How to install XP over Vista?

[Guest]

I installed a Vista upgrade from Dell last night. Everything works
flawlessly but the internet connection. The techs at Best Buy's Geek Squad
were stumped for an hour, and then--after an extended discussion--decided
that the problem was in Vista's installation, rather than somewhere in IE.
They suggested reinstalling Vista.

I don't have time for reinstalling in hopes that it works the second time
around. I want to put XP back on my computer, but when I insert my XP
install disk, the option to "install Windows XP" isn't highlighted.

How do I install XP on a Vista machine?

Thanks!

 

[Drew]

Not much help but your FIST mistake was going to the IDIOTS at Best buy...I
have yet to see one who actually knows what they are doing !!!!

 

[Guest]

The men and women at my local Best Buy have been nothing but helpful and
courteous in the past, quite savvy and far from "idiotic."

That aside, my question remains.

Thanks.

 

[Puppy Breath]

You can't install XP "over" Vista or as a "downgrade". I think you need to
stay focused on getting the Inernet connection to work, unless you want to
try to install XP on a separate partition, or wipe the hard disk clean and
start all over.

 

[Tom]

Well if it is a restore or a real XP install CD try booting up of it to
launch restore or install program

 

[john]

I installed a Vista upgrade from Dell last night. Everything works
flawlessly but the internet connection. The techs at Best Buy's Geek
Squad
were stumped for an hour, and then--after an extended discussion--decided
that the problem was in Vista's installation, rather than somewhere in IE.
They suggested reinstalling Vista.

I don't have time for reinstalling in hopes that it works the second time
around. I want to put XP back on my computer, but when I insert my XP
install disk, the option to "install Windows XP" isn't highlighted.

How do I install XP on a Vista machine?

Just boot from your XP CD, reformat the partition and reinstall = nothing to
it

 

[John Barnes]

You need to boot to the install CD. You may need to change boot priority in
your BIOS so the CD is before the HD.

 

[John Inzer]

I installed a Vista upgrade from Dell last night. Everything works
flawlessly but the internet connection. The techs at Best Buy's Geek
Squad were stumped for an hour, and then--after an extended
discussion--decided that the problem was in Vista's installation,
rather than somewhere in IE. They suggested reinstalling Vista.

I don't have time for reinstalling in hopes that it works the second
time around. I want to put XP back on my computer, but when I insert
my XP install disk, the option to "install Windows XP" isn't
highlighted.

How do I install XP on a Vista machine?

Thanks!

==================================
As someone else suggested...focusing on
getting the Inernet connection to work may be
your best bet....anyway...maybe the following
article will offer some ideas:

(927522) How to restore a computer to a
previous Windows installation after you install
Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927522/en-us

--
John Inzer
MS Picture It! -
Digital Image MVP

Digital Image
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[Guest]

I installed a Vista upgrade from Dell last night. Everything works
flawlessly but the internet connection. The techs at Best Buy's Geek Squad
were stumped for an hour, and then--after an extended discussion--decided
that the problem was in Vista's installation, rather than somewhere in IE.
They suggested reinstalling Vista.

Try flashing the firmware in your router to the latest. I had a number of
Vista machines that using multiple programs (for Newsgroups and Antivirus)
couldn't connect to their servers. Flashing the firmware (in my case,
Linksys RV042) cured all...

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Try flashing the firmware in your router to the latest. I had a number of
Vista machines that using multiple programs (for Newsgroups and Antivirus)
couldn't connect to their servers. Flashing the firmware (in my case,
Linksys RV042) cured all...

If the router is suspected as being the source of the problem, an easy
test would be to try connecting the PC directly to the broadband modem.

Also, some routers need their SPI function disabled in order to work
with Vista.

 

[Conor]

I installed a Vista upgrade from Dell last night. Everything works
flawlessly but the internet connection. The techs at Best Buy's Geek Squad
were stumped for an hour, and then--after an extended discussion--decided
that the problem was in Vista's installation, rather than somewhere in IE.
They suggested reinstalling Vista.

I don't have time for reinstalling in hopes that it works the second time
around. I want to put XP back on my computer, but when I insert my XP
install disk, the option to "install Windows XP" isn't highlighted.

How do I install XP on a Vista machine?

You have to install from scratch. You're going to need a CD.

As to your internet problem, that's down to the network card drivers.
I've experienced the same myself with my onboard LAN. I went and bought
a Realtek based $5 network card.

 

[Conor]

The men and women at my local Best Buy have been nothing but helpful and
courteous in the past, quite savvy and far from "idiotic."

If they were savvy, they'd have told you the issue is dodgy network
adapter drivers...

 

[Donald L McDaniel]

I installed a Vista upgrade from Dell last night. Everything works
flawlessly but the internet connection. The techs at Best Buy's Geek Squad
were stumped for an hour, and then--after an extended discussion--decided
that the problem was in Vista's installation, rather than somewhere in IE.
They suggested reinstalling Vista.

I don't have time for reinstalling in hopes that it works the second time
around. I want to put XP back on my computer, but when I insert my XP
install disk, the option to "install Windows XP" isn't highlighted.

How do I install XP on a Vista machine?

Thanks!

You will have to reinstall XP "clean", my friend.
An older OS cannot be installed over a newer one.

I'm surprised that GeekSquad didn't examine your connection itself. Sounds to
me like Internet Explorer has nothing to do with it.

I installed my Dell Vista upgrade over XP, and had absolutely no problems with
it.

But, my connection is a Comcast Cable connection, which requires little if any
configuration.

All one needs is a working network device with a driver which works under
Vista. In fact, I didn't even need a driver, since I got my network address
from the DHCP server on my brother's Macintosh via an Ethernet cable. The
necessary network card driver was automatically installed by Vista during
innstallation of the OS. By the way, did you use the Preparation disk provided
with your Dell OS disk to start the installation? UNless you do that, you will
have to install any necessary drivers (at least the ones not provided by Dell in
the Vista OEM copy) manually.

How about letting us have a few particulars, such as network device, whether the
Upgrade was installed in-place over XP or on a second partition or drive, etc.
What happens when you try to connect, what your Network connection type is, etc.

NOTE: we do NOT need such things as network address, mac address, etc, so DON'T
give such information out.

Donald L McDaniel
Please Reply to the Original thread.
============================================================

 

[Donald L McDaniel]

Well if it is a restore or a real XP install CD try booting up of it to
launch restore or install program

The Dell Vista upgrade IS bootable, by the way.
In fact, it is in all ways EXACTLY like a Retail Upgrade disk, with the addition
of code tying it into the Preparation disk provided with the Upgrade disk by
Dell..

Donald L McDaniel
Please Reply to the Original thread.
============================================================

 

[Donald L McDaniel]

You need to boot to the install CD. You may need to change boot priority in
your BIOS so the CD is before the HD.

Not on Dells. It is not necessary to set the boot order, simply press F12 to
enter the Dell Boot Menu, from which one may select the boot device.

In fact, I advise againstsetting the Boot order in the BIOS setup. It's a
wasted step.

Donald L McDaniel
Please Reply to the Original thread.
============================================================

 

[Donald L McDaniel]

You have to install from scratch. You're going to need a CD.

As to your internet problem, that's down to the network card drivers.
I've experienced the same myself with my onboard LAN. I went and bought
a Realtek based $5 network card.

There is no such problem with the on-board Ethernet port on my Dell Dimension
E520. It worked out of the box with both XP and Vista.

Donald L McDaniel
Please Reply to the Original thread.
============================================================