16 replies to this topic

[Gaddy]

I hate Windows Vista.
I have Windows XP SP2 on a disc right now.

The system will not let me load XP because Vista is a newer operating system.


How do I fix this?
Should I put my needed folders and such on a flash drive or anything before I change?

[ChiliPepper]

I have no experience with vista. fdisk?

[Pureza]

Being able to install XP on a machine that comes installed with Vista can be a bit problematic. Tower or Laptop? Tower's i've not had experience with. I do however know that certain computers are hard wired for Vista. IE Sony Vaio(Laptop). There's something in the Vaio that is proprietary to Vista so the Vaio won't uninstall Vista to install XP. So my suggestion would be this, move your important files to a flash or external drive. And completely wipe the drive to install XP.

[Gaddy]

Yea, I ran the disk for Windows XP.
It erased the Vista OS.
It will not complete the installation of Windows XP.

I'm basically screwed right now. My laptop is about 1 month old and completely useless at this point...


<Pissed at Microsoft for creating the worst operating system ever.

[Angelus]

Did you make recovery disks (the ones the laptop prompts you with the first few times you turn it on), plus kept the partitioned drive where the recovery documents are located? Becuase, as you see, it can be pretty hard to get it working again.

Laptops built in with vista usually don't have the hardware drivers needed for win xp. May I ask why it will not complete the instalation (at what point it stops, and why, ie: what message it gives).

[Gaddy]

It stops while it is trying to install.
A certain file is unaccessable on the E: drive---which I think is the CD, but I'm not sure.

I can clarify what exactly the file is when I have my laptop around a computer that I can use to post here.

[Shera]

Use that computer to download a copy of windows 98.

Create two dos partitions, one being 1 gig, and the rest in the other.

Install windows 98 on the first partition (the 1 gig). (shouldn't have a problem)

Download hardware drivers for laptop from internet.

Install.

On second partition, install windows xp.

Install Hardware drivers on XP partition.

Delete first partition.

send jase free crits/items.

working laptop with xp.(possibly. if it doesnt work, install 98 to one partitions. Then download hardware drivers. install.
then install XP to same partition and delete 98.

[Gaddy]

Wow. Thank you Mary.

I took it to a computer repair shop here in Stillwater this evening. I do not know how to run DOS, and I only got it to even open up DOS once---by accident.
So, right now I've taken it to a professional. Hopefully he fixes it tomorrow.

[Shera]

You didn't need to run dos.

jase btw ;P

[Pandilex]

It means that your CD is damaged. Try giving it a good clean or go get a new CD.

Whoever posted about computers being locked to vista, that is nonsense.

[Gaddy]

No, what it actually is comes down to Microsoft wanting to force a Vista system.

The actual software to run Windows XP does not match that needed for Vista.
So, you can go between Windows 98, 2000, and XP all easy, and you can even update those to Vista. However, you don't simply get to run a disk and switch back to XP or the others.

A computer repair guy did the work on mine, basically downloading a bunch of drivers and such to jig-rig a way to make it all operate.

[JLH]

dell machines now come with vista or xp installed, but you only get the cds for vista

[Pandilex]

By jig-rig you mean he wiped the CD with a bit of cloth and installed it, then charged you 50 quid?

That's what I'd do if I were him

In fact I have done that in the past, lol.

[Angelus]

By jig-rig you mean he wiped the CD with a bit of cloth and installed it, then charged you 50 quid?

That's what I'd do if I were him

In fact I have done that in the past, lol.

Props on being proud of ripping people off.

Anyways, like he already said, he had to instal drivers. Laptops that come with Vista don't have the drivers needed for XP, obviously. Never had to do it myself, but I heard it isn't that easy. Especially not for people who aren't that familiar with computers.

[Pandilex]

I think you mean making money from the ignorance of others, something that accountants, consultants, doctors, plumbers, and thousands more professions do to make money...

[joanna]

I hate Windows Vista.

word.

congratulations to MS for making an OS that 'has the same functunality as XP but uses more HD space, RAM, system resources and is slower to boot, but looks flashier and complete and utter n00bs might find easier to use'

TBH, the only reason i ever changed from 98 to XP was because of NM, 98 only lets you log four alts while XP is unlimited. Everything else i use works perfectly well in 98.

remember when Win95 came out and everyone hated it? it took certain applications, in particular the game 'Red Alert', to convince people that it was actually better than DOS. although the odd game existed that was made for W95, it was basically RA that made game developers specifically make games for the new OS (and gamers flock to it and W98). Vista as far as i have researched does not actually have any advance in ability (like the increaced resolution of W95 or the process management of XP) that can be harnessed , it just has more 'user friendly' bits, ie using more memory to achieve the same thing.

oh aint it funny how time slips away

Edited by joanna, 12 November 2008 - 01:48 AM.

[shomer]

i have vista on my laptop and it works fine for me