Hello Bob :smileyhappy:

 

OK, I won`t say anything.

 

Of course you can install XP.  Just reformat and partition during the install

 

Clean Install    
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

 

http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_pro_install_-_graphic.htm

However I think you should make the Recovery DVD (or whatever option is supplied with the machine) before wiping out Vista.

You might want it later.

Well, thank you dunedin.  I couldn't find anything negative by googling each of the components, but I had to ask the question anyway because I haven't been following the Vista threads very closely.

 

And I will certainly save Vista for reinstall, since I'm sure I will be able to use it eventually.  My conflicting hardware supplier says they are working "diligently" to resolve the issues, but don't expect a solution before the end of the year, thank you very much.

 

In case you're remotely interested, the issues are with usb/serial devices for controlling a ham radio station through the PC.  And the software is computer logging with macros and scripts.

 

Anyway,  thanks again for the reassurance.

 

Bob

Ah yes, I was wondering what your problems were :smileyhappy:

Seems to me that it is worth hanging on to XP for that!

 

We are all waiting for various conflicts to be solved for Vista, but the end of the year......that`s a bit much. :smileymad:  Hope it doesn`t take as long as that for you.

 

 

 

 

Just remember that installing XP Home will invalidate your warranty so Dell won't be obligated to support your system unless you revert to the configuration that shipped from the factory.

ok so! i need a SP2 cd for that not to happen "pci.sys" ehhh... i dont have a SP2 ver cd so im going to have to find a cheap pci video card and use that? im kind of lost on that site you sent me..... i have the windows XP cd but it is not SP2 so where do i go now? im starting to d/l "Full Network Install version of Windows XP Service Pack 2Full Network Install version of Windows XP Service Pack 2" that right? if so now what? haha im so sorry about this.

Hello Doogie :smileyhappy:

 

The usual cause of that error is that your XP installation CD does not have SP2 on it

You need Windows XP SP2 to support a PCI-Express graphics card.

If you are using only PCI-Express graphics card, the only choice is to boot from the complete edition of Windows XP SP2.

 

Make a slipstreamed XPSP2 installation CD

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

It`s OK.  You don`t need to apologise.

 

Here is another link. See if it is any easier for you.  Never mind any the techie talk, just follow the steps which are explained quite well

 

http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.html

 

There is also a link at the bottom about how to burn your image to a CD.

 

I don`t know how else I can help you.  I suppose you could try another video card to install XP and then install SP2 and put the good card back in after. 

 

It would be best for you to have a slipstreamed SP2CD for the future.  You won`t be able to repair XP unless you have one.

 

It is after 1am here and I`m off to bed now.  You are on your own till tomorrow unless someone else chips in.:smileyhappy:

Tim, dunedin et al,

 

Haven't been ignorling you, but have been preoccupied with dual booting Vista and XP when Vista is already installed and XP isn't.  Now the normal process is to load the older OS first, and that's pretty easy to do.  With Vista pre-installed, it becomes a whole 'nother issue.  Well, I finally figured it out, so I won't be removing Vista after all.  In the process, I found a neat little piece of freeware to setup the actual dual boot.  It's called EasyBCD.exe, and greatly simplifies the process.

 

Adieu, or, if your real name is Billy Bob, Adios Muchachos.

 

Bob