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Install XP on a Vista laptop?


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Posted

I bought XP Pro for my desktop.

 

Now I'm in the market for a new laptop. The new laptops seem only to have

Vista on them.

 

I'm curious about removing the OEM Vista and replacing it with my XP Pro

that I bought.

 

That raises two questions:

 

- am I allowed to take the XP Pro that I bought and also install it on my

laptop?

 

- what kind of trouble am I asking for (and I'm sure there is trouble,

ranging from "some" to "plenty") by replacing the original OEM Vista with XP

Pro?

 

Thanks for any inputs/opinions/facts.

 

John

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Guest Xandros
Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

The word "also" implies that you already have the version of XP installed

somewhere else. If that is true then you can not legally have XP installed

on more that one system at a time. So it will need to be removed from any

other system(s) it may be on before you can install it on the new system.

 

I bought a cheap Acer laptop recently. Dumped the OEM Vista on it and

installed XP Pro. It runs fine. The main problem is finding XP drivers. It

can be a bit challenging to find XP drivers for some systems. What is the

make and model of the laptop?

 

--

 

Xandros

 

 

"JMF" <jfavaro@tin.it> wrote in message

news:%23v0lkQ7zIHA.3968@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>I bought XP Pro for my desktop.

>

> Now I'm in the market for a new laptop. The new laptops seem only to have

> Vista on them.

>

> I'm curious about removing the OEM Vista and replacing it with my XP Pro

> that I bought.

>

> That raises two questions:

>

> - am I allowed to take the XP Pro that I bought and also install it on my

> laptop?

>

> - what kind of trouble am I asking for (and I'm sure there is trouble,

> ranging from "some" to "plenty") by replacing the original OEM Vista with

> XP Pro?

>

> Thanks for any inputs/opinions/facts.

>

> John

>

>

Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

"JMF" <jfavaro@tin.it> wrote:

>I bought XP Pro for my desktop.

>

>Now I'm in the market for a new laptop. The new laptops seem only to have

>Vista on them.

>

>I'm curious about removing the OEM Vista and replacing it with my XP Pro

>that I bought.

>

>That raises two questions:

>

>- am I allowed to take the XP Pro that I bought and also install it on my

>laptop?

 

No. Never. Period.

>- what kind of trouble am I asking for (and I'm sure there is trouble,

>ranging from "some" to "plenty") by replacing the original OEM Vista with XP

>Pro?

 

Check the laptop manufacturer's website to see if they provide XP

drivers for your laptop. You will definitely need them.

Guest Malke
Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

JMF wrote:

> I bought XP Pro for my desktop.

>

> Now I'm in the market for a new laptop. The new laptops seem only to have

> Vista on them.

>

> I'm curious about removing the OEM Vista and replacing it with my XP Pro

> that I bought.

>

> That raises two questions:

>

> - am I allowed to take the XP Pro that I bought and also install it on my

> laptop?

>

> - what kind of trouble am I asking for (and I'm sure there is trouble,

> ranging from "some" to "plenty") by replacing the original OEM Vista with

> XP Pro?

 

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.

 

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

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com

Don't Panic!

Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

 

"Xandros" <arron.neus*remove*@gmai.lcom> wrote in message

news:eXqhxU7zIHA.4816@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> The word "also" implies that you already have the version of XP installed

> somewhere else. If that is true then you can not legally have XP installed

> on more that one system at a time. So it will need to be removed from any

> other system(s) it may be on before you can install it on the new system.

 

Then that probably kills the idea right there: I did indeed mean "install it

on BOTH the desktop and laptop." I'm probably not willing to buy a second

XP.

> I bought a cheap Acer laptop recently. Dumped the OEM Vista on it and

> installed XP Pro. It runs fine. The main problem is finding XP drivers. It

> can be a bit challenging to find XP drivers for some systems. What is the

> make and model of the laptop?

 

Nothing yet -- just looking around so far and wanted to know what my options

were. Thanks for the feedback!

 

John

> --

>

> Xandros

>

>

> "JMF" <jfavaro@tin.it> wrote in message

> news:%23v0lkQ7zIHA.3968@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>I bought XP Pro for my desktop.

>>

>> Now I'm in the market for a new laptop. The new laptops seem only to have

>> Vista on them.

>>

>> I'm curious about removing the OEM Vista and replacing it with my XP Pro

>> that I bought.

>>

>> That raises two questions:

>>

>> - am I allowed to take the XP Pro that I bought and also install it on my

>> laptop?

>>

>> - what kind of trouble am I asking for (and I'm sure there is trouble,

>> ranging from "some" to "plenty") by replacing the original OEM Vista with

>> XP Pro?

>>

>> Thanks for any inputs/opinions/facts.

>>

>> John

>>

>>

>

>

Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

 

"PD43" <pauld1943@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:nqqc549i044dqhk6a9fifciivag0ldfs0j@4ax.com...

> "JMF" <jfavaro@tin.it> wrote:

>

>>I bought XP Pro for my desktop.

>>

>>Now I'm in the market for a new laptop. The new laptops seem only to have

>>Vista on them.

>>

>>I'm curious about removing the OEM Vista and replacing it with my XP Pro

>>that I bought.

>>

>>That raises two questions:

>>

>>- am I allowed to take the XP Pro that I bought and also install it on my

>>laptop?

>

> No. Never. Period.

>

>>- what kind of trouble am I asking for (and I'm sure there is trouble,

>>ranging from "some" to "plenty") by replacing the original OEM Vista with

>>XP

>>Pro?

>

> Check the laptop manufacturer's website to see if they provide XP

> drivers for your laptop. You will definitely need them.

 

Thanks - that exactly answers my two questions.

 

John

Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

Great info, thanks very much!

 

"Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> wrote in message

news:%234HKoX7zIHA.4816@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> JMF wrote:

>

>> I bought XP Pro for my desktop.

>>

>> Now I'm in the market for a new laptop. The new laptops seem only to have

>> Vista on them.

>>

>> I'm curious about removing the OEM Vista and replacing it with my XP Pro

>> that I bought.

>>

>> That raises two questions:

>>

>> - am I allowed to take the XP Pro that I bought and also install it on my

>> laptop?

>>

>> - what kind of trouble am I asking for (and I'm sure there is trouble,

>> ranging from "some" to "plenty") by replacing the original OEM Vista with

>> XP Pro?

>

> 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.

>

> 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

> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com

> Don't Panic!

Guest Patrick Keenan
Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

"JMF" <jfavaro@tin.it> wrote in message

news:%23v0lkQ7zIHA.3968@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>I bought XP Pro for my desktop.

>

> Now I'm in the market for a new laptop. The new laptops seem only to have

> Vista on them.

 

This is not exclusively the case. It's certainly not the case for laptops

designed for the business market. There, you can usually get XP Pro as an

option.,

 

Note that Business and Ultimate versions of Vista qualify for XP Pro

downgrades - this does not apply to any version with the word HOME in the

name.

 

Before you start you must absolutely be sure that the laptop manufacturer

has all the XP drivers you need for that system, available for download.

 

If these are not available, do NOT proceed.

>

> I'm curious about removing the OEM Vista and replacing it with my XP Pro

> that I bought.

>

> That raises two questions:

>

> - am I allowed to take the XP Pro that I bought and also install it on my

> laptop?

 

If it's a retail version and not installed elsewhere, yes. If it's

installed elsewhere or is an already-installed OEM version, no.

 

> - what kind of trouble am I asking for (and I'm sure there is trouble,

> ranging from "some" to "plenty") by replacing the original OEM Vista with

> XP Pro?

 

The best thing to do is to get a system with the OS you actually need, in

the first place. This will enable all the warranties and support plans.

 

The next easiest thing to do is remove the original hard disk, set it aside,

and do the XP install to a new drive.

 

The worst thing to do is to remove Vista from the system, and then install

XP to a system that has no available XP drivers. You are most likely to

disable key components.

 

Get the *right* laptop in the first place.

 

HTH

-pk

>

> Thanks for any inputs/opinions/facts.

>

> John

>

>

Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

Patrick,

 

Many thanks - I didn't know nearly everything you said, in particular the

option to "downgrade". And your point about just getting the laptop you need

in the first place is well taken.

 

John

 

"Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message

news:uCc%234v8zIHA.5716@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> "JMF" <jfavaro@tin.it> wrote in message

> news:%23v0lkQ7zIHA.3968@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>I bought XP Pro for my desktop.

>>

>> Now I'm in the market for a new laptop. The new laptops seem only to have

>> Vista on them.

>

> This is not exclusively the case. It's certainly not the case for

> laptops designed for the business market. There, you can usually get XP

> Pro as an option.,

>

> Note that Business and Ultimate versions of Vista qualify for XP Pro

> downgrades - this does not apply to any version with the word HOME in the

> name.

>

> Before you start you must absolutely be sure that the laptop manufacturer

> has all the XP drivers you need for that system, available for download.

>

> If these are not available, do NOT proceed.

>

>>

>> I'm curious about removing the OEM Vista and replacing it with my XP Pro

>> that I bought.

>>

>> That raises two questions:

>>

>> - am I allowed to take the XP Pro that I bought and also install it on my

>> laptop?

>

> If it's a retail version and not installed elsewhere, yes. If it's

> installed elsewhere or is an already-installed OEM version, no.

>

>

>> - what kind of trouble am I asking for (and I'm sure there is trouble,

>> ranging from "some" to "plenty") by replacing the original OEM Vista with

>> XP Pro?

>

> The best thing to do is to get a system with the OS you actually need, in

> the first place. This will enable all the warranties and support plans.

>

> The next easiest thing to do is remove the original hard disk, set it

> aside, and do the XP install to a new drive.

>

> The worst thing to do is to remove Vista from the system, and then install

> XP to a system that has no available XP drivers. You are most likely to

> disable key components.

>

> Get the *right* laptop in the first place.

>

> HTH

> -pk

>

>>

>> Thanks for any inputs/opinions/facts.

>>

>> John

>>

>>

>

Guest VanguardLH
Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

"JMF" wrote in <news:#v0lkQ7zIHA.3968@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl>:

> I bought XP Pro for my desktop.

>

> Now I'm in the market for a new laptop. The new laptops seem only to have

> Vista on them.

>

> I'm curious about removing the OEM Vista and replacing it with my XP Pro

> that I bought.

 

That means you will have to wipe Windows XP Pro from your desktop since

you only have 1 license of it to have it installed on 1 computer.

> That raises two questions:

>

> - am I allowed to take the XP Pro that I bought and also install it on my

> laptop?

 

No ... however ...

 

If and only if you have the Ultimate or Business version of Vista OEM on

your new laptop, you have downgrade rights to install Windows XP. How

you downgrade depends from whom you got the OEM version of Vista on your

laptop. If it is a generic OEM version, one process that I've seen

mentioned is to do the Windows XP install (format the OS partition and

install a fresh copy of XP) and then activate but use the phone number

to call a Microsoft rep by giving them the Vista product key for which

they will give you back a product code to activate the XP install.

Otherwise, you have to contact whomever is the OEM for whatever brand of

laptop that you got to ask them how to downgrade.

> - what kind of trouble am I asking for (and I'm sure there is trouble,

> ranging from "some" to "plenty") by replacing the original OEM Vista with XP

> Pro?

 

None if you follow their licensing.

Guest VanguardLH
Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

"VanguardLH" wrote in

<news:hMadnTEhjLyrfcvVnZ2dnUVZ_rvinZ2d@comcast.com>:

> "JMF" wrote in <news:#v0lkQ7zIHA.3968@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl>:

>

>> I bought XP Pro for my desktop.

>>

>> Now I'm in the market for a new laptop. The new laptops seem only to have

>> Vista on them.

>>

>> I'm curious about removing the OEM Vista and replacing it with my XP Pro

>> that I bought.

>

> That means you will have to wipe Windows XP Pro from your desktop since

> you only have 1 license of it to have it installed on 1 computer.

>

>> That raises two questions:

>>

>> - am I allowed to take the XP Pro that I bought and also install it on my

>> laptop?

>

> No ... however ...

>

> If and only if you have the Ultimate or Business version of Vista OEM on

> your new laptop, you have downgrade rights to install Windows XP. How

> you downgrade depends from whom you got the OEM version of Vista on your

> laptop. If it is a generic OEM version, one process that I've seen

> mentioned is to do the Windows XP install (format the OS partition and

> install a fresh copy of XP) and then activate but use the phone number

> to call a Microsoft rep by giving them the Vista product key for which

> they will give you back a product code to activate the XP install.

> Otherwise, you have to contact whomever is the OEM for whatever brand of

> laptop that you got to ask them how to downgrade.

>

>> - what kind of trouble am I asking for (and I'm sure there is trouble,

>> ranging from "some" to "plenty") by replacing the original OEM Vista with XP

>> Pro?

>

> None if you follow their licensing.

 

Just to clarify: you have 2 Windows licenses. One will be used by your

desktop (Windows XP). The other license is the Vista license (which you

can use to downgrade to Windows XP). So you are allowed to use the

Windows XP installation media on the laptop but you are NOT using its

license there. Instead you are converting your Vista license via

downgrade rights to a Windows XP license.

 

Be aware that some laptop manufacturers don't provide Windows XP drivers

for their hardware. They may have designed their laptop to be usable

with Windows Vista and they only supply Windows Vista drivers. This can

result in losing hardware usability or some of its functionality when

you downgrade to Windows XP. You need to check if the laptop's hardware

has Windows XP drivers for it all.

Guest Daave
Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

"Xandros" <arron.neus*remove*@gmai.lcom> wrote in message

news:eXqhxU7zIHA.4816@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> I bought a cheap Acer laptop recently. Dumped the OEM Vista on it and

> installed XP Pro. It runs fine. The main problem is finding XP

> drivers.

 

Perhaps you can share with me any snags you may have hit. My

sister-in-law has an Acer Aspire 5100-3357 that came with Vista Home

Premium. She hates Vista. I would like to install XP as part of a dual

boot. The Acer site seems to have all the necessary XP drivers for this

laptop. Do you have any advice for me before I undertake this project?

Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

 

"VanguardLH" <V@nguard.LH> wrote in message

news:HdmdnVKJa8EDf8vVnZ2dnUVZ_gqdnZ2d@comcast.com...

> "VanguardLH" wrote in

> <news:hMadnTEhjLyrfcvVnZ2dnUVZ_rvinZ2d@comcast.com>:

>

>> "JMF" wrote in <news:#v0lkQ7zIHA.3968@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl>:

>>

>>> I bought XP Pro for my desktop.

>>>

>>> Now I'm in the market for a new laptop. The new laptops seem only to

>>> have

>>> Vista on them.

>>>

>>> I'm curious about removing the OEM Vista and replacing it with my XP Pro

>>> that I bought.

>>

>> That means you will have to wipe Windows XP Pro from your desktop since

>> you only have 1 license of it to have it installed on 1 computer.

>>

>>> That raises two questions:

>>>

>>> - am I allowed to take the XP Pro that I bought and also install it on

>>> my

>>> laptop?

>>

>> No ... however ...

>>

>> If and only if you have the Ultimate or Business version of Vista OEM on

>> your new laptop, you have downgrade rights to install Windows XP. How

>> you downgrade depends from whom you got the OEM version of Vista on your

>> laptop. If it is a generic OEM version, one process that I've seen

>> mentioned is to do the Windows XP install (format the OS partition and

>> install a fresh copy of XP) and then activate but use the phone number

>> to call a Microsoft rep by giving them the Vista product key for which

>> they will give you back a product code to activate the XP install.

>> Otherwise, you have to contact whomever is the OEM for whatever brand of

>> laptop that you got to ask them how to downgrade.

>>

>>> - what kind of trouble am I asking for (and I'm sure there is trouble,

>>> ranging from "some" to "plenty") by replacing the original OEM Vista

>>> with XP

>>> Pro?

>>

>> None if you follow their licensing.

>

> Just to clarify: you have 2 Windows licenses. One will be used by your

> desktop (Windows XP). The other license is the Vista license (which you

> can use to downgrade to Windows XP). So you are allowed to use the

> Windows XP installation media on the laptop but you are NOT using its

> license there. Instead you are converting your Vista license via

> downgrade rights to a Windows XP license.

>

> Be aware that some laptop manufacturers don't provide Windows XP drivers

> for their hardware. They may have designed their laptop to be usable

> with Windows Vista and they only supply Windows Vista drivers. This can

> result in losing hardware usability or some of its functionality when

> you downgrade to Windows XP. You need to check if the laptop's hardware

> has Windows XP drivers for it all.

 

Thanks, VanguardLH. Now I think I recognize what you're referring to from

the Dell Computer site, where they seem to talk about the "XP Downgrade."

Now I see how the licensing system works. I'm sure (well, not sure, but it

would be pretty bad if it wasn't true ...) that if a manufacturer offers the

downgrade then they must offer the drivers.

 

Thanks again,

 

John

Guest VanguardLH
Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

"JMF" wrote in <news:OKnPgsE0IHA.3968@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl>:

> I'm sure (well, not sure, but it would be pretty bad if it wasn't true

> ...) that if a manufacturer offers the downgrade then they must offer

> the drivers.

 

Faith springs eternal.

Reality bites.

Posted

Re: Install XP on a Vista laptop?

 

 

"VanguardLH" <V@nguard.LH> wrote in message

news:YeOdnUDwY-NPMsXVnZ2dnUVZ_jKdnZ2d@comcast.com...

> "JMF" wrote in <news:OKnPgsE0IHA.3968@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl>:

>

>> I'm sure (well, not sure, but it would be pretty bad if it wasn't true

>> ...) that if a manufacturer offers the downgrade then they must offer

>> the drivers.

>

> Faith springs eternal.

> Reality bites.

 

:-D

 

How true, how true!!


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