Downgrading from Vista to XP pro

XP may not have drivers for your hardware.
You will lose all the software installed at the factory.
You will void your warranty.

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

> 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?
>
> Vince

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> 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?

- 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...)

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

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John Callaway - 22 Jun 2008 23:26 GMT

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

JPC

>> 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
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>for Windows XP? (Motherboard chipset, video, sound, network, wireless,
>bluetooth, etc...)

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Shenan Stanley - 23 Jun 2008 00:46 GMT

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?
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> ensure they have drivers available for Windows XP? (Motherboard
> chipset, video, sound, network, wireless, bluetooth, etc...)

> Partition commander, partition HDD with 20 Gig for XP, other
> drive/drives for your data.

John,

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

Signature

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

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John Callaway - 23 Jun 2008 02:15 GMT

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

>El Cugino wrote:
>> I want to buy a new notebook. They all come with Vista, which I
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>I am afraid I do not understand your posting - perhaps you posted this in
>the incorrect place?

Reply to this Message

Shenan Stanley - 23 Jun 2008 03:41 GMT

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?
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> ensure they have drivers available for Windows XP? (Motherboard
> chipset, video, sound, network, wireless, bluetooth, etc...)

> 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?

> If you use partition commander you can partition your HDD and then
> load your XP OS, then your drivers.

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...

Signature

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

Reply to this Message

John Callaway - 23 Jun 2008 21:39 GMT

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.

JPC

>El Cugino wrote:
>> I want to buy a new notebook. They all come with Vista, which I
[quoted text clipped - 43 lines]
>still cannot connect what you are saying to the original question nor my
>initial set of questions for the OP. Merely curious...

Reply to this Message

Shenan Stanley - 23 Jun 2008 21:59 GMT

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?
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> ensure they have drivers available for Windows XP? (Motherboard
> chipset, video, sound, network, wireless, bluetooth, etc...)

> 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?

> 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?
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> question nor my initial set of questions for the OP. Merely
> curious...

> 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.

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.

Signature

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

Reply to this Message

John Callaway - 24 Jun 2008 23:11 GMT

With all due respect, it sounds like you addressed your question
thoroughly.

>El Cugino wrote:
>> I want to buy a new notebook. They all come with Vista, which I
[quoted text clipped - 66 lines]
>
>As for partitioning your disk for 'faster access' - not generally a factor.

Reply to this Message

Shenan Stanley - 25 Jun 2008 04:38 GMT

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?
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> ensure they have drivers available for Windows XP? (Motherboard
> chipset, video, sound, network, wireless, bluetooth, etc...)

> 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?

> 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?
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> question nor my initial set of questions for the OP. Merely
> curious...

> 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.):
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> As for partitioning your disk for 'faster access' - not generally a
> factor.

> 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.

Signature

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

Reply to this Message

I understand MS is allowing a legal downgrade to XP Pro from Vista, but I
would expect for a price (I do not know). Also, in buying a new machine, I
would get an assurance of warranty from the OEM, as well as assurance of
driver support for the XP "downgrade." How about downgrading to XP X64, but
make sure you can get an X64 printer driver for your current printer.

>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?
>
> Vince

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