Installing XP to replace Vista

[Guest Charleehorse]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]]

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]

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

 

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