Overwriting Vista Home Premium with XP Pro

[Wendy]

Hi, I have just purchased a brand new laptop that came with Vista Home
Premium pre-installed (but has recovery disk) - I want to install XP Pro
instead as Vista is not compatable with the programs I wish to run. I have
booted from my XP install disk and it goes through set-up quite happily until
it gets to starting Windows.....
I gives me the normal options i.e. return to format current drive, D to
delete etc.. but in the box it displays <There is no disk in this drive> if I
return or select D I get the following error:

"A problem has been detected & windows has been shut down to prevent damage.
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA"

I am presuming that the Vista is protected in some way, can anyone help me
please?

 

[Malke]

Hi, I have just purchased a brand new laptop that came with Vista Home
Premium pre-installed (but has recovery disk) - I want to install XP Pro
instead as Vista is not compatable with the programs I wish to run. I
have booted from my XP install disk and it goes through set-up quite
happily until it gets to starting Windows.....
I gives me the normal options i.e. return to format current drive, D to
delete etc.. but in the box it displays <There is no disk in this drive>
if I return or select D I get the following error:

"A problem has been detected & windows has been shut down to prevent
damage.
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA"

I am presuming that the Vista is protected in some way, can anyone help me
please?

Vista isn't "protected in some way". The hardware in your computer isn't
compatible with XP and something is failing. Here is general information
about replacing Vista with XP. Frankly, since this is a brand-new computer
I sugget you do Item #6.

On an OEM (HP, Sony, etc.) computer:

1. Go to the OEM's website and look for XP drivers for your specific model
computer. If there are no XP drivers, then you can't install XP. End of
story. If there are drivers, download them and store on a CD-R or USB
thumbdrive; you'll need them after you install XP.

2. Check with the OEM - either from their tech support website or by calling
them - to see if you will void your warranty if you do this. If you will
void the warranty, you make the decision.

3. If the OEM does support XP on the machine, call them and see if you can
have downgrade rights and have them send you an XP restore disk. This will
be far the easiest and best way of getting XP on the machine.

4. If XP is supported on the machine but the OEM doesn't have an XP restore
disk for you, understand that you'll need to purchase a retail copy of XP
from your favorite online or brick/mortar store.

5. Also understand that you will need to do a clean install of XP so if you
have any data you want, back it up first.

6. If none of the above is applicable to you because you can't run XP on
that machine (see Item #1 above), return the computer and purchase one
running XP instead.

Malke

 

[Wendy]

Hi Malke, thank you for your speedy response, I appreciate it. I have
nothing to back up as it is brand new.

But I have sent an email to "Medion" (the manufacturer) to enquire about
installing XP, if this is NOT possible, then I will take your advice and
return the laptop.

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to purchase a computer here with XP
installed without paying through the nose for it. I will just make sure that
the hardware will run XP. Thank you again for your advice.

Wendy

 

[RalfG]

Hi Malke, thank you for your speedy response, I appreciate it. I have
nothing to back up as it is brand new.

But I have sent an email to "Medion" (the manufacturer) to enquire about
installing XP, if this is NOT possible, then I will take your advice and
return the laptop.

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to purchase a computer here with XP
installed without paying through the nose for it. I will just make sure
that
the hardware will run XP. Thank you again for your advice.

Wendy

One alternative that might or might not work for you is to install XP under
Vista using Virtual PC or similar software that creates a virtual computer
environment. MS offers Virtual PC as a freeware download. Start Virtual PC
as you would any normal app within Vista and it creates a virtual computer
running whatever OS you've installed on it. Depending on what kind of
software you need to run this can work very well but there are situations
where it might not work out at all. I've used Virtual PC to be able to use
older graphics software and some games running under Windows 98, with VPC
running in either Vista or XP.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi, I have just purchased a brand new laptop that came with Vista Home
Premium pre-installed (but has recovery disk) - I want to install XP Pro
instead as Vista is not compatable with the programs I wish to run. I have
booted from my XP install disk and it goes through set-up quite happily until
it gets to starting Windows.....
I gives me the normal options i.e. return to format current drive, D to
delete etc.. but in the box it displays <There is no disk in this drive> if I
return or select D I get the following error:

"A problem has been detected & windows has been shut down to prevent damage.
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA"

I am presuming that the Vista is protected in some way, can anyone help me
please?

There could be a couple possible adverse repercussions of which you
should be aware. 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, in rare cases, possibly 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 will be the
additional cost involved in purchasing a WinXP license for this new
computer.

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

 

[Wendy]

There could be a couple possible adverse repercussions of which you
should be aware. 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, in rare cases, possibly 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 will be the
additional cost involved in purchasing a WinXP license for this new
computer.

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

Thank you Bruce, do you know where I can download the required drivers or
what they are called?

Regards,

Wendy

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi Wendy,

XP cannot install on a Vista-created NTFS volume (though it can read one
which is why you get partway through setup). As part of the setup, you need
to delete and recreate it.

As others have mentioned, you will also need to make sure XP drivers are
available for the hardware used in building this laptop, without them you
may lose some functionality.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

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

 

[Malke]

Thank you Bruce, do you know where I can download the required drivers or
what they are called?

As I already told you:

"Go to the OEM's website (your laptop mftr.) and look for XP drivers for
your specific model computer. If there are no XP drivers, then you can't
install XP. End of story. If there are drivers, download them and store on
a CD-R or USB thumbdrive; you'll need them after you install XP."

If you still don't understand what I and Bruce have tried to explain, then
make this very simple:

1. Call the laptop mftr.'s tech support and ask them if you can run XP on
this laptop. If they say no, return it or see #4 below.

2. If they say yes, then have them send you a recovery disk set for XP. Use
it and install XP.

3. If they don't have a recovery disk set but XP is supported, ask them to
direct you to the webpage where you can download XP drivers if you can't
find it yourself.

4. If you can't run XP directly on the laptop because there are no drivers,
then make a choice:

a. Either return the laptop and purchase one running XP (Dell business
machines are available running XP).

b. Or purchase a retail copy of XP (still available from good online stores)
and use virtual computing software (MS Virtual PC, VMware Workstation,
VirtualBox) to create a virtual machine running XP on the host operating
system (Vista).

If 4b. sounds like the way you want to go but too confusing to do (and
that's OK, we all have our areas of expertise), take the laptop to a local
computer tech and have them do it for you.

Malke

 

[andy]

Thank you Bruce, do you know where I can download the required drivers or
what they are called?

First you have to determine what devices are in the laptop.
Download Everest from
<http://www.lavalys.com/products.php?ps=&page=11&dlid=3&lang=en>,
install, and run.
Click on Report, Next >, Custom Selection, Next >.
Deselect all pages, expand Devices, select Physical Devices, Next >,
Plain Text, Finish.
Highlight PCI Devices, copy to clipboard (ctrl-C),
and paste into your reply to this message:

PCI Devices:
Bus 6, Device 1, Function 0 BrookTree
WinTV PAL B-G
Bus 6, Device 1, Function 1 BrookTree
WinTV PAL B-G
Bus 4, Device 0, Function 0 Gigabyte
GBB363 SATA-II RAID Controller
Bus 4, Device 0, Function 1 Gigabyte
GBB363 SATA-II RAID Controller
Bus 1, Device 0, Function 0 Gigabyte
GeForce 8600 GT Video Adapter
Bus 3, Device 0, Function 0 Harmonics
(Conexant) CX23885 Video Capture
Bus 0, Device 30, Function 0 Intel 82801JB
I/O Controller Hub 10 (ICH10) [A-0]
Bus 0, Device 31, Function 5 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - 2-port SATA Controller
Bus 0, Device 31, Function 2 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - 4-port SATA Controller
Bus 0, Device 27, Function 0 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - High Definition Audio Controller
Bus 0, Device 28, Function 0 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - PCI Express Root Port 1
Bus 0, Device 28, Function 1 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - PCI Express Root Port 2
Bus 0, Device 28, Function 3 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - PCI Express Root Port 4
Bus 0, Device 28, Function 4 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - PCI Express Root Port 5
Bus 0, Device 31, Function 3 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - SMBus Controller
Bus 0, Device 26, Function 0 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
Bus 0, Device 26, Function 1 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
Bus 0, Device 26, Function 2 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
Bus 0, Device 29, Function 0 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
Bus 0, Device 29, Function 1 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
Bus 0, Device 29, Function 2 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
Bus 0, Device 26, Function 7 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
Bus 0, Device 29, Function 7 Intel 82801JB
ICH10 - USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
Bus 0, Device 31, Function 0 Intel 82801JB
ICH10R - LPC Bridge
Bus 0, Device 0, Function 0 Intel
G43/G45/P43/P45 Chipset - Memory Controller Hub [A-3]
Bus 0, Device 1, Function 0 Intel
G43/G45/P43/P45 Chipset - Primary PCI Express x16 Root [A-3]
Bus 5, Device 0, Function 0 Realtek
RTL8168C/8111C PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
Bus 6, Device 0, Function 0 Teralogic
TL880-based HDTV/ATSC Tuner
Bus 6, Device 7, Function 0 Texas
Instruments TSB43AB23 1394A-2000 OHCI PHY/Link-Layer Controller