helps, and Good Luck.

make the SATA disk mode from ACHI to Compatibility in the BIOS. once its done without any problem you can make partitions, installa Windows XP. hope this helped you. thanks.

Ammar.