Desparately seeking help to get XP

[operaflute]

I don't know where else to post this question...
I had (and loved) a Dell with XP Pro. It died. I have an hp with Vista
Home Premium. I've had it since November. It's awful. I hate the hp. I
hate Vista. Nothing works and support is not resolving any of my problems.
I desperately desperately want out.
I need a laptop with XP Pro on it. Is it possible?
Please please help! I can't take it anymore. I really TRIED to like Vista.
But nothing nothing works.
I can't even get help on the Vista forum, because even the FORUM does not
work, so I can't even post questions there, or even sign in.

 

[Andrew E.]

Purchase a retail copy of xp,boot to xp cd,install xp.....

 

[Daave]

I don't know where else to post this question...
I had (and loved) a Dell with XP Pro. It died. I have an hp with
Vista
Home Premium. I've had it since November. It's awful. I hate the
hp. I
hate Vista. Nothing works and support is not resolving any of my
problems.
I desperately desperately want out.
I need a laptop with XP Pro on it. Is it possible?
Please please help! I can't take it anymore. I really TRIED to like
Vista.
But nothing nothing works.
I can't even get help on the Vista forum, because even the FORUM does
not
work, so I can't even post questions there, or even sign in.

Yes, it's possible.

Do you want *another* laptop that has XP on it or do you want to run XP
on your current laptop (assuming the XP drivers exist)? If the latter,
what is the model and model number of this HP?

Also, why XP Pro when XP Home costs much, much less and is just about
the same in features?

BTW, the Vista newsgroups work just as well as the XP newsgroups. You're
experiencing these newsgroups (they are not forums) through a very
convoluted and problematic Web site interference, and that is the worst
way! Instead, since this is USENET (a much older part of the Internet
than the Web, dating back to the 1970s!), the best way to use it is with
a news reader like Outlook Express. For more information, see:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Tech_Support

and scroll down to C. Usenet.

Also see this page:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

Once you are using Usenet properly, you will see it is very easy to
visit and post to all newsgroups, including the Vista ones. Here is a
link to a Vista group:

news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windows.vista.general

Here is a link to the XP newsgroup our thread is in:

news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

Ask around in the Vista group; there are some very helpful folks there.
You can learn different ways to configure Vista so that you may even
enjoy using it!

 

[Daave]

BTW, the Vista newsgroups work just as well as the XP newsgroups.
You're experiencing these newsgroups (they are not forums) through a
very convoluted and problematic Web site interference <snip>

LOL

I mean Web site interface!

 

[operaflute]

Thanks for listening to my hysterical rant. Sure enough you CAN still get XP
Pro. (I thought it was long gone.) I guess the catch will be seeing if I
can find compatible drivers. Hp says no can do, but might be worth a try...

 

[operaflute]

Thank you thank you! I've TRIED to like Vista (had it since November) and
usually I just deal with it, but I have moments like tonight when I'm am so
sick of it I can't stand it another minute. I've been a die-hard windows
person, but this is actually making me consider breaking down and joining the
mac crowd.
I'd like to get XP Pro on THIS computer (I just bought the dang thing!) - HP
Pavillion dv2911us) OTOH, I think this laptop has other issues, and I am
looking into returning it, and may be shopping for another. Advice there?

I'll try again with the forums (oops I mean newsgroups). I know there was
another way to see it via a browser that worked, but I've lost that link and
it's making me out of my mind. The regular interface (link below) won't let
me sign in or post messages (just reloads the same page over and over)
although the web based XP newsgroup works fine, and has been quite useful to
me.
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.mspx

Thank you all!

 

[Mick Murphy]

http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...8d6-427a-48d6-84dc-a91a6c9fbb45&lang=en&cr=us

Above is the Web Interface for Vista General.
About XP. If HP says there are NO Drivers for that Model, there is no use
installing XP.
It just won't work properly.

Laptops are the worst to install XP on these days.
They just don't bother writing XP drivers for the new Hardware in them.

 

[Mick Murphy]

That link you posted is an old broken link, it broke ages ago, never to be
fixed.

For MS Newsgroups, use this link:
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/list/en-us/default.aspx

For Vista, scroll down to on left column to: microsoft.public.windows
Expand it, and scoll down the expansion drop down to Vista Newsgroups.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

There are new computers out there that come with WinXP SP3 installed.

Ideally, you would have purchased one with Downgrade to WinXP rights. It's
probably too late now but perhaps the squeaky wheel will get the grease:
Contact Dell and make your case. Who knows what may happen?

NB: If you choose to format & install WinXP using a full retail CD, you will
be voiding your Warranty and any Service Contracts.

 

[Mark Adams]

I don't know where else to post this question...
I had (and loved) a Dell with XP Pro. It died. I have an hp with Vista
Home Premium. I've had it since November. It's awful. I hate the hp. I
hate Vista. Nothing works and support is not resolving any of my problems.
I desperately desperately want out.
I need a laptop with XP Pro on it. Is it possible?
Please please help! I can't take it anymore. I really TRIED to like Vista.
But nothing nothing works.
I can't even get help on the Vista forum, because even the FORUM does not
work, so I can't even post questions there, or even sign in.

That's funny. I run Vista Home Premium 64 bit on a media center and
everything works. I even use my 62" DLP TV as a monitor and no problems. I
just make sure that applications I put on it are compatible with Vista BEFORE
I put them on. Does Vista have some features that I don't like? Yep, UAC for
one- turned it off. Still haven't figuered out how to get it to remember
window sizes yet, but that certainly isn't a deal breaker.

 

[Daave]

Thank you thank you! I've TRIED to like Vista (had it since
November) and usually I just deal with it, but I have moments like
tonight when I'm am so sick of it I can't stand it another minute.
I've been a die-hard windows person, but this is actually making me
consider breaking down and joining the mac crowd.

Many people just don't go for Vista, I know. I mentioned in my other
post that if you spoke with the folks in the Vista newsgroup, they could
give you pointers to configure it so that you *would* like it. Of
course, there is no guarantee, but the possibility certainly exists.

I'd like to get XP Pro on THIS computer (I just bought the dang
thing!) - HP Pavillion dv2911us) OTOH, I think this laptop has other
issues, and I am looking into returning it, and may be shopping for
another. Advice there?

XP drivers *do* exist for that model and they may be downloaded from:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=228&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3751262

As I mentioned in my other post, XP Home and XP Pro (for your purposes)
are virtually the same. However, XP Home is *much* cheaper. Why do you
keep mentioning XP Pro?

I'll try again with the forums (oops I mean newsgroups). I know there
was another way to see it via a browser that worked, but I've lost
that link and it's making me out of my mind. The regular interface
(link below) won't let me sign in or post messages (just reloads the
same page over and over) although the web based XP newsgroup works
fine, and has been quite useful to me.
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.mspx

Well, accessing Usenet via a news reader would be much more useful to
you IMO. Your choice, though.

 

[jam]

I purchased a Dell Inspiron 530 with Vista Home Premium 64-bit,sp1. I
learned today, that I need Windows XP to work virtually from my computer for
a telecomunicating company that does not accept Vista.

Dell suggested I buy a retail Windows XP and install it myself. I am trying
to figure out which XP to buy. Home or Pro. Svc pk 2 or spk3.

The XP is not easy to find. Only available through Amazon.com or Ebay.
Do you experts know which version of XP will give me Internet explorer and
use of the Win Office 2007 Enterprise suite?

Is this a complicated proceedure? or as simple as Dell made it sound (buy
the XP-install it, put driver & utilities cd that came with my computer and
choose operating system Windows XP) keep the Vista for later days.

I spoke with a Dell Rep. I was on the phone over an hour trying to resolve
this issue and was rudely disconnected. Very unhappy with Dell right now.

Called a computer repair company to find out how much to have a "pro"
install XP and uninstall Vista. The repair comp guy wants almost $300.00
just for labor, I still neeed to purchase some version of XP.

What do you think?

 

[Mark Adams]

I purchased a Dell Inspiron 530 with Vista Home Premium 64-bit,sp1. I
learned today, that I need Windows XP to work virtually from my computer for
a telecomunicating company that does not accept Vista.

Dell suggested I buy a retail Windows XP and install it myself. I am trying
to figure out which XP to buy. Home or Pro. Svc pk 2 or spk3.

The XP is not easy to find. Only available through Amazon.com or Ebay.
Do you experts know which version of XP will give me Internet explorer and
use of the Win Office 2007 Enterprise suite?

Is this a complicated proceedure? or as simple as Dell made it sound (buy
the XP-install it, put driver & utilities cd that came with my computer and
choose operating system Windows XP) keep the Vista for later days.

I spoke with a Dell Rep. I was on the phone over an hour trying to resolve
this issue and was rudely disconnected. Very unhappy with Dell right now.

Called a computer repair company to find out how much to have a "pro"
install XP and uninstall Vista. The repair comp guy wants almost $300.00
just for labor, I still neeed to purchase some version of XP.

What do you think?

Go to Dell's website and look up your model in the downloads area and see if
drivers are available for XP. If Dell doesn't have XP drivers for it, you
won't be able to use XP.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

...Does Vista have some features that I don't like? Yep,
UAC for one- turned it off. Still haven't figuered out how to get it to
remember window sizes yet, but that certainly isn't a deal breaker.

[Bet you don't wear a seatbelt when you're driving either, do you?]

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

What do you think?

I think you should begin your own thread. That being said, the following
also applies to you:

 

[Paul]

I purchased a Dell Inspiron 530 with Vista Home Premium 64-bit,sp1. I
learned today, that I need Windows XP to work virtually from my computer for
a telecomunicating company that does not accept Vista.

Dell suggested I buy a retail Windows XP and install it myself. I am trying
to figure out which XP to buy. Home or Pro. Svc pk 2 or spk3.

The XP is not easy to find. Only available through Amazon.com or Ebay.
Do you experts know which version of XP will give me Internet explorer and
use of the Win Office 2007 Enterprise suite?

Is this a complicated proceedure? or as simple as Dell made it sound (buy
the XP-install it, put driver & utilities cd that came with my computer and
choose operating system Windows XP) keep the Vista for later days.

I spoke with a Dell Rep. I was on the phone over an hour trying to resolve
this issue and was rudely disconnected. Very unhappy with Dell right now.

Called a computer repair company to find out how much to have a "pro"
install XP and uninstall Vista. The repair comp guy wants almost $300.00
just for labor, I still neeed to purchase some version of XP.

What do you think?

I think this is the one I bought for my current computer. (I'm in Canada.)

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=6527&vpn=E85-03014OEM&manufacture=Microsoft

The part number in the States seems to be different.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116515

I bought my copy of the OS, with a motherboard and some RAM,
which may have qualified it for an OEM purchase. The company you
purchase it from, may have some rules as to what qualifies for
the purchase of that CD.

OEM means "no support from Microsoft". It is different than
a retail CD. It is also cheaper than a retail version.

I install OSes, one per hard drive. I disconnect the other drive
in the computer, while I'm installing an OS. My BIOS has a
boot menu, that allows me to select one of the drives when
the computer POST starts. Some people like to install multiple
OSes on the same hard drive, but that seems like too much work
to me. (Currently, I have Win2K on one drive, and WinXP on the
second drive.)

If you were to use a separate drive, if the computer ever
needs service, you can always return it with the original
drive in place. Purchasing a drive with your copy of the
OS, may qualify as "purchasing some hardware with the
OEM OS".

And $300 seems like a lot of money - I could get brain
surgery for $300 Give it a try yourself. With the
separate disk idea, you're not going to be adding/subtracting
anything from the original Dell hard drive.

HTH,
Paul

 

[Andy]

I purchased a Dell Inspiron 530 with Vista Home Premium 64-bit,sp1. I
learned today, that I need Windows XP to work virtually from my computer for
a telecomunicating company that does not accept Vista.

Dell suggested I buy a retail Windows XP and install it myself. I am trying
to figure out which XP to buy. Home or Pro. Svc pk 2 or spk3.

The XP is not easy to find. Only available through Amazon.com or Ebay.
Do you experts know which version of XP will give me Internet explorer and
use of the Win Office 2007 Enterprise suite?

Get
Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 32-bit for System Builders - 1
pack

Is this a complicated proceedure? or as simple as Dell made it sound (buy
the XP-install it, put driver & utilities cd that came with my computer and
choose operating system Windows XP) keep the Vista for later days.

If you need step by step instructions, there are web sites such as
<http://www.buildeasypc.com/sw/windows_xp.htm> that show you how to
install.

Things to be concerned about:
1. Windows XP drivers: verify that you have them; otherwise go to
<http://support.dell.com/support/dow...NSP_DSKTP_D530&hidos=WLH&hidlang=EN&TabIndex=>,
choose Windows XP, and download
Intel chipset driver
Intel network driver
Intel video driver
Realtek audio driver
and save them to a USB flash drive.

2. According to
<http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/inspd530/en/OM/HTML/appendix.htm#wp1123070>
the SATA mode is set to IDE by default, so Windows XP setup should not
need an F6 driver to recognize the hard drive.

I spoke with a Dell Rep. I was on the phone over an hour trying to resolve
this issue and was rudely disconnected. Very unhappy with Dell right now.

Talking about this for over an hour would be exasperating.

 

[HeyBub]

Called a computer repair company to find out how much to have a "pro"
install XP and uninstall Vista. The repair comp guy wants almost
$300.00 just for labor, I still neeed to purchase some version of XP.

What do you think?

My guess:

The technician normally gets about $60/hour. However, since only one out of
five of his attempts is successful, he has to make up for the no-charges
with the one that did work.

 

[Richard in AZ]

| jam wrote:
| >
| > Called a computer repair company to find out how much to have a "pro"
| > install XP and uninstall Vista. The repair comp guy wants almost
| > $300.00 just for labor, I still neeed to purchase some version of XP.
| >
| > What do you think?
| >
|
| My guess:
|
| The technician normally gets about $60/hour. However, since only one out of
| five of his attempts is successful, he has to make up for the no-charges
| with the one that did work.
|
Or he is figuring in the time to find and download all the XP drivers he will need to do the down
grade and then the time to reinstall Vista when the customer finds that XP does not work well on
that computer.