installing XP

[SANTANDER]

new notebook with Vista: I do not need Vista and want install win XP. Should
I completely reformat hardrive first, or install win XP atop of Vista?

 

[Big Al]

new notebook with Vista: I do not need Vista and want install win XP.
Should I completely reformat hardrive first, or install win XP atop of
Vista?

Doing a clean install is always the best option.
Check you hardware first, do some research. Some of the hardware on
the laptop may only be supported with Vista drivers. ie, modem,
wireless etc.

 

[Michael Jennings]

Get in touch with the notebook maker's support. If they support the conversion,
they can ship you DVDs for a clean install. If the notebook maker only supports
Vista, converting to XP will be difficult or impossible, due to missing device
drivers.

 

[SANTANDER]

Get in touch with the notebook maker's support. If they support the
conversion,
they can ship you DVDs for a clean install. If the notebook maker only
supports
Vista, converting to XP will be difficult or impossible, due to missing
device drivers.

 

[db ??`ž.. >]

might be safer if you
could install xp as a
secondary o.s. and
then use a dual boot
to boot into either
o.s.

the above method will
provide an additional
resource instead of
removing one.

 

[Big Al]

You should make a Vista restore disk according to
Asus' directions in case you want to go back to Vista in the Future. After
all, your Vista license is only good on that laptop, so you might as well
have it available in the event you need to or want to return to Vista.

Or if you sell the laptop, you want to restore Vista before you sell it.
That way you keep your XP license.

 

[Jerry]

See the May issue of "PC Magazine" for instructions.

 

[Pete]

new notebook with Vista: I do not need Vista and want install win XP.
Should I completely reformat hardrive first, or install win XP atop of
Vista?

Yes. I think you might consider (try) dual boot.
Otherwise, I wouldn't mess with it. Go out and buy a native XP laptop.
There are too many things that need drivers to work properly.
-Pete

 

[Pete Puma]

new notebook with Vista: I do not need Vista and want install win XP.
Should I completely reformat hardrive first, or install win XP atop of
Vista?

I would also check the bios page for this laptop or any that wants to
install XP. I bought a Toshiba (Vista) this year that said clearly on its
bios page--that it wasn't compatible with XP!
I went goofy trying to install it before I found out.

About the time I finished typing a warning/gripe to the newsgroup, they had
a new XP compat bios version available, but geeze... who would have thought
the bios...

 

[SANTANDER]

Yes. I think you might consider (try) dual boot.
Otherwise, I wouldn't mess with it. Go out and buy a native XP laptop.
There are too many things that need drivers to work properly.
-Pete

---------

I can no find native XP laptop with required parameters and hardware
configuration, and without OS (DOS only). I dont want and do not plan use
Vista, neither the present nor the future, more likely migrate to Linux than
Vista. Currently win XP satisfy my needs.

S.

 

[Daave]

Or if you sell the laptop, you want to restore Vista before you sell
it. That way you keep your XP license.

FWIW, strictly speaking, according to the EULA, OP will not be permitted
to transfer the XP license if it is a generic OEM license.

 

[Daave]

I can no find native XP laptop with required parameters and hardware
configuration, and without OS (DOS only).

Here are eight laptops that come with XP. I would imagine at least one
of these would meet your requirements:

http://www.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/notebooks?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

More:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&Subcategory=32&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

and even more:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&Subcategory=32&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

 

[Big Al]

FWIW, strictly speaking, according to the EULA, OP will not be permitted
to transfer the XP license if it is a generic OEM license.

You may be right, but he has zero chance if he can't restore it.

 

[Daave]

You may be right, but he has zero chance if he can't restore it.

My point is that even if he formats and reloads Vista, he *still* won't
have a license to run XP (OEM licenses are tied to one particular
machine in perpetuity). Of course, he will more than likely be able to
*use* that particular XP key, but the license won't be legit according
to the EULA. "Strictly speaking..."