Guest Charleehorse Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility issues, and am generally not a fan of Vista. My questions are: 1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista? If so, am I able to use a XP Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need the full version to change the OS. 2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop, which has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use this disk again (assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)?
Guest Malke Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 Re: Installing XP to replace Vista Charleehorse wrote: > I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility > issues, and am generally not a fan of Vista. > > My questions are: > > 1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista? If so, am I able to use a XP > Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need the full > version to change the OS. > 2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop, > which has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use this > disk again (assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)? You should be able to use the XP upgrade disk as long as you have qualifying media such as a Windows 98/ME installation disk. Here is general information about replacing Vista with XP: A. 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. B. On a generic/home-built computer (from non-OEM company) - You will need drivers for all your hardware. See the second link below for more details: http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What you will need on-hand Malke -- MS-MVP Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic! FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
Guest Thee Chicago Wolf Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 Re: Installing XP to replace Vista >I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility issues, >and am generally not a fan of Vista. > >My questions are: > >1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista? If so, am I able to use a XP >Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need the full >version to change the OS. >2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop, which >has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use this disk again >(assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)? Should be able to, yes. You may want to slipstream it with SP3 using nlite 1.4.9.1 however. - Thee Chicago Wolf
Guest Alias Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 Re: Installing XP to replace Vista Charleehorse wrote: > I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility issues, > and am generally not a fan of Vista. > > My questions are: > > 1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista? If so, am I able to use a XP > Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need the full > version to change the OS. > 2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop, which > has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use this disk again > (assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)? First find out if there are XP drivers for your lap top. If so, you will have to wipe the hard drive and use a copy of 98/Me/W2K to use the upgrade XP CD. Alias
Guest R. McCarty Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 Re: Installing XP to replace Vista By whatever type of XP you use, you'll have to do a clean install. There are several major issues to contend with. Number one and most important is are there XP drivers for the notebook ? Secondly if the notebook has a SATA drive controller, XP does not natively have drivers/support for AHCI. For installation of XP you'll need to change the SATA controller mode to Legacy in the notebook BIOS setup. To qualify for upgrade you'd need a previous operating system. I'm not sure what downgrade rights are available unless the Vista on the notebook is Business or Ultimate - which confers automatic downgrade rights to XP. It might be best to call the Vendor and ask what they can do for you in the way of downgrade rights or an XP image for your model. Be aware that certain hardware in recent notebooks ( Audio/Modem ) may present real issues with getting drivers. "Charleehorse" <Charleehorse@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:CCA94D74-5767-4C06-A39D-8761C6BBD289@microsoft.com... >I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility >issues, > and am generally not a fan of Vista. > > My questions are: > > 1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista? If so, am I able to use a XP > Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need the full > version to change the OS. > 2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop, > which > has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use this disk > again > (assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)?
Guest HeyBub Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 Re: Installing XP to replace Vista Charleehorse wrote: > I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility > issues, and am generally not a fan of Vista. > > My questions are: > > 1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista? If so, am I able to use > a XP Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need > the full version to change the OS. > 2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop, > which has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use > this disk again (assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)? To rephrase what others have said: You may not be able to run XP on your new laptop. If the laptop was built to run Vista, there may not be drivers to allow XP to interact with the newer hardware on the laptop.
Guest PA Bear [MS MVP] Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 Re: Installing XP to replace Vista What Malke and most others said. Note that downgrading a Vista machine to WinXP is not necessarily without its issues, especially a Notebook PC. Doing so will almost certainly void your Warranty and any Service Contracts you've purchased. -- ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002 AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net DTS-L http://dts-l.net/ Charleehorse wrote: > I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility > issues, and am generally not a fan of Vista. > > My questions are: > > 1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista? If so, am I able to use a XP > Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need the full > version to change the OS. > 2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop, > which > has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use this disk > again > (assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)?
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 Re: Installing XP to replace Vista Charleehorse wrote: > I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility issues, > and am generally not a fan of Vista. > > My questions are: > > 1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista? 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. > If so, am I able to use a XP > Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need the full > version to change the OS. You'll need to obtain a full version. > 2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop, which > has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use this disk again > (assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)? The WinXP Upgrade license could be reused to upgrade another qualifying OS, but not in the scenario you've laid forth. -- 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
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