Formating from Vista back to XP

[Deci]

About four months ago, I installed Vista on my HP Pavillion a1616n. Recently,
I've came to realize how idiot-proof Vista is, and how much that bugs me. I
want to re-format my drive to factory settings, I.E: Go back to XP Sp2.

Ever since I installed Vista onto my hard-drive, it allows me to boot my
computer and select if I want to load Windows Vista or "Earlier Version of
Windows". When I click to load the earlier version, it brings up a command
window, asking what I want to load, the only one being C:\Windows.

If I Load this it asks for an Administator password, which I don't know. My
account is the "Admin" account, since im the only user of the computer, and
entering my login password doesn't work. Whats the typical standard pass for
this, and how do I choose to format\load XP after entering this pass?

If the boot-up way isn't the normal format way, then what is? Any and all
answers\suggestions are welcome.

(Also: Computer did not come with factory CD's. Figured thats what the D:\
is for instead.)

 

[Vigilante]

Applause!!!

About four months ago, I installed Vista on my HP Pavillion a1616n. Recently,
I've came to realize how idiot-proof Vista is, and how much that bugs me. I
want to re-format my drive to factory settings, I.E: Go back to XP Sp2.

Ever since I installed Vista onto my hard-drive, it allows me to boot my
computer and select if I want to load Windows Vista or "Earlier Version of
Windows". When I click to load the earlier version, it brings up a command
window, asking what I want to load, the only one being C:\Windows.

If I Load this it asks for an Administator password, which I don't know. My
account is the "Admin" account, since im the only user of the computer, and
entering my login password doesn't work. Whats the typical standard pass for
this, and how do I choose to format\load XP after entering this pass?

If the boot-up way isn't the normal format way, then what is? Any and all
answers\suggestions are welcome.

(Also: Computer did not come with factory CD's. Figured thats what the D:\
is for instead.)

 

[Deci]

No, I do not have a "destructive" option. When I boot the computer and hit
F10, im prompted with this window:


Choose the drive to boot from:

1:C:\Windows
2:\
3:\

Anyways, I select option 1 and it asks for Admin password. My computer sign
in password does NOT work.

Selection 2 and 3 just reply with something along the lines of "Invalid
Drive Command".

 

[Bruce Chambers]

No, I do not have a "destructive" option. When I boot the computer and hit
F10, im prompted with this window:


Choose the drive to boot from:

1:C:\Windows
2:\
3:\

Anyways, I select option 1 and it asks for Admin password. My computer sign
in password does NOT work.

The password being requested is that of the built-in
_Administrator_ account, not the password for any other administrative
user accounts that the computer's owner may have created. If you never
set one, it should still be blank.

Selection 2 and 3 just reply with something along the lines of "Invalid
Drive Command".

Do you have a bootable CD or DVD in the "D:" drive?

Note for future reference: It would be to your benefit for you to
quote the pertinent portion(s) of the post to which you're replying, so
that others can get some context and have a better idea of what you're
talking about and what has already been tried.


--

Bruce Chambers

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