Re: Can't load Win XP Pro over Vista
- From: "Vanguard" <no@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:57:02 -0500
"hasan" <hasan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:FE1295F5-3A7F-4913-A5C3-C64740D67BEC@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thanks Curt and Pegasus.
Yes I did realize that I can't load XP from within Vista :( The problem when
trying to boot from CD is really weird. The system accepts the keystroke when
it says"press any key to boot from CD" and kinda takes him into BIOS type
menu where it has options like: F8 for advance settings, select the OS to
boot (which only has Vista), Start in Safe mode, etc.
Um, you need to boot using the Windows *XP* bootable CD. Vista nor any other Windows install CD carries all prior versions of Windows.
Sounds like the BIOS may be setup to boot from the CD drive but needs the user to hit a key to make sure that it doesn't "pass through" that device to the hard drive. Most likely your friend still doesn't have the boot drive order correct in the BIOS. Have him go into the BIOS and set the boot drive order to floppy, CD-ROM, <some hard drive interface depending on what you have on the motherboard>.
Unfortunately the drive does not have a separate partition that we could use
for XP.
It is highly unlikely that Vista occupied all of a partition unless it was sized ridiculously too small (but then it is likely there are other partitions for, say, data files). If you are not going to keep Vista installed, why do you need it left on the hard drive? The Windows XP install CD lets you delete partitions, create new ones, and format them. Nothing of Vista will survive.
Hence I thought the best bet would be to boot from CD and when it
took us to the installation steps, we can specify to format C:\,
unfortunately we don't get to that point.
As you would have already guessed, my brother is not very technical so I'm
trying to suggest the easiest options. Would it help if he loaded Vista and
then started the command prompt and typed "format c:" would that erase the OS
and then we can restart with the XP CD in the drive,
Grab your shoelaces and pull up hard on them. Did you manage to float above the floor by a couple inces? Nope. How could you possibly run a format program within the OS that has to load and run that program to then destroy that OS that is running that program?
If your friend can't manage to figure out how to follow the prompts during the setup program started by booting using the Windows XP install CD, go to killdisk.com and make a bootable floppy that will wipe everything off the drive. Poof, all gone.
Although right now your friend doesn't want Vista, make sure he has the install media for it. If it is a pre-built then maybe the recovery image is in a hidden partition on the hard drive and your friend will lose it if he deletes all partitions and makes a bigger one just for Windows XP. Often for that type of recovery method (which usually just lays down a fixed image atop the partition so it is back to when you bought the computer), the OEM provides a program that lets you copy the files or create a CD used to reinstall the OS.
.
- References:
- Re: Can't load Win XP Pro over Vista
- From: Pegasus \(MVP\)
- Re: Can't load Win XP Pro over Vista
- From: hasan
- Re: Can't load Win XP Pro over Vista
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