HELP! Acer 5534 Laptop Issue!!

I bought an Acer 5534 notebook for work, and I'm not a total novice, but not a pro either. Problem is, even though I really, really like this laptop, it will NOT run some of my mission critical programs which WOULD run on my older laptop. I guess it's because of the Acer having Windows 7, a 64 bit OS. Here's the short of what I've tried so far:

1. Tried to boot the XP CD, (original intent was to simply downgrade back to XP, cuz I mainly just wanted the better processor to prevent my daily, aggravating "hangs" with my current machine) but anyway, no dice. It crashes before the XP cd can even finish loading the boot drivers. I'm guessing it's a hardware issue with the HDD, Sata, whatever that is.
2. I read about the MS virtual XP environment, but when I ran MS's little "test" program to see if the processor would run the virtual environment, and XP mode, it said my processor would NOT support it.
3. READ FOR HOURS on forums like this trying to find a solution! (gotta get up in a couple of hours, and I'm gonna to be lousy at work now)
4. Downloaded several programs to try and create an independent boot cd (i.e., the DBAN thing), but haven't used them yet. Little scared about it.
5. I have licensed XP software at work, both full AND upgrade products.

I really like Win7, it's fancy, and I even I turned all the aero features off to no avail as far as my business apps go. I'm so afraid I've just wasted some company money here, and I want to exhaust all options before having to confess to my boss that I'm a dumba**.

So, IS THERE ANY WAY I can get XP to run on this model Acer machine? The Acer folks did reply to my email, but offered NO HELP in downgrading back to XP (warranty voids and all that crap). It's an ACER 5534 specifically in case you guys need specs. I read something about XP 64, not sure even what that is, and would that fix my actual software compatibility issue? Is it the hardware, or the OS that's at issue, or BOTH? AND the software that I need, that's mission critical, was written by a company that no longer supports it!! They shut it down a few years ago, so no new Vista or 7 versions coming out!

Should I try the virtual XP environment anyway, just for kicks?? I can't keep spending hours trying to figure this out tho! If I could get a FIRM solution (aside from returning this machine to friggin' WAL-MART), I'd put in the time getting it going! I beg you guys for help. I feel so stupid and I hate that I've gotten attached to this thing for personal apps, but it was bought to do MY JOB, and it won't run the apps my job needs me to run!!! HELP ME!!!

I thank you all in advance to anybody who even just reads this mess. I ask God to bless you all very richly for your help!!!

Sincerely,
Andrew
Louisville, KY
andrew@graysbooks.com