Uninstall Vista and Reinstall XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Karen
  • Start date Start date
Karen said:
I just got a new laptop with Vista OS. How can I uninstall Vista and
reinstall XP?
Click to expand...


The normal way to "uninstall" any operating system is to format
the hard drive and install a new OS of your choice.

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS
installation, simply boot from the WinXP Home 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 the backed up data can be restored and applications re-installed.

Why would you want to do this, though? Are you aware that by removing
the factory-installed OS, you may be voiding any warranty or support
agreements you may have? Why not just buy a laptop with the operating
system that you want?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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
 
Karen said:
I just got a new laptop with Vista OS. How can I uninstall Vista and
reinstall XP?
Click to expand...


Several points:

1. Although you may prefer XP to Vista, it is probable that you are simply
more familiar with it. If you would give yourself some time to become
accustomed to Vista, you might find that you like it. I know I do.

2. You can't literally "uninstall" Vista, but if you want XP instead, you
simply do a clean installation of XP the normal way. That will format the
drive, removing whatever is on it.

3. Do you already have a copy of XP you want to install? Did it come with
your old computer? If so you need to be aware that OEM versions (such as
those that came preinstalled on computers) are permanently tied by their
license to the first computer they are installed on. If that's your
situation, your copy of XP is not available to be used on your new laptop.

4. Over and above the licensing issue in point 3, many OEM version of
Windows XP are BIOS-locked to the computer they came with, and you actually
won't be able to install it on a different one.

5. You should check with your vendor to be sure, but the warranty on your
new computer may be voided if you change operating systems.

6. Laptops often have special drivers they need for components within them.
Your new laptop undoubtedly came with all the drivers needed for Vista, but
it didn't come with the drivers needed for Windows XP. Finding and getting
the drivers you need may be a problem.

If I were in your shoes, I'd stick with Vista.
 
Bruce said:
agreements you may have? Why not just buy a laptop with the operating
system that you want?
Click to expand...

Dell, for example, is offering only Vista on Inspiron laptops. It seems like
suicide to me, but what do I know.
 
Ron said:
Dell, for example, is offering only Vista on Inspiron laptops. It
seems like suicide to me, but what do I know.
Click to expand...



Has anyone here tried calling Dell (or other similar mail-order houses) and
asking whether they would substitute XP? I haven't but I'm curious as to how
they would respond.
 
Dell preloads all computer hard drives from a master computer operated bench.
They do not custom load for the customer.
However, they still have Windows XP Pro available as an option on the top of the line Precision
series of laptops desktops.
Big business swings some weight there.
 
Dell preloads all computer hard drives from a master computer operated bench.
They do not custom load for the customer.
However, they still have Windows XP Pro available as an option on the top of the line Precision
series of laptops desktops.
Big business swings some weight there.






- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

After thinking about it and getting some additional information (Dell
confirmed the unwarranted XP issue), I think I will stick it out with
Vista. It's really not that bad and has some cool features, I'm just
bummed I can't play some of my old games. Guess I'll upgrade to
better games!

Thanks for the input everyone!
 
Richard said:
Dell preloads all computer hard drives from a master computer
operated bench. They do not custom load for the customer.
Click to expand...


Thanks. I didn't mean just Dell, but other similar companies too. But my
guess is that what you say applies to most, if not all of them.


However, they still have Windows XP Pro available as an option on the
top of the line Precision series of laptops desktops.
Click to expand...


Thanks, I didn't know that.

Ken
 
Has anyone here tried calling Dell (or other similar mail-order houses) and
asking whether they would substitute XP? I haven't but I'm curious as to how
they would respond.
Click to expand...

Yes. They won't. (Dell)
 
If one chooses "Small Business", Dell, as do the other Big manufacturers,
offers the following choice on its laptops:
Genuine Windows VistaT
or
Genuine Windows® XP

Steve
 
Og said:
If one chooses "Small Business", Dell, as do the other Big manufacturers,
offers the following choice on its laptops:
Genuine Windows VistaT
or
Genuine Windows® XP
Click to expand...

Not on Inspirons.
 
Several points:

1. Although you may prefer XP to Vista, it is probable that you are simply
more familiar with it. If you would give yourself some time to become
accustomed to Vista, you might find that you like it. I know I do.

2. You can't literally "uninstall" Vista, but if you want XP instead, you
simply do a clean installation of XP the normal way. That will format the
drive, removing whatever is on it.

3. Do you already have a copy of XP you want to install? Did it come with
your old computer? If so you need to be aware that OEM versions (such as
those that came preinstalled on computers) are permanently tied by their
license to the first computer they are installed on. If that's your
situation, your copy of XP is not available to be used on your new laptop.

4. Over and above the licensing issue in point 3, many OEM version of
Windows XP are BIOS-locked to the computer they came with, and you actually
won't be able to install it on a different one.

5. You should check with your vendor to be sure, but the warranty on your
new computer may be voided if you change operating systems.

6. Laptops often have special drivers they need for components within them.
Your new laptop undoubtedly came with all the drivers needed for Vista, but
it didn't come with the drivers needed for Windows XP. Finding and getting
the drivers you need may be a problem.

If I were in your shoes, I'd stick with Vista.
Click to expand...
Assuming the user has a retail version of XP, and can install it on the
Vista machine, could he use Virtual PC to run his old games? How well
would that work?
 
kooka said:
I bought a laptop, right before the Vista release and foolishly used the
free upgrade :(

So now I am stuck with no wireless modem, the fingerprint security
doesn't work, as well as some other issues,
Click to expand...

That would indicate that you didn't load the Vista drivers for the hardware,
possibly not even the core chipset drivers. Don't expect Vista to have all
the drivers; XP sure doesn't, even after what, five years?

When building a new XP system, the first step after XP itself is installed
is to use the board manufacturer's CD to install the basic drivers so that
basic hardware can actually work. There's no reason to think that Vista
would work any differently.

Try going to the manufacturer's site and downloading those Vista drivers for
your laptop. If they were offering the laptop as Vista-ready, they *do*
have them.
{not to mention the game
incompatibilities}.

If I reinstall XP will I be able to use these items again, or are they
corrupted?
Click to expand...

You'd have to locate and reinstall the drivers before they can be used.
hmm I guess I should see if I have all the disks huh.
Click to expand...

That would be a good place to start, whether you were installing XP or
Vista.

You do need to be sure that you have access to all the drivers *before*
starting any upgrade. It's best to have them on hand.

HTH
-pk
 
kooka said:
thanks for your reply :)


I'm not sure they were, but I did kind of expect it to be yes.

I have tried searching for the new drivers, but it just says I have the
best ones installed.
Click to expand...

Don't use the update features for this. Go to the manufacturer's site and
locate the drivers manually.

Browse to their support pages for your system and look for driver downloads.
You should find a choice of OS versions, then the available drivers.
Download them all and save them to something like CD, as you will need them
later.

Some of the software {the fingerprint one} just isn't compatable with
vista, hopefully they may bring something out soon...
Click to expand...

Then the system wasn't vista-ready.

It is frustrating, that's all. The XP did everything I needed it to
do, I could run all the software I wanted, and now I can't. Tis my
mistake.
Click to expand...

You'll still need the XP drivers for the hardware, because you will almost
certainly have to wipe the drive and start from a format to reinstall XP.

HTH
-pk
 
kooka said:
thanks for your reply :)


I'm not sure they were, but I did kind of expect it to be yes.

I have tried searching for the new drivers, but it just says I have the
best ones installed.

Some of the software {the fingerprint one} just isn't compatable with
vista, hopefully they may bring something out soon...

It is frustrating, that's all. The XP did everything I needed it to
do, I could run all the software I wanted, and now I can't. Tis my
mistake.
Click to expand...
Yep. Always remember "If it ain't broke - don't fix it". In this brave
new world "Only upgrade if you have a reason- not because your SW
supplier wants to sell a new version".
 
Back
Top