How to install XP on a Vista PC

Hi

No one can help you because you did not say what laptop you have ,

some inspirons you can install XP on and some you can not witch one do you

have ? 

 

Absek,  You need 2 things in order to install XP on your laptop:

 

1. A valid Windows XP CD or DVD

2. All of the XP drivers for your laptop.

 

You can do a search in the Dell Support area for all drivers available for your laptop.  As long as Dell has created them you can download them for free.  You especially want any Chipset, Audio, Video, and Networking drivers.  I typically download all of the drivers for a prticular OS whether they are Hardware Drivers, Application updates, or utilities.  Dell does a pretty good job with providing what you need.

 

Once you have the drivers, you'll boot up with the XP CD or DVD and do a brand new install, erasing the partition, and letting XP format the hard drive.  A quick format is okay to do. 

 

Once that is done and you boot up XP, right click on 'My Computer' and select 'Manage' and then select 'Device Manager'.  You'll see a bunch of yellow triangles with exclamation points in them.

 

Now is the time to start loading the device drivers.  Start with the chipset, Video, Audio, and then Network drivers...

 

Then you should be good to go!

 

Hope this helps.

 

WW

Hi

 

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/installxpcdnewhdd/indexfullpage.htm

 

   1. System Software
   2. Chipset Driver
   3. Video (Display) Driver
   4. Audio (Sound) Driver
   5. Modem Driver
   6. Network Controller Driver (includes Wireless Network)
   7. Printer Driver

 

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&ServiceTag=&SystemID=INSPIRONI6400/E1505&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=

 

 

 

From Chris

My computer
Dell Dimension 1100
Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3
512 MB of Ram
Nvidia Geforce FX 5200 256MB
Intel Celeron CPU 2.53GHz
Dell E196FP
HDD WDC WD800BB-75JCO 80GB C:
HDD Samsung SV2042H 20GB F:
TSSTcorp CDRWDVD TS-H492C D:
LITE-ON DVDRW LDW-851S E:
Linksys Wireless-G WUSB54GS With SpeedBooster
Logitech Cordless Desktop EX 90
Logitech Cordless Click Plus Rechargeable Optical Mouse
Mozilla Firefox 3.0
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1

My Security Software
Avanquest SystemSuite 8 Professional
Windows Defender

Sorry if I was not specific on my model. I have Inspiron 6400 laptop

Thank you all for the suggestions.My fear was that as Vista is more recent product than XP, I may not be able to uninstall Vista using XP.

 

But now I am getting confidence from your replys that it's possible and planning to buy XP.I am checking the price of XP in the net and observing that the price of OEM version is a lot cheaper than the retail one.I hope that the OEM version should work fine on my laptop if I buy it. Any thoughts on this ?:smileyhappy:

OEM version are exactly like the full verions. The only two drawbacks with OEM are

One once you install it on a machine it is locked to that machine when activated.

You get no support from Microsoft for software issues as you are assumed to be the OEM like for example Dell.

Other than that there is no issue. I installed an OEM version of Vista X64 and if runs just fine.

Thanks Dave.So does it mean that if I install and activate OEM version I can't reinstall it in future even if my hard drive crashes? And can I able to download and install any security patch/update for windows in OEM version?

Oh yes if on the same system you can reinstall. The disk is just locked to that system. You might have to contact M$ if you were to do a major changeout, ie like a motherboard but that is not a hard and fast rule. What the OEM limits you from doing is using the Disk on another computer system even if you uninstall it from the current one.

AS for all other windows functions they work just as normal, there is no difference. To me there is enough info available on the net to handle most software issues and I feel I have a good working knowledge of the operating system to forgo the +100 difference of a full retail version. Course this is something each individual should consider when looking at OEM. If you feel you can handle your own software issues then to me I would save the money and go with an OEM disk.