I tried to reformat my computer, but can't load Windows XP because I keep getting a mesage that says that my computer is shutting down to PREVENT damage. I thought that maybe my hard drive was bad, but I was able to install and run Vista. My problems is that none of my software works with that program and personally, I prefer XP. I have three different XP cd's, so I don't think that's the problem. Any ideas? I'm at my wit's end!:Are you booting from the CD?I'm assuming Vista was the original OS before you tried to change things, right?

I have this problem sometimes when changing Vista COMPUTERS to XP. I use a Linux live CD (Knoppix) to clear out the hard drive when Vista just won't let go.

There's a nice list of LiveCDs here:
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.phpActually, I created my own problems and am worse off than when I started. I originally was running XP and was very happy with the system until I installed a new router modem and my computer kept locking up. When I went to remove that program, I accidently removed my Modem Blaster instead. By that time, my computer was freezing constantly so I thought that I WOULD reformat it with the hope that I could just start everything fresh. That's when the real problem began....I tried to reinstall XP but was only able to get to the blue screen that notified me that windows was shutting down before it caused damage to my computer (I have a second computer that is getting the same error message when I try to load XP). Out of desperation, I installed Vista but now none of my software works and the updated CD's I've made won't load because they say that I have to remove any security PROTECTION (which I've done.) I just WANT to go back to XP and my computer the way it was before I came along.I located the Knoppix cd that you were talking about...by the way, thanks! If I install that, will it clear out my hard drive and allow me to install XP and my software?Actually, it doesn't need to be installed. Just follow their instructions to create the CD then boot from it.That would be a miracle....thanks so much!I wonder if thats a bug..