Installing XP to replace Vista

[Charleehorse]

I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility issues,
and am generally not a fan of Vista.

My questions are:

1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista? If so, am I able to use a XP
Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need the full
version to change the OS.
2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop, which
has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use this disk again
(assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)?

 

[Malke]

I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility
issues, and am generally not a fan of Vista.

My questions are:

1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista? If so, am I able to use a XP
Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need the full
version to change the OS.
2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop,
which has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use this
disk again (assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)?

You should be able to use the XP upgrade disk as long as you have qualifying
media such as a Windows 98/ME installation disk. Here is 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.

6. If none of the above is applicable to you because you can't run XP on
that machine (see Item #1 above), return the computer and purchase one
running XP instead.

B. On a generic/home-built computer (from non-OEM company) - You will need
drivers for all your hardware. See the second link below for more details:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What
you will need on-hand

Malke

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility issues,

and am generally not a fan of Vista.

My questions are:

1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista? If so, am I able to use a XP
Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need the full
version to change the OS.
2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop, which
has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use this disk again
(assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)?

Should be able to, yes. You may want to slipstream it with SP3 using
nlite 1.4.9.1 however.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Alias]

I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility issues,
and am generally not a fan of Vista.

My questions are:

1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista? If so, am I able to use a XP
Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need the full
version to change the OS.
2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop, which
has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use this disk again
(assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)?

First find out if there are XP drivers for your lap top. If so, you will
have to wipe the hard drive and use a copy of 98/Me/W2K to use the
upgrade XP CD.

Alias

 

[R. McCarty]

By whatever type of XP you use, you'll have to do a clean install.
There are several major issues to contend with. Number one and
most important is are there XP drivers for the notebook ?

Secondly if the notebook has a SATA drive controller, XP does
not natively have drivers/support for AHCI. For installation of XP
you'll need to change the SATA controller mode to Legacy in the
notebook BIOS setup.

To qualify for upgrade you'd need a previous operating system.
I'm not sure what downgrade rights are available unless the Vista
on the notebook is Business or Ultimate - which confers automatic
downgrade rights to XP.

It might be best to call the Vendor and ask what they can do for
you in the way of downgrade rights or an XP image for your model.

Be aware that certain hardware in recent notebooks ( Audio/Modem )
may present real issues with getting drivers.

 

[HeyBub]

I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility
issues, and am generally not a fan of Vista.

My questions are:

1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista? If so, am I able to use
a XP Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need
the full version to change the OS.
2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop,
which has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use
this disk again (assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)?

To rephrase what others have said: You may not be able to run XP on your new
laptop. If the laptop was built to run Vista, there may not be drivers to
allow XP to interact with the newer hardware on the laptop.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

What Malke and most others said.

Note that downgrading a Vista machine to WinXP is not necessarily without
its issues, especially a Notebook PC. Doing so will almost certainly void
your Warranty and any Service Contracts you've purchased.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I currently am running Vista on a laptop, but am having compatibility issues,
and am generally not a fan of Vista.

My questions are:

1. Am I able to install XP to replace Vista?

There could be a couple possible adverse repercussions of which you
should be aware. First and foremost, if the specific computer model in
question was designed specifically for Vista, there may well be no
WinXP-specific device drivers available to make the computer's diverse
components work properly. Consult the computer's manufacturer about the
availability of device drivers. Secondly, removing an OEM-installed
operating system and replacing it with another will almost invariably
void any and all support agreements and, sometimes, even the warranty.
You would, at the very least, have to re-install Vista before getting
any support from the manufacturer. Again, consult the computer's
manufacturer for specifics. Thirdly, there may be the additional cost
involved in purchasing a WinXP license for this new computer.

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS
installation, simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be
offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part
of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of
boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

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

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

Then, assuming you were successful in obtaining WinXP-specific
device drivers so that the computer can be made to work with WinXP, the
backed up data can be restored and applications (those that are
WinXP-compatible, that is) re-installed.

If so, am I able to use a XP
Upgrade disk (as this is essentially a downgrade!) or do I need the full
version to change the OS.

You'll need to obtain a full version.

2. I currently have a XP Upgrade disk which I used on an old desktop, which
has since broken down (CPU is fried)--would I be able to use this disk again
(assuming the answer to question 1 is yes)?

The WinXP Upgrade license could be reused to upgrade another qualifying
OS, but not in the scenario you've laid forth.


--

Bruce Chambers

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