Downgrading to Windows XP Pro?

[Guest]

I want to downgrade because most of the programs i use dont work with Vista,
and you get like 3 security warnings every time you try to run a program. The
problem is that if i start my computer with my windows xp cd, it just says
Starting windows after it loads some stuff, and when i load it up from
windows explorer, it says that it has compatibility errors... Any help here?

 

[Augustus]

I want to downgrade because most of the programs i use dont work with
Vista,
and you get like 3 security warnings every time you try to run a program.
The
problem is that if i start my computer with my windows xp cd, it just says
Starting windows after it loads some stuff, and when i load it up from
windows explorer, it says that it has compatibility errors... Any help
here?

Boot from XP Pro CD, delete partition, reformat, reinstall fresh XP Pro. One
assumes your data has been archived for reinstall after this....

 

[Guest]

But when i boot from the cd, there is no menu whatsoever, so it just goes to
Starting Windows, then an error screen.

Also, my computer is a dell inspiron 1300 notebook, if that might help...

 

[Augustus]

But when i boot from the cd, there is no menu whatsoever, so it just goes
to
Starting Windows, then an error screen.

Also, my computer is a dell inspiron 1300 notebook, if that might help...

"Augustus" wrote:

Enter the BIOS (hit F2 on boot screen), change the boot sequence to boot
from CD, save settings, reboot. Should now look to CD/DVD combo drive first.

 

[Guest]

yes, but it still goes to starting windows and an error screen.

 

[John A]

Check with Dell - your hardware or drivers may not be compatible with XP

John A

I want to downgrade because most of the programs i use dont work with
Vista, and you get like 3 security warnings every time you try to run
a program. The problem is that if i start my computer with my windows
xp cd, it just says Starting windows after it loads some stuff, and
when i load it up from windows explorer, it says that it has
compatibility errors... Any help here?

--

 

[Guest]

What do you mean by "when i load it up from windows explorer"?

Explain all details.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

But when i boot from the cd, there is no menu whatsoever, so it just goes to
Starting Windows, then an error screen.

You are not booting from the CD. To boot from the CD, you have to do
*two* things:

1. Start the computer with the CD in the drive.

2. Ensure that the BIOS boot sequence is set to CD first.

You haven't done number 2.

 

[Augustus]

yes, but it still goes to starting windows and an error screen.

"Augustus" wrote:

When you entered the BIOS did you change the boot order to CD first, did you
save the settings on exit, and do you have a valid XP Pro bootable media in
the drive? I've never seen a box that won't boot from the CD when set to
unless there's an issue with the CD/DVD drive or valid media in the drive.

 

[Augustus]

Check with Dell - your hardware or drivers may not be compatible with XP

Unlikely since the Inspiron 1300 is an XP OEM system. It's only recommended
for Vista Basic by Dell..
http://snipurl.com/1twtd

 

[Not Me]

If you have not set the BIOS to boot from the CD/DVD drive first, you will
get errors.
Hit the F2 key during POST to get into the BIOS setup, in the boot sequence
section, make the CD/DVD drive first on the list, then hit F10 to save.
When you reboot with the XP CD in the drive, it should load the XP
installer.
You can NOT install XP from inside Vista.
Because MS considers XP to be a downgrade, the XP installer will not run in
Vista.
You have to boot from the CD, delete the Vista partition, then create a
partition, format and install XP.

 

[Augustus]

If you have not set the BIOS to boot from the CD/DVD drive first, you will
get errors.
Hit the F2 key during POST to get into the BIOS setup, in the boot
sequence section, make the CD/DVD drive first on the list, then hit F10 to
save.
When you reboot with the XP CD in the drive, it should load the XP
installer.
You can NOT install XP from inside Vista.
Because MS considers XP to be a downgrade, the XP installer will not run
in Vista.
You have to boot from the CD, delete the Vista partition, then create a
partition, format and install XP.

Apparently following simple instructions is not the OP's long suit....he's
been given the exact same advice three times to no avail...

 

[mayayana]

Apparently following simple instructions is not the OP's long suit....he's
been given the exact same advice three times to no avail...

Maybe he's busy looking up BIOS. If I didn't
know what BIOS was I'd be very confused now,
since no one has explained it. Also, unless everyone
happens to know that an Inspiron uses the F2 key
then that's probably wrong. Most BIOSs are accessed
via the Delete key.

For Steve5 or anyone else trying to figure out the BIOS:

The BIOS (basic input/output system) is information
and settings for the hardware, stored semi-permanently
on the motherboard and maintained by the PC battery
when the system is unplugged. The BIOS is usually
accessed by holding down Delete or a specific F key
during boot, before Windows starts to load. A normal
PC will usually show a brief message, like "Press Delete
now to enter BIOS", during the early boot when it's
counting memory and finding the disks. An OEM PC usually
hides all of that information behind a company logo, and
may not show any message.
The relevant key should be listed in your manual if it's
not onscreen. If you can't find what it is, try Delete,
F1, F2, F8, F10 on consecutive boots. One of those should
do it. (Though F8 is typically for safe mode and F10
is often used for restoring the system to it's original
configuration by re-installing Windows from files stored
on a hidden partition.)

Once in the BIOS, you can set a password, adjust
which onboard components and ports are active, and
set various other options. One option to set is the
boot sequence, which is what order the various boot
options should be checked by the system when booting.
Typically, the boot sequence. or boot order, is 1st)
floppy 2nd) CD 3rd) hd0 or first hard disk. That is, it will
try to boot from floppy first. If that fails it will check for
a bootable CD. Then a bootable partition. If the CD drive
is not set before the hard disk in the boot order then one
cannot boot from the CD.

To make BIOS changes, just use the arrow keys to
navigate around the BIOS. Change anything as
necessary. Then make sure that you choose to
save the changes when exiting. Exiting is typically
done via the Esc key, but there should be some
minimal directions along the bottom of the BIOS
screen, indicating which key will save and exit.

 

[Guest]

Hmmm... I knew it was going to end like this... First, you DO press F2 to get
to setup, Second, I set it so that cd drive in the boot sequence first and hd
last, and still nothing.

What happens when i boot from the cd is it says Windows setup is loading
XXXXX,
then it says something like Starting Windows.

Also there is absolutely no traces of my old XP on my HD...

 

[mayayana]

Hmmm... I knew it was going to end like this... First, you DO press F2 to
get

to setup, Second, I set it so that cd drive in the boot sequence first and hd
last, and still nothing.

If you had explained that clearly to begin with you
could have saved several people from wasting their
time advising you. In your first several posts you
didn't confirm that you understood the boot sequence.
And you never said that it first starts with "setup
is loading". That seems to imply that it was booting
from the CD all along.

What happens when i boot from the cd is it says Windows setup is loading
XXXXX,
then it says something like Starting Windows.

Also there is absolutely no traces of my old XP on my HD...

So it used to have XP on it to start with?
If that's the case... Maybe someone else will have a
better answer, but if it were me I'd format the disk,
not using any Microsoft tools, but rather BootIt NG
or some other flexible disk utility. Erase the Vista partition.
Create at least one new, clean partition, then re-run
the CD.
Assuming that XP used to be on the notebook and
there's no hardware compatibility issue, the only other
problem I can think of is that Vista's blocking you.

 

[Dave]

This is odd... a friend of mine called me last night. He is trying to
reinstall XP on a Dell desktop, using the OEM XP disk. He cannot get it to
boot off the CD.
He said he had checked the BIOS re the boot order, but it still won't boot.
I'll have to check with him tonight to see if he had any luck.