Fresh install of XP - deleted all Acer partitions on HDD

I have removed the HDD from the Aspire netbook and connected it to my Desktop. I can read the drive and used a XP install CD to reformat ALL partitions even the recovery partition ( because recovery did not work) . However it seems to install and load OK but when I go to restart the HDD IN the Aspire it comes up with blue screen errors and not run windows- would run windows on the desktop though. What is wrong? Do I need to do the XP install via a USB device with the HDD IN the Aspire only?? Cheers

I have now moved on to creating a USB to try and install direct to the netbook with HDD attachedto the netbook and now have the followig issue:

 I did create a boot USB - I thought I had correctly- with I386 and all the necessary files - Used instructions on the second thread on this link: 

http://discuss.pcmag.com/forums/thread/1004427668.aspx 

Anyways the USB boots on the net book but I get : 

C: prompt with the message 'Type the name of the command interpreter e.g. C:\windows\command.com) 

I went to use fdisk.exe and nothing. I tried command.com and it said t was the wrong version so I replaced the version of command.com and reinserted the USB drive and now I get: 

Starting.... 

Please press Ctl +ALT+ DELETE to restart yout computer 

Nothing is happening??? 

What do I do?? 

The model is a D255 with XP pro installed - or was .

You are absolutely correct I should have been a whole lot smarter at providing some better redundancy for my self - thanks for the slap ( I have already flogged myself several times over my foolsihness) however to move on.

I attempted a recovery - did not work - I attempted then to purchase recovery discs but my snid di not gel with the online ordering system and then i went and spole with the acer support line and found that they also had trouble with my snid - eventually they settled on some number but did not advise me of this ( something to do with having purchased while travelling through ndia I thnk) \\so i gave up on ordering the recovery CD and decided to use my old copy (no longer used) Desktop Retail copy of XP.

I tried install by removing the netbook HDD and connecting to my desktop so I could use the Desktop CD- this seemed to work and install ok as I could boot the netbook HDD from the desktop and runXP BUT BUT when I resinstalled the HDD back in the netbook it would not run.

So I then decided to create a boot usb device with i 386 etc and this has also failed as it stops with a new problem at the boot when it looks at the usb.

Wow... can you assist me move forward?? and get xp runnig - I had deleted ALL hdd partitions and then formatted the HDD--

Can it be NTFS or does it need to be Fat32 format??

Cheers

Appreciate your interest and assistance. The netbook came with XP pro as installed - so that is why I was going to reinstall this OS. I will have another go at the USB thumb drive install and then see if I can borrow a CD USB drive- has been a bit of a mess - will know better next time!!!

This is doing my head in.........

I have formatted the Netbook drive ( it is a sata) by connecting it as a second drive on my desktop Via My Computer. Then I returned the HDD to the netbook.

I then created a boot USB from http://www.sumedh.info/articles/install-windows-xp-usb-flash-drive-eeepc-asus.php

BUT I still cannot get the USB to work. The netbook when I start with the USB in it says 'Remove disks or other media, Press any key to start' if I do that of course all i get is ' no bootable device - insert boot disk and press any key'

I do not know what to do .... I have also set in the bios the HDD to IDE and aslo tried the AHCI settin - no difference.

Help!!!

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-Systems-and/How-to-install-Windows-XP-from-USB-flash-drive/td-p/529005

was what solved the USB install - Thanks for all the help but I finally managed to get the XP installed over a USB . Not something that I would want to try again!!