Remove Vista-Add XP?

G

Guest

Ok I purchased a new computer recently with Windows Vista Preinstalled. Well
it did not come with the disc. Vista now freezes at the loading bar for no
apparent reason when starting up. What i wish to do is completely remove
Windows Vista Business from my system and add Windows XP. If I can do that I
will go out and buy Windows XP. Here are my specs:

2 GB RAM

3.2 ghz

Windows Vista Business (UNACTIVATED- I WAS RIPPED OFF)

If this is possible please inform me how.

Thanks a bunch,
Derek
 
C

Cal Bear '66

If this is a new computer, why the hell aren't you talking to the manufacturer?
 
R

Rock

"Derek" wrote
Ok I purchased a new computer recently with Windows Vista Preinstalled.
Well
it did not come with the disc. Vista now freezes at the loading bar for no
apparent reason when starting up. What i wish to do is completely remove
Windows Vista Business from my system and add Windows XP. If I can do that
I
will go out and buy Windows XP. Here are my specs:

2 GB RAM

3.2 ghz

Windows Vista Business (UNACTIVATED- I WAS RIPPED OFF)
Click to expand...

If this is a new computer contact the computer's tech support. With respect
to recovery of Vista the OEM is required to provide you with some means to
restore the system, either an installation DVD, a recovery DVD, or a hidden
partition on the hard drive with an image of the system as received from the
factory. This is sometimes accessed by a keystroke or combo during startup,
sometimes in conjunction with a CD, and in some systems the OP is prompted
to create a restore DVD during the first few boot ups.

Check the documentation on what is provided or check with tech support.

As to Windows XP check to see if it's supported for that computer. Go to
the manufacturer's web site and look for XP drivers. If there are no
drivers it's not supported. A variety of OEM's are not supporting XP on
certain new models. Also installing a different OS quite possibly voids any
warranty.

I don't understand about "Inactivated - I was ripped off".
 
G

Guest

What I meant was that the version of Windows is not activated. And what is
really bad is that this is a custom built computer.
 
R

Rock

Derek said:
What I meant was that the version of Windows is not activated. And what is
really bad is that this is a custom built computer.
Click to expand...

The obvious is to go back to the system builder, since they are responsible
for tech support. You can look for XP drivers on the web site for the
motherboard manufacturer, and on the web sites for any retail add in cards.
 
M

Mr. Arnold

Derek said:
What I meant was that the version of Windows is not activated. And what is
really bad is that this is a custom built computer.
Click to expand...

The mess people get them self into is unbelievable at times. You knew the
system had no disc, you couldn't see your way clear to make a recovery disc,
you couldn't see your way to activate the product, and you can't see your
way to call the vendor of the computer to seek help, which should be under
some kind of software warrantee. :)
 
M

Mr. Arnold

Derek said:
Well thats true, but could you answer my question above your reply?
Click to expand...

Here, let me peel you off the wall and point you in another direction. :)

1) You can buy a install CD/DVD for Windows XP and do a fresh install,
format the HD.

2) You can buy a install CD/DVD for Windows Vista Bus or the upgrade, either
way, you can do a clean install/format the HD.

3) Activate either product and immediately, make a recovery disc and
activate recovery restore points.

4) Or call your computer vendor and see if they can get you out of this by
using a install Vista CD/DVD to boot off of and let you do a Repair or some
other kind of way out of it.
 
G

Guest

Ok thanks for pointing me in a good direction here.

"1) You can buy a install CD/DVD for Windows XP and do a fresh install,
format the HD.

2) You can buy a install CD/DVD for Windows Vista Bus or the upgrade, either
way, you can do a clean install/format the HD. "

This is what I am looking to do. Right now however im split on either XP or
Vista, but thats a differant issue. Ok say I put in the XP or Vista dvd and
started up my computer. Would there be a install or format hd option? I'm
confused on how this would be done.
 
M

Mr. Arnold

Derek said:
Ok thanks for pointing me in a good direction here.

"1) You can buy a install CD/DVD for Windows XP and do a fresh install,
format the HD.

2) You can buy a install CD/DVD for Windows Vista Bus or the upgrade,
either
way, you can do a clean install/format the HD. "

This is what I am looking to do. Right now however im split on either XP
or
Vista, but thats a differant issue. Ok say I put in the XP or Vista dvd
and
started up my computer. Would there be a install or format hd option? I'm
confused on how this would be done.
Click to expand...

You boot the computer, and during the boot process, it should ask you to
push a certain key, like the ESC, DEL, F10 or some key, which will allow you
to go into the BIOS settings for the computer. In the BIOS settings, you set
the computer to boot off of the CD/DVD first in the boot sequence. You may
have to call your computer vendor to find out what that key is, if it's not
shown to you when you first boot the computer.

You put the CD/DVD in the drive trey, and exit out on the BIOS setup (Save
and Exit). It should show a message to *press any key to boot of the CD/DVD.

If the CD/DVD is in the trey, it will start reading/booting from the
CD/DVD. If you don't time it just right, then it will ignore the CD/DVD boot
process and fail over to the HD-hard drive and boot to Windows, which you
don't want. And you'll have to try it again. You shouldn't have to go back
into the BIOS again if you set things right and do the Save and Exit the
first time, to back to the CD/DVD and try to boot off of it.

If it is booting of the CD/DVD, you'll know it and it will eventually prompt
you to format the HD and lay down the O/S fresh.

You can go back into the BIOS after the install has completed and set the
boot sequence to boot off the HD first or you can just leave it alone and
the computer will fail over to the HD and boot by itself.

You can have Vista Bus and XP on the machine at the same time running
concurrently on the machine, and at anytime you can switch to XP.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/default.mspx

Whatever you do with either O/S, make sure you activate Recovery Restore
Points on the O/S, in case you need to get back to a previous version of the
O/S that was not giving you problems.
 
W

...winston

?????

": Whatever you do with either O/S, make sure you activate Recovery Restore
: Points on the O/S, *********in case you need to get back to a previous version****** of the O/S that was not giving you problems.
:



: > 2) You can buy a install CD/DVD for Windows Vista Bus or the upgrade,
: > either
: > way, you can do a *****clean install/format**** the HD. "
:
: If it is booting of the CD/DVD, you'll know it and it will eventually prompt
: you to *****format the HD******
and lay down the O/S fresh.
::
:
:
 
M

Mr. Arnold

Here, let me correct it for you.

": Whatever you do with either O/S, make sure you activate Recovery Restore
: Points on the O/S, *********in case you need to get back to a previous
version****** of the *O/S that was giving you problems*.

On the other hand, I never used a recovery on XP, ever. I don't even know
if it was turned on, if it had to be turned on. I have had to use it on
Vista, which I probably would have been in trouble because it was not
enabled on Vista, except for HP's Total Care said it was not enabled, and it
enabled it for me. :)
 
J

Jonathan M. \TacticalSniper\ Boyko

You would purchase a Windows XP disc - or use one you already have - to
format your drive and install fresh version of XP.
 
G

Guest

Mr. Arnold, you are being a HUGE help =). One last question, when I format
the HD, Vista will be gone, correct?
 
A

Angry_American

Derek said:
What I meant was that the version of Windows is not activated. And what is
really bad is that this is a custom built computer.
Click to expand...

Windows is not supposed to be activated until you the customer takes
possession of the computer and activates it. Microsoft requires this as part
of the OEM install process. You should have received a sticker that is
affixed to the side of your computer with the product ID and serial number
and you should have received the installation media. If not then you need to
go back to your computer builder and make sure you get your sticker and
installation media. If they do not get this too you then you can turn them
in and get their business shutdown by contacting MS. Both are required to be
given to you by your computer reseller. The only caveat is the big PC makers
get away with not handing out OEM media for some reason....
 

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