Comments on: Install Windows XP on Your Pre-Installed Windows Vista Computer

By: The Geek

The Geek — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:03:14 +0000

———————-NOTE————————–

I am closing the comments on this article because of the large amount of support questions.

You are welcome to leave any computer help questions on the Forum.

http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/

By: Malle

Malle — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 08:57:31 +0000

About 3 weeks ago I bought my first laptop-a toshiba satellite A205-S4597 pre-installed with Vista (oh how I came to hate Vista !!!! )
I’m really interrested in dual booting(thinking that vista might get better with updates overtime) but I am not tech savvy at all but have been reading alot online and am weighing my options.

I would have now to buy a windows xp copy (almost $300 for a full retail version)Maybe a little less on ebay.
And I read it will dual boot now easily with a newer intel based Mac .(I never used a mac in my live+can’t afford it right now) Or I could save up for another laptop with xp loaded,if I save fast enough before they’re all gone.
So I HAVE BEEN LOOKING for options instead of enjoying my new laptop ; ( because I hate vista !!!
I really would like XP Pro SP2.I want to be able to use my software .
Even read about linux.I think to complicated for me,but will try sometime,sounds interresting.

I want to try this guide,sounds easy enough.
BUT I don’t kow how to get all the required xp drivers for my laptop.I looked on toshiba’s website and I don’t know what I need.Is there a good book you can recommend that teaches me about computers?
The other idea I had was that if this fails I could buy a new hard drive and just install xp.But then I will have the same problems with the required driver’s.I’m at a loss.I’m really getting exhausted with my new laptop,sometimes I just want to smash it.But at least it works nicely for surfing the web.

Sorry for the rant,
any ideas?

Thanks

By: marcus

marcus — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 08:52:34 +0000

Help! I followed all the steps but for some reason I can’t get it to work. I did the partitions and was able to install windows xp but the only way to load it is if I select in the boot loader tab to uninstall the windows vista loader and install windows legacy ( I have to repeat the same process to go back to vista ). Also when I run the diagnostic tool, only the vista partition shows up along with the recovery partition that my laptop came with.

BTW my laptop is a HP pavillion dv6000

By: rodolofox

rodolofox — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 03:21:56 +0000

hi there,

i just want to ask if it is possible to dual booth using two “separate” hard drives??

i have a windows vista installed at my drive c: and i have an extra hardisk that i am planning to install with windows xp.

is it possible to dual boot both drives using windows vista boot selection?

thanks!

By: Tom Morrisey

Tom Morrisey — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 03:05:47 +0000

Vista is so frustrating. Doesn’t support any of my hardware at all, and now I can’t seem to get my PC to boot off of an XP install CD anymore! I’m now trying to recover my old XP install from the Windows.old directory created by the Vista install process… do I have a ghost of a chance?

By: George

George — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 02:40:19 +0000

Thanks for the dual boot info. Question – once I XP up and running, is it possible to go in and Format C drive, totally getting rid of Vista?

By: Daley

Daley — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:50:48 +0000

need to change win vista home prem. to xp pro, and wat are the drivers do need to change?

By: jamie

jamie — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:06:40 +0000

yeah vista is crap, is that right?

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:24:33 +0000

The neighbor kid I gave my computer to — Returned it.
The college instructed students not to bring computers with Vista installed.
Even the institutions of higher learning don`t want any parts of the Vista mess.
Is anyone getting the message yet?

By: jamie

jamie — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 15:42:41 +0000

Hi phillip,
Is your copy of XP pro registered? Mine was a trial version at the time i hadnt entered the key. Thats why it was not working. As soon as I enetered reg key the bootloader tag appeared. Try that mate, let me know how you get on.

I got past the bootloader part and restarted comp and the dual boot option came on. I tried vista, it worked fine. but when i tried to go into xp pro i got an error message saying the software, or something had changed. I have got xp working again now by repairing it with xp disc but am now back to just having xp boot straight up. Anyone know the cure????????

Cheers people