Help please in installing XP on Acer laptop

[Mike O'Sullivan]

A friend of mine, an OEM supplier, and pretty experienced, is
nonetheless having a great deal of trouble installing Windows XPon an
Acer laptop. I have added his query below, and would be very grateful if
anybody could suggest a solution.


"Acer laptop model Aspire 5101, supplied with Vista Home Premium.

Hard disk is apparently split into three partitions C, D and (hidden)
small F according to Partition Manager.

I have formatted the drive and tried to load Window XP Home with Service
Pack 2, but willnot continue installation.

-approx 75 % complete - as (quote) "cannot find file".

What purpose does hidden partition serve? Any information please on how
to achieve full instal of XP?"

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

The hidden partition is the restore partition. Leave it alone. Why did you
buy a computer with an operating system you didn't want? There are still
computers for sale that come with XP preinstalled. Restore the computer to
factory condition and consider running XP in a virtual machine using VPC
2007 or VMWare Workstation 6.

 

[Mike O'Sullivan]

The hidden partition is the restore partition. Leave it alone. Why did
you buy a computer with an operating system you didn't want? There are
still computers for sale that come with XP preinstalled. Restore the
computer to factory condition and consider running XP in a virtual
machine using VPC 2007 or VMWare Workstation 6.

Thanks for the reply, I'll pass it on. I'm not sure, but I believe he
bought and supplied the Acer laptop, but the customer didn't like it,
and insisted that my friend Glenn replaced it with XP, and was willing
to pay for the replacement OS.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Unless the manufacturer is supplying XP drivers (most are not anymore unless
they ship a model with XP) the user cannot do what he wants to do.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

A friend of mine, an OEM supplier, and pretty experienced, is
nonetheless having a great deal of trouble installing Windows XPon an
Acer laptop. I have added his query below, and would be very grateful if
anybody could suggest a solution.


"Acer laptop model Aspire 5101, supplied with Vista Home Premium.

Hard disk is apparently split into three partitions C, D and (hidden)
small F according to Partition Manager.

I have formatted the drive and tried to load Window XP Home with Service
Pack 2, but willnot continue installation.

-approx 75 % complete - as (quote) "cannot find file".

What purpose does hidden partition serve?

That's probably the "Recovery" partition that contains the files needed
to restore the laptop to it's original, ex-factory state. Leave it alone.

Any information please on how
to achieve full instal of XP?"

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.

It may very well be the WinXP installation CD doesn't include drivers
to support your specific IDE or SATA controller. Try this:

Very early in the boot process, just after having booted from the
WinXP CD, the screen will display the words to the effect: "Setup is
examining your system." Press <F6> when this happens, and have the
*manufacturer's* WinXP-specific drivers for your IDE/SATA controller
available on a floppy disk.

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.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Mike O'Sullivan]

A lot for him to get his teeth into, many thanks Bruce, I've forwarded
this on.

Mike

 

[Colon Terminus]

A friend of mine, an OEM supplier, and pretty experienced, is
nonetheless having a great deal of trouble installing Windows XPon an
Acer laptop. I have added his query below, and would be very grateful if
anybody could suggest a solution.


"Acer laptop model Aspire 5101, supplied with Vista Home Premium.

Hard disk is apparently split into three partitions C, D and (hidden)
small F according to Partition Manager.

I have formatted the drive and tried to load Window XP Home with Service
Pack 2, but willnot continue installation.

-approx 75 % complete - as (quote) "cannot find file".

What purpose does hidden partition serve? Any information please on how
to achieve full instal of XP?"

I have successfully installed XP as a replacement OS on over 50 Acer 5100
series laptops in the last year or so.
Amazing that people are willing to pay 200 bucks for a replacement OS plus
my fee just to get rid of VIsta.

Here's Colon's formula for Acer Vista > XP success.
Image the original Acer hard drive.
Delete all partitons and create one large partition.
Install XP.
Tune and Tweak the install.
Copy the original Acer hard drive image file to the hard disk.

Deliver the laptop to the happy customer.

 

[Mike O'Sullivan]

I have successfully installed XP as a replacement OS on over 50 Acer
5100 series laptops in the last year or so.
Amazing that people are willing to pay 200 bucks for a replacement OS
plus my fee just to get rid of VIsta.

Here's Colon's formula for Acer Vista > XP success.
Image the original Acer hard drive.
Delete all partitons and create one large partition.
Install XP.
Tune and Tweak the install.
Copy the original Acer hard drive image file to the hard disk. Deliver the laptop to the happy customer.

Sounds encouraging, thanks Colon I'll pass it on.

Mike