Question : 0xc0000098 - Cannot Install Windows Xp / Vista

Here is what I am trying to do: Install a fresh copy of Windows Vista x86 ( easy right )
Here is what I have done:
1. removed the HD, deleted every partition until the HD was a solid 300GB of unpartitioned space.
2. tested the RAM, program indicated that the 2GB stick was corrupt, the 1GB stick was not
3. checked the legit install disk for defects, none - works in other pc's
3b. swapped dvd drives - no change in result
4. boot to cd works - upon "Windows is Loading" and progress bar ( before any gui appears for vista setup ) THEN this error occurs:

File: \windows\system32\boot\winload.exe OR \windows\system32\ntkrnlpa.exe
Status: 0xc0000098
Info: The selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt

5. I replaced the vista cd with a xp cd - which begins to copy files to the HD but fails and system reboots.

6. I tried a completely new hard drive = same issues
7. I found this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392/en-us ( issue is that I dont have the windows recovery console installed - CANT GET INTO THE WINDOWS CD - ( is there a bootable downloadable standalone of the recovery console i can try ? )

I am getting confused as to why the system cannot keep track of the files being copied if the hard drive, ram, and cd drive are not the issue.... love microsoft

Any questions, please ask.

Answer : 0xc0000098 - Cannot Install Windows Xp / Vista

So the XP CD doesn't even boot into the Recovery Console?
It doesn't need to copy files to HD in order to load that Console.

Also, please download, burn and run the following bootable CDs:
Parted magic: www.partedmagic.com
UBCD 5: http://ubcd3.myubcd.com/ubcd50RC1.iso

Run diagnostics and info tools, see if you can find out something about that system and its HDD.
In particular, run GParted (partitioning icon on desktop) in Parted Magic and check whether the HDD is really empty and clean.
Then, from Parted Magic as well, run TestDisk (http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/Running_TestDisk). See if you can find something out about the disk geometry and the boot sector. In particular, run the "Ntfs: Boot and MFT repair", also use TestDisk to rewrite the MBR (which is the same as using FIXMBR).