Remove Vista for XP?

[bertieboy]

My wife has an Acer Aspire 5920 with Vista Home Premium (OEM). She has
had this system for about 8 months now and hates Vista. Is there any
reason why I can't remove Vista and instal an unused copy (purchased for
a system I no longer have, not an OEM version) of XP Home instead?
Are there likely to be any problems doing this? Also, if she decides to
sell the Acer, will I be able to re-install Vista again, after removing
XP? I would leave the recovery partition intact when installing XP home.
Thanks.

 

[Ron Badour]

You have to determine if XP drivers exist for the hardware in her computer.
If they do, back up what is needed from the existing system, format the
drive and load XP>

--
Regards

Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

 

[smlunatick]

My wife has an Acer Aspire 5920 with Vista Home Premium (OEM). She has
had this system for about 8 months now and hates Vista. Is there any
reason why I can't remove Vista and instal an unused copy (purchased for
a system I no longer have, not an OEM version) of XP Home instead?
Are there likely to be any problems doing this? Also, if she decides to
sell the Acer, will I be able to re-install Vista again, after removing
XP? I would leave the recovery partition intact when installing XP home.
Thanks.

You need to first check the Acer's warranty info so as to see if the
unit's warranty would not be voided if it is not used with the
original installed operating system. Some warranty have a cause
concerning what operating system will allow the warranty to be
honoured.

Second, you need to check on Acer's web site so as to see if this Acer
model would have the corresponding XP drivers. A lot more hardware
devices do not have XP drivers and you will spend a lot of time
looking for XP compatible drivers.

And finally, if you need to contact tech support after the XP install,
the support agents "may" decide to stop helping you when they discover
that it is not Vista that is running on the PC.


With the above three "points" mentioned, you are always permitted to
do what ever you want. The included Vista "recovery" system and
install "key" can forever be used to reinstall Vista. However, if the
version of XP you install is an OEM, then once you sell this Acer, as
per the XP EULA, you "should" also sell the installed version of XP
install CD / install key.

 

[SC Tom]

My wife has an Acer Aspire 5920 with Vista Home Premium (OEM). She has had
this system for about 8 months now and hates Vista. Is there any reason
why I can't remove Vista and instal an unused copy (purchased for a system
I no longer have, not an OEM version) of XP Home instead?
Are there likely to be any problems doing this? Also, if she decides to
sell the Acer, will I be able to re-install Vista again, after removing
XP? I would leave the recovery partition intact when installing XP home.
Thanks.

Before doing anything to it, do a search for XP drivers for it. If you can
find certified drivers, there is no reason you can't "upgrade" to XP. As
long as you leave the Acer recovery partition intact, you will be able to
revert to a factory new installation of Vista at any time.

SC Tom

 

[Mick]

Before doing anything to it, do a search for XP drivers for it. If you can
find certified drivers, there is no reason you can't "upgrade" to XP. As
long as you leave the Acer recovery partition intact, you will be able to
revert to a factory new installation of Vista at any time.

SC Tom

Like the others said, your biggest problem is finding the XP drivers.
Make sure the drivers you find are for your exact same model.

As you have Vista right now, don't touch the backup partition and if
possible
create recovery disks for Vista. If your XP installation goes south you'll
be
able to at least restore Vista.

If your XP installation goes well, then you can decide what to do with the
Vista
backup partition. Personally, I'd leave it on the machine, it does take up
that much space.
Depends on the size of your harddrive I suppose.
Good Luck

Mike

 

[Twayne]

You need to first check the Acer's warranty info so as to see if the
unit's warranty would not be voided if it is not used with the
original installed operating system. Some warranty have a cause
concerning what operating system will allow the warranty to be
honoured.

Second, you need to check on Acer's web site so as to see if this Acer
model would have the corresponding XP drivers. A lot more hardware
devices do not have XP drivers and you will spend a lot of time
looking for XP compatible drivers.

And finally, if you need to contact tech support after the XP install,
the support agents "may" decide to stop helping you when they discover
that it is not Vista that is running on the PC.


With the above three "points" mentioned, you are always permitted to
do what ever you want. The included Vista "recovery" system and
install "key" can forever be used to reinstall Vista. However, if the
version of XP you install is an OEM, then once you sell this Acer, as
per the XP EULA, you "should" also sell the installed version of XP
install CD / install key.

Good post, but I'd just make sure I had a good disk image and sell it as
a Vista machine because that's what all the supporting paperwork and
documentation and licensing info are going to refer to. If I buy a
computer with Vista on the outside, it better have Vista on the inside
or be very clearly marked as modified before the sale to me. It'd only
be a DVD boot & Restore to put Vista back as it was.
But then if the people want XP, let them have it. Just wipe all th
epersonal data, give them the disks and suggest they should do a clean
install, or do it yourself.

BTW, the last Acer Vista I had here had TWO system partitions; surprised
me, but there they were. One was X and the other hidden. One was DOS,
the other XP based IIRC. Don't quote me on the DOS.

HTH,

Twayne

 

[smlunatick]

Good post, but I'd just make sure I had a good disk image and sell it as
a Vista machine because that's what all the supporting paperwork and
documentation and licensing info are going to refer to. If I buy a
computer with Vista on the outside, it better have Vista on the inside
or be very clearly marked as modified before the sale to me.  It'd only
be a DVD boot & Restore to put Vista back as it was.
   But then if the people want XP, let them have it.  Just wipe allth
epersonal data, give them the disks and suggest they should do a clean
install, or do it yourself.

BTW, the last Acer Vista I had here had TWO system partitions; surprised
me, but there they were. One was X and the other hidden.  One was DOS,
the other XP based IIRC. Don't quote me on the DOS.

HTH,

Twayne

I have seen some DOS partitions used for the diagnostic tools and / or
the recovery system start-ups.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

My wife has an Acer Aspire 5920 with Vista Home Premium (OEM). She has had
this system for about 8 months now and hates Vista. Is there any reason
why I can't remove Vista and instal an unused copy (purchased for a system
I no longer have, not an OEM version) of XP Home instead?
Are there likely to be any problems doing this? Also, if she decides to
sell the Acer, will I be able to re-install Vista again, after removing
XP? I would leave the recovery partition intact when installing XP home.
Thanks.

As noted, as long as drivers are available, you can do a clean install of
XP.

A better choice is to do the XP install to another hard disk; this won't
cost a lot, where I am, 250 gig disks are $65, and will ensure that you can
for whatever reason set the system back to Vista in a few minutes.

My Thinkpad came with Vista Business, and I put XP Pro on instead.
Ultimately I put Vista back on, because with XP, the system was *slower*.

There are a few things you can turn off, such as the UAC, that will make
Vista a *lot* friendlier to use.

HTH
-pk

 

[bertieboy]

As noted, as long as drivers are available, you can do a clean install of
XP.

A better choice is to do the XP install to another hard disk; this won't
cost a lot, where I am, 250 gig disks are $65, and will ensure that you can
for whatever reason set the system back to Vista in a few minutes.

My Thinkpad came with Vista Business, and I put XP Pro on instead.
Ultimately I put Vista back on, because with XP, the system was *slower*.

There are a few things you can turn off, such as the UAC, that will make
Vista a *lot* friendlier to use.

HTH
-pk

I checked the UK Acer site about 4 months ago, no XP drivers, but this
evening I thought I would have another look and there they were, XPHome
32bit drivers, so it looks like I'm in luck after all.
I found them here if anyone is after them as well:

http://www.acer.co.uk/acer/service.do?LanguageISOCtxParam=en&miu10einu24.
current.attN2B2F2EEF=3734&sp=page15e&ctx2.c2att1=17&miu10ekcond13.attN2B2
F2EEF=3734&CountryISOCtxParam=UK&ctx1.att21k=1&CRC=3713735360

What is UAC?

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I checked the UK Acer site about 4 months ago, no XP drivers, but this
evening I thought I would have another look and there they were, XPHome
32bit drivers, so it looks like I'm in luck after all.
I found them here if anyone is after them as well:

http://www.acer.co.uk/acer/service.do?LanguageISOCtxParam=en&miu10einu24.
current.attN2B2F2EEF=3734&sp=page15e&ctx2.c2att1=17&miu10ekcond13.attN2B2
F2EEF=3734&CountryISOCtxParam=UK&ctx1.att21k=1&CRC=3713735360

What is UAC?

UAC stands for User Account Control and is probably the thing you like least
about Vista

It's what keeps asking you if you really did intend to do what you asked the
PC to do. It can be turned off, and yes, this is a security risk, but no
more so than XP; turning it off can make Vista much easier to use.

http://www.petri.co.il/disable_uac_in_windows_vista.htm

HTH
-pk

 

[SC Tom]

UAC stands for User Account Control and is probably the thing you like
least about Vista

It's what keeps asking you if you really did intend to do what you asked
the PC to do. It can be turned off, and yes, this is a security risk,
but no more so than XP; turning it off can make Vista much easier to use.

http://www.petri.co.il/disable_uac_in_windows_vista.htm

HTH
-pk

+20 on UAC off! If it was still turned on on my notebook, I'm sure the
neighbors would find out what I meant when I said my notebook was "extremely
portable." In fact, it would probably fly across the back fence quite well!
God, what a PITA UAC is!

SC Tom

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My wife has an Acer Aspire 5920 with Vista Home Premium (OEM). She has
had this system for about 8 months now and hates Vista. Is there any
reason why I can't remove Vista and instal an unused copy (purchased for
a system I no longer have, not an OEM version) of XP Home instead?
Are there likely to be any problems doing this? Also, if she decides to
sell the Acer, will I be able to re-install Vista again, after removing
XP? I would leave the recovery partition intact when installing XP home.
Thanks.

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, 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

 

[bertieboy]

UAC stands for User Account Control and is probably the thing you like least
about Vista

It's what keeps asking you if you really did intend to do what you asked the
PC to do. It can be turned off, and yes, this is a security risk, but no
more so than XP; turning it off can make Vista much easier to use.

http://www.petri.co.il/disable_uac_in_windows_vista.htm

HTH
-pk

I see, thanks for that Patrick. I'm not sure that, by itself, is going
to be enough for my wife to learn to love Vista. Right now she hates it!

 

[bertieboy]

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.

It seems Acer have now placed XP drivers for this Aspire 2920z on their
UK website. They originally said there weren't any!

Secondly, removing an OEM-installed operating system and replacing it
with another will almost invariably void any and all support agreements
and, 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.

Yes, the warranty doesn't have much longer to run so by the time I get
round to doing this it may well be out of warranty.
I do have an unused XPHome (purchased not OEM) so hopefully that will be
OK.

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.

Thank you Bruce.

 

[cact25]

Why not just create a dual boot PC?

It seems Acer have now placed XP drivers for this Aspire 2920z on their
UK website. They originally said there weren't any!
Yes, the warranty doesn't have much longer to run so by the time I get
round to doing this it may well be out of warranty.
I do have an unused XPHome (purchased not OEM) so hopefully that will be
OK.
Thank you Bruce.

 

[db ´¯`·.. >]

would need to uninstall
vista first then

install winxp

then upgrade the
winxp computer with
vista,

ensuring that vista
doesn't over write
the winxp system files

but gets installed onto
a separate partition of
a secondary hard disk.

the above will create
a dual boot.

but for now, the easiest
and safest way is to
install virtual pc in
vista

then install winxp in
virtual pc.

similarly, the safest
way to use other o.s.'s
like linux, ubantu, etc...
is to install them in
virtual pc.

virtual pc "protects" the
main o.s. from crashing.

there is more information
on virtual pc at microsoft.
com.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[cact25]

I don't think you have to unistall Vista. Just have another drive or
partition. If you have 2 drives, just unplug the C drive which is where I
presume you have Vista. XP will only see the second Drive. Just remember to
use the existing file structure.

 

[db ´¯`·.. >]

sounds very sensible
what you are describing.

but I think the problem
is due to the fact that
the boot code/files/sector
is always written to the
the default drive which is
usually the c drive/disk0/
master disk.

if one were to disconnect
the master drive and then install
the o.s. on the drive that
remains connected, then that drive
will be set up for booting and
acquire the boot files.

I suppose that you can have
two individual drives, each
bootable, but not at the same
time.

dual booting or vpc is
much better.

on the other hand. creating
separate but bootable drives
is most possible, but it seems
to me that it would require a
"physical" intervention by the
user, ie changing the boot order
or switching the cabling back
and fourth between the internal
disks.


--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't think you have to unistall Vista. Just have another drive or
partition. If you have 2 drives, just unplug the C drive which is where I
presume you have Vista. XP will only see the second Drive. Just remember to
use the existing file structure.

 

[cact25]

It does not matter which disk is the boot disk. You just modify the boot.ini
file.
Here is my boot.ini file:

[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows Media Center
Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

By Installing XP, that disk became the boot drive, and that is where you
modify the boot.ini file. Turn off the power. Then plug in the other
drive(s) and reboot. You will get a boot menu that allows you to select the
OS you want to boot.