Question about Laptop & XP as opposed to Vista

[Graphic Queen]

The biggest and most important question I have is if I buy this
laptop, will it run ok if I reformat the hard drive and install
Windows XP Home Edition on it? That is what I have on my desktop here.
That brings up another question I have because I need to know if the
sales person was BSing me or not. He said that XP Home Edition might
not work on this laptop because the drivers were made for the Vista. I
wanted, and still do for that matter, to buy another XP and reformat
the hard drive on the laptop and do a clean install of the XP I would
buy. Why is it that it would not work? I just didn't understand his
explanation about the drivers wouldn't be there for XP because they
are new and different drivers for Vista. I am one of those people out
there that likes my hard drives partitioned and don't want all of that
trial-ware that they stick on the machine, so I have always just
reformatted and started clean by installing the OS myself and that way
I get it installed the way I like it. Actually, I am kind of a bit**
when it comes to stuff like that. If anyone can explain to me what he
was talking about and let me know if it was BS or not I would greatly
appreciate it.

I will let you know up front that I have no knowledge about laptops at
all, except for the bare basics I would guess. I have used desktops
for well over 20 years now though and can even replace or add my own
hard drives, sound cards and such as that. Have never messed with a
motherboard and really don't want to.

I am wanting to buy a laptop to use on trips. I do not need it for any
kind of business or anything, just want to access the internet for
information and email and such as that.

I saw one today at the local Best Buy. This is it. They are selling it
for $599.99

It has 4 USB ports and the guy told me that I could also connect to a
data port via modem. I would also be buying a cool deck (or whatever
it is called) to have the laptop sitting on it to keep it from getting
too hot.

What I want to know is if this is a good buy and about right for a
laptop for my needs? Is Gateway any good? What all do I need to know
about laptops? Any help would be greatly appreciated because I need to
buy this by the end of the week if it is a good buy and such.

They have the memory I would need on sale and it would be another
$50.00.

Full Specifications: Gateway MX8738 Laptop Computer
CPU and Memory Processor Brand Intel
Processor Class Pentium Dual Core
Processor Speed 1.73 GHz
Installed Memory 1 GB
Memory Technology DDR II SDRAM
Cache Size 1 MB

Storage Hard Drive Capacity 160 GB
Included Drives DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM
CD Write Speed 24 X
CD Rewrite Speed 16 X
CD Read Speed 24 X
DVD Read Speed 8 X
DVD Write Speed 8x (DVD±R), 2x (DVD-R DL), 2.4x (DVD+R DL)

Display and Graphics Display Size 17 in
Display Type TFT active matrix
Graphics Processor Intel GMA 950
Resolution 1440 x 900 pixels

Battery Type Lithium ion

Communications and Networking Modem Speed 56 Kbps
Network Support Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g

Software Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

Connectors Interface Provided S-Video, VGA, Phone line, Ethernet

Warranty Information 1 year warranty
Base Warranty 1 year warranty

General Product Info Input Devices Touchpad, Keypad
Included Sound Card Sound card
Weight 7.3 lbs
Also known as Gateway MX8738, Gateway
Manufacturer Part No. MX8738
Dimension 1.4 in x 16.1 in x 10.9 in (HxWxD)

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

If you are so desperate to have XP on your new laptop, then buy one that has
XP already installed. At least that way you can be reasonably assured that
XP will run ok on it.

 

[HeyBub]

The biggest and most important question I have is if I buy this
laptop, will it run ok if I reformat the hard drive and install
Windows XP Home Edition on it? That is what I have on my desktop here.
That brings up another question I have because I need to know if the
sales person was BSing me or not. He said that XP Home Edition might
not work on this laptop because the drivers were made for the Vista. I
wanted, and still do for that matter, to buy another XP and reformat
the hard drive on the laptop and do a clean install of the XP I would
buy. Why is it that it would not work?

Because the laptop may include circuitry that had not been invented when XP
was released. The code to make this circuitry work [drivers] may be unique
to Vista.

I just didn't understand his
explanation about the drivers wouldn't be there for XP because they
are new and different drivers for Vista. I am one of those people out
there that likes my hard drives partitioned and don't want all of that
trial-ware that they stick on the machine, so I have always just
reformatted and started clean by installing the OS myself and that way
I get it installed the way I like it. Actually, I am kind of a bit**
when it comes to stuff like that. If anyone can explain to me what he
was talking about and let me know if it was BS or not I would greatly
appreciate it.

He said "may not work." He was correct. If he had said an attempt to install
XP "may cause the laptop to turn into a three-legged pigeon and fly away,"
he would have also been correct.

 

[peter]

My laptop has a very similar configuration to the one you are contemplating
on purchasing.I have 2 machines that run XP and this laptop that runs Vista.
Increasing your RAM to 2 gb is a very good idea.partitioning your HD is
possible under Vista or by means of aftermarket product..
Other persons have explained the hardware drivers problems...only the
Gateway website would tell you if there are XP drivers available for that
machine.
Gateway has a decent reputation........Dell has a better
reputation...........but its still your decision.
If you really want XP I suggest you purchase with XP installed....you
warranty will expire the minute you format and install XP yourself.
Personally I would give Vista a chance.....some ,all right quite a few,have
had problems with Vista but a majority of those have installed Vista
themselves.
I purchased this laptop with XP pre-installed and took the free upgrade to
Vista in May..following the instructions to the letter I installed it.
I have not have had a major problem with Vista....a small problem with
webcam driver....other than that none!!
It is slightly different than XP and there will be a learning curve....but
you had that when you 1st used XP
peter

 

[frodo]

The sales-droid _MAY_ actually be right; some newer machines do NOT have
XP drivers written for them, since the manufacturer figured they would
only ever ship it w/ Vista and that's all they want to support. What you
need to verify is whether the manufacturer's web site offers XP drivers
for that model or not. You MIGHT have luck w/ drivers made for a
very-similar model (sometimes the model number increments w/ the new vista
release, so it's possible that drivers for the xx551 may work on your
xx553, but no guarantees).

Also, you will need to wipe the HD partition table before installing XP,
to get rid of vista's partition table - it does things differently and the
XP Setup may choke. Also, while Vista's Setup is able to deal with a
"Native Mode" SATA hard or optical drive, XP Setup will not (without doing
the F6 "Install driver from floppy" trick; and it likely doesn't have a
floppy).

Ask around in the Web Community to see if others have done it already, and
how they did it.

So, bottom line: do your research before assuming it'll go smoothly.

 

[LVTravel]

The sales-droid _MAY_ actually be right; some newer machines do NOT have
XP drivers written for them, since the manufacturer figured they would
only ever ship it w/ Vista and that's all they want to support. What you
need to verify is whether the manufacturer's web site offers XP drivers
for that model or not. You MIGHT have luck w/ drivers made for a
very-similar model (sometimes the model number increments w/ the new vista
release, so it's possible that drivers for the xx551 may work on your
xx553, but no guarantees).

Also, you will need to wipe the HD partition table before installing XP,
to get rid of vista's partition table - it does things differently and the
XP Setup may choke. Also, while Vista's Setup is able to deal with a
"Native Mode" SATA hard or optical drive, XP Setup will not (without doing
the F6 "Install driver from floppy" trick; and it likely doesn't have a
floppy).

Ask around in the Web Community to see if others have done it already, and
how they did it.

So, bottom line: do your research before assuming it'll go smoothly.

And, even if you do get it to install (and I checked GW's web site for
drivers for your machine and there wasn't any drivers listed other than
Vista drivers) it will void your warranty.

 

[Graphic Queen]

And, even if you do get it to install (and I checked GW's web site for
drivers for your machine and there wasn't any drivers listed other than
Vista drivers) it will void your warranty.

Yeah, I found that out about the warranty. There are XP drivers out
there because one person even has a website up for people to download.

I went ahead and called Gateway and ordered the same machine but with
XP installed on it.

Thank you for your help about this.