Thanks for the offer. MB.
Now, this is getting silly! Here's a head scratcher for all youpatient MS wizards.
I have a 'lent' Vista CD. Pop it in my desktop, boot from it, 'Windows is loading files', --> Vista setup screen.
Now into the HP Laptop.
1) Boot from CD/DVD takes a while to appear
2) Windows is loading files'
3) Now, 50% of the time a power reset, 50% a blank screen??
OK you ****, in goes my own XP CD and/or my UBCD Cd
Straight into setup??
This happens battery in or out. What is the difference in a Vista 'boot from DVD' and an XP 'boot from CD'?