replacing vista

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.

On May 11, 12:00*am, dls1949 <dls1...@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:
> 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.

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" <> wrote in message
news:93D2240B-22FC-4461-9FD3-...
> 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.

dls1949 wrote:
> 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.

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.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

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" <> wrote in message
news:93D2240B-22FC-4461-9FD3-...
> 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.

dls1949 wrote:

> 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.

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/...alling_Windows - What
you will need on-hand

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

dls1949 wrote:
> 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.


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...B;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://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

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

On Sat, 10 May 2008 22:24:37 -0600, "Earle Horton"
<earleh_nospam_@live.com> wrote:

>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.

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.

OF course, this is a violation of your Dell agreement, as well as a
violation of your Vista EULA.

>Good luck,
>
>Earle
>
>"dls1949" <> wrote in message
>news:93D2240B-22FC-4461-9FD3-...
>> Vista came w/laptop. I want xp instead. I tried installing xp over vista
>> (no
>> luck).

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

>> I reformatted and xp said a newer version was already loaded and
>> wouldnt continue.

Apparently, you did NOT "reformat" the Vista partition in the process.
>> Is there anything else I can do w/out getting another
>> hard
>> drive. Help is appreciated. Thanks.

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.


Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the correct thread and article.
================================================

On Sat, 10 May 2008 23:44:34 -0500, "Shenan Stanley"
<> wrote:

>dls1949 wrote:
>> 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.
>
>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.
>
>--
>Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP

Actually, I would not call that "downgrading", since one is actually
just "installing a different OS", since only Business and Ultimate
have Microsoft "downgrade" rights.

I wish intently that SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, who is AUTHORITATIVE-enough
for everyone to believe his advice, would INSTRUCT folks about the
differences between how MICROSOFT uses the term "downgrade" (a LEGAL
term to Microsoft, NOT a "technical" one) and the way USERS use the
term (a TECHNICAL meaning, NOT a LEGAL definition.)

THEN we would be able to get the IDEA across to novices in such a way
that they would be able to UNDERSTAND us.

As a general rule, when users want to "downgrade" from a newer OS to
an older one, they mean "HOW do DO it.", but when MICROSOFT uses the
term, they PRIMARILY mean "Is it within your License rights?"

Perhaps we should stop using the term to mean "HOW DO I DO IT?"

When I think about doing it, I think to myself, "am I allowed to do
this and keep my license intact?", NOT "HOW do I do it?", since the
ONLY way to physically DO it in the first place is to simply WIPE the
drive and install the OLDER OS rather than the NEWER one.

It MAY sound like playing with words, but there is a DEFINITE
difference between the concepts.

Face it:
IF you want to REMOVE VISTA, and install an OLDER OS, keep these
things in mind:

1) FIRST, and FOREMOST, it is NOT POSSIBLE to just install the older
OS over the top of the NEWER OS, as the OP found.
2) NEXT, ask yourself if you want to be able to "downgrade", according
to MICROSOFT's definition of the word, or just get rid of Vista, and
put XP on the drive.
3) Keep in mind, that ONLY Business and Ultimate have "rights" to
"DOWNGRADE" to XP, according to Microsoft.
4) ALSO keep in mind that NO MATTER WHAT you want to do, you will
ACTUALLY just be "removing Vista and replacing it with XP."
5) So the PROCEDURE for doing it will be the SAME in either case:
"DELETE the Vista Partition, and REPLACE it with a formatted partition
and a NORMAL installation of XP."

Considerations such as saving user data and programs are also
important, IF you don't already have BACKUPS of those data and
programs. If you already have them on EXTERNAL drives or disks, there
will be no need to worry: just wipe the drive, and use it for XP
instead.


Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the correct thread and article.
================================================

Donald L McDaniel wrote:
> On Sat, 10 May 2008 22:24:37 -0600, "Earle Horton"
> <earleh_nospam_@live.com> wrote:
>
>> 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.
>
> 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.

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.
>
>> Good luck,
>>
>> Earle
>>
>> "dls1949" <> wrote in message
>> news:93D2240B-22FC-4461-9FD3-...
>>> Vista came w/laptop. I want xp instead. I tried installing xp over vista
>>> (no
>>> luck).
>
> NO COMMENT, other than "completely idiotic" (sorry).
>
>>> I reformatted and xp said a newer version was already loaded and
>>> wouldnt continue.
>
> Apparently, you did NOT "reformat" the Vista partition in the process.
>>> Is there anything else I can do w/out getting another
>>> hard
>>> drive. Help is appreciated. Thanks.
>
> 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.


--
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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."
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