Can't install XP on new system

Hello all.
I have Vista HP 64 coming here in a cpl days and I wanted to do a dual boot just in case I needed to run something on XP.
I have a legitimate copy of XP Pro SP3 that my buddy slipstreamed... ( that I have installed on my GFs laptop) (It's a unlimited license)
I originally had Vista 32 on my drive on partition 1 of 2.
Partition 2 still has all my personal data on it.
But now for the dual boot I want 3 partitions. 1 xp, 2 vista/7, 3 storage.
ANYWAYS, I am having problems installing XP.
I create the first partition of 25 gb, leave 75 gb for 2, and the rest is storage.
So it creates the partition, begins copying files and soon as it 100% it BSODs.
Something about IRQL not equal to or less than.
SO then it restarts and says it can't find hal.dll.

So I've tried using the recovery console (based on some googling), but I don't really have a windows installation to repair...
I've tried it with just 2 gigs of ram...same thing.
I am thinking it has something to do with the slipstream my buddy made and the drivers he may or may not have put on there.
I am comfortable doing my own slipstream by adding drivers and what not...

Is it possible to install it on another drive, boot, then copy the files to the original drive?

Any other answer or ideas are much appreciated.

My setup is:
Q9550
EP45-UD3P
4 gb of G.SKill 800 PQ RAM
sata dvd drive
evga gtx 260