Re: Downgrading from Vista to XP pro

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

El Cugino wrote:
I want to buy a new notebook. They all come with Vista, which I
detest. I own a legal copy of XP pro. What problems may I expect
if I buy the notebook with Vista and try to do a clean install
with my XP pro?

Shenan Stanley wrote:
- Is the 'copy' of Windows XP Professional (32 bit I assume)
licensed as an OEM or retail version?

- Have you picked out a certain type of laptop and have you
contacted the manufacturer of said laptop directly to see if they
sell it with Windows XP (many vendors are still selling computers
with Windows XP at this time.)?

- Have you contacted the manufacturer of said laptop directly to
see if they support said laptop with Windows XP installed? Or at
least checked their web support and driver download pages to
ensure they have drivers available for Windows XP? (Motherboard
chipset, video, sound, network, wireless, bluetooth, etc...)

John Callaway wrote:
Partition commander, partition HDD with 20 Gig for XP, other
drive/drives for your data.

Shenan Stanley wrote:
John,

I am afraid I do not understand your posting - perhaps you posted
this in the incorrect place?

John Callaway wrote:
If you use partition commander you can partition your HDD and then
load your XP OS, then your drivers.

Shenan Stanley wrote:
Okay - but what does that have to do with this discussion?

If the person has a Windows XP supported (by the manufacturer of
the entire thing/component parts at least) then the "partition
commander" thing is unnecessary - as they can partition with the
Windows XP boot CD.

They have no want for Windows Vista as they state they wish to
perform a clean install of Windows XP when they get a laptop -
which would require no special tools beyond a Windows XP CD and any
drivers the hardware might require.

That is why I asked if perhaps you responded to the wrong posting -
as I still cannot connect what you are saying to the original
question nor my initial set of questions for the OP. Merely
curious...

John Callaway wrote:
Your question "What problems may I expect if
I buy the notebook with Vista and try to do a clean install with my
XP pro? I believe can be answered, none, if you do a clean install
perhaps repartition your HDD for quicker disk access. Whether you
use xp partition or perhaps partition commander was an example.

Shenan Stanley wrote:
Possible issues (thus my questions and suggestions.):

- The hardware manufacturer may not support the components under a
pre-vista machine - so drivers may be difficult to find (if they
exist.)

- The manufacturer may consider this (installing a
different/unsupported OS) to null-and-void of the warranty.

- The software that comes with the laptop may not come in an
installable medium other than a system restore feature (restoring
the OS and applications in one swoop.)

As for partitioning your disk for 'faster access' - not generally a
factor.

John Callaway wrote:
With all due respect, it sounds like you addressed your question
thoroughly.

The questions were not for me to address - but for the original poster to
address.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


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