replacing vista

  • Thread starter Thread starter dls1949
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dls1949

Vista came w/laptop. I want xp instead. I tried installing xp over vista (no
luck). I reformatted and xp said a newer version was already loaded and
wouldnt continue. Is there anything else I can do w/out getting another hard
drive. Help is appreciated. Thanks.
 
Vista came w/laptop. I want xp instead. I tried installing xp over vista (no
luck). I reformatted and xp said a newer version was already loaded and
wouldnt continue. Is there anything else I can do w/out getting another hard
drive. Help is appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I found the only way to remove Vista was with the Vista install CD,
which has an option to format the drive, which you should use.
However, you may find that you need to load legacy drivers as the
drivers you have may not work with XP.

-solon fox
 
Try deleting the partition that Vista was on, then allocate a new partition
from XP setup and format it. XP should be good to go then.

What kind of laptop? Are you sure that you have XP drivers for it before
you go any further? If it is a Dell you should be able to find an OEM XP
Reinstallation disk on Amazon.com like I did. I got one with a product key
and everything. It didn't even ask to "activate" XP.

Good luck,

Earle
 
dls1949 said:
Vista came w/laptop. I want xp instead. I tried installing xp over
vista (no luck). I reformatted and xp said a newer version was
already loaded and wouldnt continue. Is there anything else I can
do w/out getting another hard drive. Help is appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Boot with the Windows XP CD and use it's utilities to DELETE the
PARTITION(s)... Then create new partition(s) and install.

Know that if you do not have backups of all your stuff and the hardware
drivers for the hardware you are installing upon/using with the machine -
you may be out of luck when it comes to downgrading to Windows XP.
 
Well you need to clean install winxp, which you havent done.
This assumes winxp drivers are avilable for your Laptop, which may not be
the case. You may also invalidate any warranty/support
Check your laptop manu.web site first!
 
dls1949 said:
Vista came w/laptop. I want xp instead. I tried installing xp over vista
(no luck). I reformatted and xp said a newer version was already loaded
and wouldnt continue. Is there anything else I can do w/out getting
another hard drive. Help is appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...

You've gotten good advice. Here is a list of things to check and do:

On an OEM (HP, Sony, etc.) computer:

1. Go to the OEM's website and look for XP drivers for your specific model
computer. If there are no XP drivers, then you can't install XP. End of
story. If there are drivers, download them and store on a CD-R or USB
thumbdrive; you'll need them after you install XP.

2. Check with the OEM - either from their tech support website or by calling
them - to see if you will void your warranty if you do this. If you will
void the warranty, you make the decision.

3. If the OEM does support XP on the machine, call them and see if you can
have downgrade rights and have them send you an XP restore disk. This will
be far the easiest and best way of getting XP on the machine.

4. If XP is supported on the machine but the OEM doesn't have an XP restore
disk for you, understand that you'll need to purchase a retail copy of XP
from your favorite online or brick/mortar store.

5. Also understand that you will need to do a clean install of XP so if you
have any data you want, back it up first.

6. If none of the above is applicable to you because you can't run XP on
that machine (see Item #1 above), return the computer and purchase one
running XP instead.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What
you will need on-hand

Malke
 
dls1949 said:
Vista came w/laptop. I want xp instead. I tried installing xp over vista (no
luck). I reformatted and xp said a newer version was already loaded and
wouldnt continue. Is there anything else I can do w/out getting another hard
drive. Help is appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...


It's your computer, so the choice is, ultimately, yours. (Although
it would have been a lot simpler to have just purchased the computer
with WinXP installed, to start with.)

However, there could be a couple possible adverse repercussions of
which you should be aware. First and foremost, if the specific computer
model in question was designed specifically for Vista, there may well be
no WinXP-specific device drivers available to make the computer's
diverse components work properly. Consult the computer's manufacturer
about the availability of device drivers. Secondly, removing an
OEM-installed operating system and replacing it with another will almost
invariably void any and all support agreements and, sometimes, even the
warranty. You would, at the very least, have to re-install Vista before
getting any support from the manufacturer. Again, consult the
computer's manufacturer for specifics. Thirdly, there may be the
additional cost involved in purchasing a WinXP license for this new
computer.

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS
installation, simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be
offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part
of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of
boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Then, assuming you were successful in obtaining WinXP-specific
device drivers so that the computer can be made to work with WinXP, the
backed up data can be restored and applications (those that are
WinXP-compatible, that is) re-installed.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Donald said:
This is because the OS installation disks Dell supplies are actually
"generic" OEM copies, and may be installed on ANY PC. However, if one
installs one of these on a NON-Dell Machine or Motherboard, one MUST
use the supplied Product Key to install it. Additionally, in that
situation, one MUST activate it.
Click to expand...

I don't think that's true unless they changed it since they started to
sell vista. Dell OEM CDs are bios locked, and so is MS Office that they
sell with their machines.
OF course, this is a violation of your Dell agreement, as well as a
violation of your Vista EULA.


NO COMMENT, other than "completely idiotic" (sorry).


Apparently, you did NOT "reformat" the Vista partition in the process.

Yes: REFORMAT the ENTIRE DRIVE!! (There is probably a hidden "Vista
Restore Partition" on the drive.) You might also have to delete this
partition before you will be able to install XP.

IF you've got your data and downloads on the same partition as your
Vista OS, you should BACK THEM UP TO EXTERNAL drives/Disks BEFORE
repartitioning your HD.

DON'T DO THIS WITHOUT MAKING SURE you have a full XP installation disk
with a VALID license, and the necessary XP drivers for your particular
Laptop model.

I advise you to educate yourself about the difference between
"formatting" and "partitioning", and HOW to install a Microsoft OS
PROPERLY before doing anything more destructive.
Click to expand...


--
"Fair use is not merely a nice concept--it is a federal law based on
free speech rights under the First Amendment and is a cornerstone of the
creativity and innovation that is a hallmark of this country. Consumer
rights in the digital age are not frivolous."
- Maura Corbett
 
Nina DiBoy' said:
I have 3 dell machines here at home that were all purchased in the past 5
years or less that came with XP, and one that came with Office XP. The 3 XP
licenses plus the Office license were all bios locked. I know because I tried
installing them on another machine for the express purpose of assuming they
were just generic OEM CDs. I was wrong.
They all put up a message saying that they could not install because
they were bios locked to the original machine they were installed on,
and they did not detect that this was their original machine.
Click to expand...

Just for explicitness and clarity's sake, did you try to install the
Dell OEM XPs and the Dell OEM Office in another one of your
Dell machines, or just another (perhaps non-Dell) machine?

*TimDaniels*
 
I have done a HDD replacements in several of our Dell systems.
They are all 3-4 years old or so, P4s with XP Pro.
I used the same OS CD for all the machines.
The Dell branded XP "OS reinstall" CD didn't ask for a product key.
I did try the Dell XP CD on a gateway box, it didn't find Dell in the Bios,
so it said...this computer does not meet the criteria for installation or
such and setup closed.
The Dell branded (on the sleeve) MS Office SB CD did ask for a key. Each
system came with a CD set, so for the Office install, I had to get the key
from each computer's packet.
My older Dell systems (P2-P3) usually came with an actual OEM Windows disk
that didn't have Dell's name anywhere but on the package.
The newer ones came with a Dell branded reinstall disk.
But I haven't gotten a new Dell in a couple years, so I couldn't swear what
they are currently including.
 
"The poster formerly known as
'The Poster Formerly Known as Nina DiBoy' said:
Sorry, I should have been more clear in my explanation. I tried both.
Installing OEM Dell CDs on other Dell machines and on a non-Dell machine. The
non-Dell machine gave the bios locked message. The install succeeded on the
other Dell machines (two Dimension 8200s
and one Dimension 4550).
Click to expand...


OK, it's clear, then, that some kind of Dell OEM CDs look for a
Dell-branded BIOS and not a specific motherboard ID or Dell service
tag (which I've found in my XPS M1330's BIOS). But are those
"OEM CDs" OS reinstallation CDs or Office CDs?

*TimDaniels*
 
Not Me said:
I have done a HDD replacements in several of our Dell systems.
They are all 3-4 years old or so, P4s with XP Pro.
I used the same OS CD for all the machines.
The Dell branded XP "OS reinstall" CD didn't ask for a product key.
I did try the Dell XP CD on a gateway box, it didn't find Dell in the Bios, so
it said...this computer does not meet the criteria for installation or such
and setup closed.
Click to expand...

OK, so the Dell OS installation CEs look for a Dell-branded BIOS,
and not for a specific Dell machine.

The Dell branded (on the sleeve) MS Office SB CD did ask for a key.
Each system came with a CD set, so for the Office install, I had to get
the key from each computer's packet.
Click to expand...

OK, so the Dell Office installation CDs apparently don't know the
manufacturer of the machine.

My older Dell systems (P2-P3) usually came with an actual OEM
Windows disk that didn't have Dell's name anywhere but on the package.
The newer ones came with a Dell branded reinstall disk.
But I haven't gotten a new Dell in a couple years, so I couldn't swear
what they are currently including.
Click to expand...

The XPS M1330 laptop that I bought in early February came with
a couple Vista installation DVDs that have "Dell" on their labels. The
machine's BIOS does have the service tag number, so it identifies my
specific machine, but I strongly doubt that Dell would go to the trouble
to burn two DVDs with that service tag number in them. In short, I
expect that only the OS installation disks look for a Dell-branded BIOS,
and that the MS application installation disks all ask for activation keys.

*TimDaniels*
 
So far, I have not seen a Dell branded Office CD, just an MS Office CD with
Dell packaging.
The OS reinstall CD was actually branded Dell directly on the disk instead
of on the MS hologram.
 
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