[HLUG] Installing Ubuntu 9.04

[Chris]

Hi everybody

    Can anyone please help with the following:
    Have been trying for days to install Ubuntu 9.04 on a middle aged 
IBM 30GB Thinkpad. Most recent effort involved completely wiping the 
hard drive, creating a 15GB primary partition and loading Windows XP. No 
problem XP runs without difficulty.
    Using the LXFDVD120 loaded Ubuntu in 'Remaining free space' without 
difficulty, Grub is set up OK and the app looks very good.
    Select Ubuntu from the bootloader menu at start-up and it runs like 
a charm.
        BUT....Select XP and it appears to start up with the Thinkpad 
boot screen but then a couple of seconds into the XP Splash Screen, 
Windows detects an error and shuts down before you can read what it says!!
    At this stage it is impossible to re-load Windows - the Installation 
disk can't find the hard drive and it is impossible to selectively wipe 
the partition for re-loading, you have to wipe the whole drive and start 
again.

    It is as though the Windows Boot Sector and/or the MBR has not only 
been over-written but somehow corrupted

    Any ideas more than appreciated

Chris Owens