"downgrade" from Vista to XP

[Guest]

Got Vista installed on my laptop but not getting on with it as most of my
"gadgets" are to old to work on Vista. I have therefor got a Windows XP disc
but i cant install it as Vista is already installed. What do i do to get
Vista removed from my laptop so i can install XP?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You have to boot from the Windows XP CD, then follow
the setup options to delete all existing hard drive partitions,
create a new partition and then format the new partition NTFS.

Please see:

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------

Got Vista installed on my laptop but not getting on with it as most of my
"gadgets" are to old to work on Vista. I have therefor got a Windows XP disc
but i cant install it as Vista is already installed. What do i do to get
Vista removed from my laptop so i can install XP?

 

[mayayana]

create a new partition and then format the new partition NTFS.

Or it can be formatted to FAT32. FAT32 lacks
the advantages of permissions that might be desired
in a corporate environment, but it also has advantages:

* No messing around with pemissions.

* Accessible from a Linux system on the same PC.

* Accessible with more disk management tools
and from other Windows versions.

* And best of all, FAT32 doesn't have the option
of Alternate Data Stream hidden files, which can
leave one open to certain viruses, hidden malicious
files, and inane warnings about files downloaded
with IE *long after* the file has been downloaded.

 

[Kerry Brown]

In addition to the advantages you listed FAT32 has a couple of
disadvantages. It has a maximum file size of 4 GB which means you can't save
some DVD ISO files. Files larger than 4 GB are becoming quite common. On
large partitions the cluster size becomes quite large wasting a lot of hard
drive space unless you have a lot of large files.

 

[David Webb]

There are other limitations of FAT32 when using Windows XP setup. Here's one
example from the below referenced article:

You cannot format a volume larger than 32 gigabytes (GB) in size using the FAT32
file system during the Windows XP installation process. Windows XP can mount and
support FAT32 volumes larger than 32 GB (subject to the other limits), but you
cannot create a FAT32 volume larger than 32 GB by using the Format tool during
Setup.
[end quote]

Limitations of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314463/EN-US/

The OP would have to utilize a 3rd party utility like Partition Magic in order
to get any benefits from the large capacities of current hard drives.

 

[HeyBub]

Or it can be formatted to FAT32. FAT32 lacks
the advantages of permissions that might be desired
in a corporate environment, but it also has advantages:

* No messing around with pemissions.

* Accessible from a Linux system on the same PC.

* Accessible with more disk management tools
and from other Windows versions.

* And best of all, FAT32 doesn't have the option
of Alternate Data Stream hidden files, which can
leave one open to certain viruses, hidden malicious
files, and inane warnings about files downloaded
with IE *long after* the file has been downloaded.

There are several DISADVANTAGES to FAT32

* No ability to set permissions.
* Can be bothered by Linux interlopers
* More unverified/untested/unsupported management tools can tamper with your
stuff, including maverick operating systems.
* Non-existent security and repair capability.
* For large drives, the sectors have to be humongous, wasting an enormous
amount of space when the drive is populated by a large number of relatively
small files.
* Not nearly as efficient as NTFS
* Not self-healing, no innate diagnostics

 

[Brad]

Do you need to delete "ALL" partitions or can you just delete the primary
"Vista install" partition. If there are drivers or a restore partition
present I think it would be a good idea to keep those.

--
Brad Leyden
6° 43.5816' S 146° 59.3097' E WGS84
Forecast for tomorrow, heavy showers overnight with a fine day.
Temps: min 24ºC max 32ºC
Bet I'm right for where I am, Could you say the same without changing it
daily?
To mail spam is really hot but please reply to thread so all may benefit (or
laugh at my mistakes)

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Correct, only the [boot] volume needs to be deleted and recreated. Others
can be left as is.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Michele Perrotta]

I tried to install XP from the installation cd, but after the checking
of the HW, it says that it cannot find the hard disk!! Actually I got
the preinstalled Vista on my notebook (HP Pavillon dv6519ea)

 

[glsj.dw]

* Accessible from a Linux system on the same PC.

Many linux distros read and even write on NTFS fine..

A great example is PCLINUXOS that finds and mounts all ntfs volumes
automatically.

 

[Guest]

I tried to install XP from the installation cd, but after the checking
of the HW, it says that it cannot find the hard disk!! Actually I got
the preinstalled Vista on my notebook (HP Pavillon dv6519ea)

Did you get the XP CD from HP designed to fit that notebook?

If not, other XP CDs are likely to be missing some of the
drivers that notebook needs to run right.

 

[Michele Perrotta]

Did you get the XP CD from HP designed to fit that notebook?

Nothing, HP did not supplied any CD with the notebook

If not, other XP CDs are likely to be missing some of the
drivers that notebook needs to run right.

It's a shame, I bought a PC and I can't decide wich sw run on it!

 

[txtrisha]

My current computer is about to crash. I use XP Professional. My XP
professional was an upgrade over the Home Edition that Dell had installed. My
new computer not even out of the box yet has Vista Home Premium (32bit).
Both are Dell products and built by them. I want to downgrade and I have
the XP Professional upgrade disc that I used on my current computer. I also
have the sealed Vista disc that was provided with the new computer. I have
the product key for both. Dell says they won't support a downgrade.

What steps to I take to downgrade to XP Professional, in detail?

 

[Richard in AZ]

You will not be able to use the 'upgrade' XP disk to do what you want.
To change Vista to XP you have to reformat the hard drive and install XP from scratch.
This can not be done with the XP Pro disk you have.
It might work with the original XP home disk that came with your computer, then upgrade.
But you have a lot of other potential problems.
One, it the XP Pro is still on the old computer, you can not install it on the new computer.
Two, your new computer hardware may not have XP drivers that work.
Three, as your were told, you will no longer have a Dell warrantee if you do this.

Dell does make computers that come with Windows XP Pro. Contact Dell about a trade.
It will actually be less expensive, even if they hose you on the trade-in.

 

[Paul Knudsen]

You will not be able to use the 'upgrade' XP disk to do what you want.
To change Vista to XP you have to reformat the hard drive and install XP from scratch.
This can not be done with the XP Pro disk you have.

Are you sure? It is my undstanding that the upgrade will install
after you insert a CD with the previous version when asked to.

 

[Richard in AZ]

Are you sure? It is my undstanding that the upgrade will install
after you insert a CD with the previous version when asked to.

I believe the OP stated they had a restore disk, not a valid Windows disk for the HE.
In that case, they don't have a CD with a previous version that Windows will accept.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Are you sure? It is my undstanding that the upgrade will install
after you insert a CD with the previous version when asked to.

Although that was true of upgrades to XP, it is not true of upgrades
to Vista.

 

[Geevincible]

What can I do if my laptop came with vista and i want to downgrade? how do i
get the hard ware drivers for a Toshiba laptop?

 

[Rick Rogers]

From Toshiba. You need to check with them to see if they are available to
support your model.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

What can I do if my laptop came with vista and i want to downgrade?

You can *not* downgrade. If you want Windows XP, you will need to
reinstall it cleanly.

how do i
get the hard ware drivers for a Toshiba laptop?

Check the Toshiba web site. *If* the drivers you need are available
(and they may not be), that's where you'll find them.