How do I go back to XP?

[pixsnap]

Just helped a neighbor buy his first laptop, a cheapie from Circuit
City.
It came with Vista installed and 512mb of memory.
It's sluggish. I have a sealed, unused XP-SP2 disk available.
How would you go about switching out of and getting rid of Vista?
(HD capacity is 40Gb)

 

[carl feredeck]

Make sure that the warrantee is not void if you install another os other
than what came with it..

if its ok then backup all your data to a cd, dvd or external drive, then
place the XP cd and boot with it...

you will have to format the drive by following the steps in the disk and
installing XP from scratch..

BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING make sure you can find the specialized drivers that
may come with your laptop.. for example sound card, lan, display adaptor..
etc.... you can check the laptops site before you do anything.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Perform a Clean Install of Windows XP:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/cleanxp.htm

That laptop is clearly a cheapie.
The memory is very low, inadequate for many users of Windows XP.
Generally Windows XP needs more than 512 MB RAM.
windows Vista generally needs 1 GB - 2 GB RAM depending on the uses.

A larger hard drive my also be appropriate.
More likely with windows Vista but that depends on your neighbors
usage.

what speed is the processor?
less than 1 GHz - 1.5 GHz and Windows XP is the only practical option.
Again, this depends on your neighbors usage.

I would return the laptop and purchase on with Windows XP or add
memory to the laptop.
Whichever operating system you choose, there is a good probability
more memory will be needed, how much is the only question.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The warranty will not be void by installing a different operating
system.
However the OP may have to install the original operating system at
own time and expense before warranty work can commence.

 

[carl feredeck]

what I say is correct.

It has happened with some people..
a discussion about this is here:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/780955.html

Better ask before he does anything.

 

[carl feredeck]

"I'm saying that if you install another OS Toshiiba won't help you fix any
Window's XP issues like drivers not working with your Toshiba. Hardware
warranty ie a stuffed DVD-Rom still would be covered by warranty."

the hardware is covered but they support will not...

he should ask

 

[Saucy]

Just helped a neighbor buy his first laptop, a cheapie from Circuit
City.
It came with Vista installed and 512mb of memory.
It's sluggish. I have a sealed, unused XP-SP2 disk available.
How would you go about switching out of and getting rid of Vista?
(HD capacity is 40Gb)

Boot from the Windows XP disc .. all the tools needed to install it are
right there.

Some things to consider though.

Before all this:

1. Check warranty conditions.
2. Go into Device Management and make a of list all pertinent devices .. the
exact names of the devices.
3. Go to manufacturer's website and download all the drivers [xp versions]
for listed devices for that laptop model and burn them to CD-R disc
BEFOREHAND.

Saucy

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

It seems you missed the second sentence of my post.
"However the OP may have to install the original operating system at
own time and expense before warranty work can commence."

At that point everything is covered since the computer is back to
original configuration.
Depending on the specific hardware issue, it may be necessary to
install the original operating system before warranty work can
proceed.
Warranty work includes anything from first contact with the
manufacturer about the issue which is often phone support.

As an example I had a problem with my Toshiba laptop hard drive about
a year ago.
It originally shipped with Windows XP but Windows Vista was currently
installed.
There was no need to reinstall Windows XP since the hard drive
diagnostics are not dependant on the operating system.

For some hardware issues I may have needed to install Windows XP to
verify it was not a driver etc.
But they certainly would not troubleshoot a Windows Vista issue and no
one should expect them to.

The warranty is not void but I may need to return to original
configuration before warranty work.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Just helped a neighbor buy his first laptop, a cheapie from Circuit
City.
It came with Vista installed and 512mb of memory.

That's a very poor combination, and it's not surprising that it's
sluggish. Vista generally needs more RAM than that--at least 1GB, and
sometimes more, depending on what apps you run.

It's sluggish. I have a sealed, unused XP-SP2 disk available.
How would you go about switching out of and getting rid of Vista?
(HD capacity is 40Gb)

If it were me, I'd look into adding more RAM before installing XP, but
if you want XP, read on.

Just boot from the Windows XP CD (change the BIOS boot order if
necessary to accomplish this) and follow the prompts for a clean
installation (delete the existing partition by pressing "D" when
prompted, then create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

 

[will_s]

Just helped a neighbor buy his first laptop, a cheapie from Circuit
City.
It came with Vista installed and 512mb of memory.
It's sluggish. I have a sealed, unused XP-SP2 disk available.
How would you go about switching out of and getting rid of Vista?
(HD capacity is 40Gb)

just click your ankles together and keep saying

there is no place like XP
there is no place like XP


Or assuming it has a DVD/CD drive make that the bootable drive, put the XP
disk in and reboot and then remove the current partition, create a new
parttition and then format and install XP

BUT first make sure you get all the drivers etc for the mobo

 

[Spanky deMonkey]

What you say is a load of crap. Go back to primate.retard.general where you
belong