novice needs help installing Parallels & WinXP

I just purchased my first Mac in ten years -- a MacBook (with Leopard) -- and am trying to install Parallels and then Microsoft Windows XP. I installed the Parallels software, which seemed to go smoothly. Then I used Windows Express Installation to install Windows XP, but I don't think Windows installed properly. My Windows XP CD was humming along nicely, and the blue screen was tracking the installation progress. Then the screen flipped over to a "Microsoft Windows XP - Parallels Desktop" window. Underneath "Microsoft Windows" and "Windows XP" it says "Stopped" in red. (Configuration details are listed under that.) When I try to start the virtual machine by pressing the green arrow from that same screen, a black screen flips over that says "Boot from hard drive..." and nothing happens. Since I have never used Parallels before, I have no idea what is normal and what isn't. Can someone please provide some advice? (I've already tried uninstalling and re-installing everything once in case I did something wrong, but to no avail.)

Thanks in advance ....

 

p.s.

I just wanted to add a few points to my previous post after reading Eru's guidelines on requesting help in this forum:
I have ...
1) Mac OS X
2) Parallels Desktop 3.0 Build 4128
3) MacBook
4) 2 GB RAM
5) 120 GB hard drive
6) I don't know if I'm using BootCamp (probably not since I don't know)
7) I did not upgrade from BETA
8) I do not think Parallels Tools are installed because I do not think Windows XP installed properly (and I believe that Parallels Tools install after the OS)
9) I am using Windows XP Home Edition with SP2
10) The specific error message I get after trying to start the virtual machine is as follows:

*****************************************
Parallels (R) VGA-Compatible BIOS Version 2.01

Parallels (R) 3.0 build 4128 2005-2007 Parallels Software International Inc.
All Rights Reserved

640 KB Base Memory
524288 KB Extended Memory
Boot from hard drive...
*****************************************

When I searched the forum on "black screen install Windows XP" I did find the discussion thread of Catherine and Eru from 10/16. I seem to be having the same problem as Catherine, but her issue was never resolved through the forum.

I also found the 8/3/07 thread that talks about a similar issue. (sorry I don't know how to create a link to the discussion thread.) The suggestion is to change the default boot sequence configuration so that the computer boots from the CD, not the hard drive. I've changed these options, but I can't figure out how to re-start the installation with the new settings.

Similar to Catherine (of the 10/16 posts), I am new to Mac, so please be patient if I haven't provided enough information to receive a useful reply.

Any help is appreciated.

 

It worked!

Well, after three hours of trying different things (and posting the above messages), I managed to get everything installed (although I'm still not sure how). I think the key was that I created an image of my Windows XP install CD on my hard drive and installed from that.

One last question -- now that I am up and running, I see that there is an upgrade to the Parallels Build that I have (build 4128). Should I upgrade to Build 5160 or just stay with what I have?

thanks.