In some older laptops, there seems to be a problem if you format the drive in the desktop rather than in the laptop. You can boot to DOS in the laptop and you can also start the installation from the I386 folder, but it results in the laptop hanging after the first reboot or a "ntldr not detected" error message.

The solution is to install DOS files onto the C: partition using the desktop, and put format.com and smartdrv.exe on the D: partition. Transfer the drive to the laptop and reformat the C: partition in the laptop itself. Then start the installation using winnt.exe as before - the files will copy across, but the laptop will no longer hang at reboot.

Alternatively, having formatted the C: partition in the laptop, transfer the drive back to desktop and install using the XP boot disk but do not reformat the partition in the desktop.

An additional bug which causes some Pentium II and III laptops to hang on subsequent reboots. When you see the message "Press F6 if you need to install a SCSI or RAID controller" press F5 instead and select "Standard PC" and continue with the installation.