another way
install xp through network
share your cd rom on your desktop pc.
open the cd through the network with your laptop
make sure you check new installation and not upgrade. click advance and select "I select the partitions" and copy installation file fronm the cd
Under "To this folder on my hard drive" is listed "\WINDOWS", change this to "\WINXP" (or whatever you want) and then click "OK".
windows will restart when you get to f8 agree
press "ESC" to continue the parallel install.
Now use the up and down arrow keys to select the partition you want to install into. Press "ENTER" once selected to continue. use the same partition as the previous operating system.
Windows will now ask you to confirm the install. If you are satisfied with your decision then press "C". ignore that multiple OS on 1 partition babble
Now you will be asked if you wish to format the drive, select "Leave the current file system intact (no changes)" and press "ENTER"
Windows will now warn you that the Windows directory already has an operating system, press "ESC" to select a different folder.
You will now be asked to change the folder that Windows installs into. change it to what you named it above in this case "\WINXP"
Press enter once changes have been made to continue.
When it's done with this it will go through a regular install.
I learned to do this the hard way. somebody sold me a laptop it had a bios password, which he told me that. but it had a administrative password that you need to change the boot sequence so you can boot from cd. the guy didn't know that password, he had to call his technician who wouldn't be in until the next day.
Being the tech that I am I refuse to go to bed until I learn how to do this. I learn 3 ways. kinda like warez's way (I install it from the desktop to the laptop drive C partition), my way and another way in which you choose to overwrite those file in the "\WINDOWS" folder.
I installed windows and he call me the next day with the password, I told him that I didn't need it.