Thanks for all the replies ! @puntoMX - BIOS is not an option, it is well and truly "locked down" pretty much the only thing i can edit is the boot order and the date & time ! Very frustrating ! The plan is also to wipe the new laptop, partition the HDD, put XP on it first, then install 7 which should give me the dual boot option. @puntoMX and @hotpants - I have been told by the software manufacturers that it will not work in Windows 7 or XP compatibility mode. @GrofLuigi - Thanks for the links, this was just a first post so I was only being general with the laptop info. I'll post the laptop exact model no. etc. in one of my future posts I am sure, when I start the process and when I have more questions to ask (of which I am sure there will be plenty !) @jaclaz - thanks for the "yep", and the other info. OK so , next question ....... Is it correct that I should create an XP CD on an XP machine ? and that it won't work if i try and do it on my Windows 7 machine ? Thanks again, m4rk