Let me decipher this.
1: Well, XP is ancient anyway, and XP disk will do.
2: The "box" is Virtualbox, which puts XP inside 8. You run two OS's at the same time.
3: There is no Windows 8 Ultimate, just Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, and Windows 8 RT, and Windows 8 Enterprise.
4: You can install 7 in place of 8, but you'll have to find drivers for your hardware.
How To Dual Boot Windows XP And Windows 8[/QUOTE]
Thanks for your quick reply. I have a couple more questions about things you mentioned in your reply.
The only XP disc I've found is an ancient one from 2001 that came on a dell laptop I had at the time. I don't see any product key etc. Will this still work and if it will, how to I get all the updates for it?
I went to the link you provided and it appears that it is for installing 8 onto a computer using XP. I had to get a new computer so for me it's the other way around....xp onto a computer using 8. I see the partition instructions.. am I right in assuming you can do all that is described just installing xp where is says 8?
I appreciate your patience and help[/QUOTE]
You'll have to buy a new copy of XP. You can only use recovery disks on the computer they came with/ are made for.