the format of the download does not appear to support usb

Oh great it seems my only option is use the other method I saw on the net from this link:Boot Windows XP from a USB flash drive. However there is two problem: 1.This computer restrict me from doing anything from that guide, and 2. As I stated earlier, no one else in my family that have computer use the same version of Windows that I use.

That is to actually boot windows from the flash drive and have it running from it. I deal you want a method of creating an install from flash or at leave a recovery environment to try a couple fo commands. Without any media your running out of options did you check for a recovery partition?

How do I check the recovery partition? Oh ****, I should have mention this in my first post, my cousin was trying to install Vista on my laptop but it didn't install all the way, I just went on using XP, but instead of be able to the screen where I can select the safe mode, instead I get the screen of using different type windows version and the F8 and F10 option only work for Vista, which whenever I go there said the installion isn't completed and needed to restart (which I rarely go to anyway).

so your cousin tryed to instal vista on the same partition as xp ?this I believe would have moved all your windows files to a different folder. Your hard drive is goign to be in a mess. You only option now is to get hold of a XP home oem cd (as long as it matches what originally was on the laptop) or instal your friends Vista to completion but format the hdd first.

One problem how could I format the hdd when I can't get access to it? Besides I don't want Vista yet since I need to geta better graphic card for it. How would I get an XP home oem cd?

Edit: Okay, my cd drive have start working again after I try booting from one of my computer back-up cds. However I don't wish to delete everything from drive c, and to make matter worst, my cousin's Vista cd broke. But think I know a way to fix it. I was wondering can use another software like Slax for example, boot from it and then put this hal.dll file I copied from this computerinto the folder that need to be put in, would it kinda solve my trobule?