I have a new PC that came with VISTA, is it possible to wipe that HD and install a version of WINDOWS XP??

Question

Does the reimage/reinstall of the Hard Drive install cleanly?

Has anyone heard about any issues/problems with loading XP onto a brand-new VISTA PC??

Please let me know before I find out the hard-way...

Answer 1

A problem you have is that Vista won't let itself be replaced by XP because it recognizes XP as an "older" version of Windows. To accomplish this you have to remove the Vista boot up files (as a minimum). I personally, only know of one way to do this and my method will require XP to "format" the hard drive when you install it. Formatting will "erase" everything on your hard drive. The good news here is that it will get rid of all the trial and/or "crapware" on your hard drive.

Beyond reinstalling XP, you will have to reinstall all your drivers, and any software that you want on your PC. You should have a disk that came with your pc that's titled Drivers & Utilities.

To purge the boot up files, etc. from your hard drive go to http://www.download.com and search for a program called Killdisk. Burn it onto a CD/DVD or a floppy if you have a floppy drive. It is a bootable program.

Put it in the CD drive and reboot the PC. Follow the onscreen prompts to fully "erase" the C drive.

REMEMBER - this will compromise everything on your hard drive and it will be inoperable until after you reinstall your copy of XP.

Let Killdisk run for about 30 minutes. This will let it have time to destroy all or major part of the boot up files and the system will no longer boot up Vista. Once 30 minutes have expired, stop and/or cancel the Killdisk program.

Once Killdisk has stopped, put your XP cd in the disk drive and reboot the PC. The XP disk will run the setup files and you will be able to "format" the hard drive. I recommend that you "delete" all existing partitions when the software asks you if you want to delete them. Just select each partition one at a time and select delete.

Once that is done, XP will re-partition the hard drive and it will install XP. This will all take some time so be VERY patient.

Once XP is installed, use your Dell drives/utilities disk and reinstall ALL the drivers on the disk.

Reinstall any/all of your programs.

Reboot the PC.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

To convert your HD from Vista back to XP, you have to do more than just format the drive. You have to delete that primary partition off the drive and re-partition it. Otherwise boot information for Vista can survive over into the XP boot up. Fortunately, as part of the XP install you will be asked if you want to partition and format the drive. So you can do it as part of the standard XP install.

Before you do that conversion, make sure that you have XP drivers for the hardware in your computer (audio, video, network card, modem, etc). Check the website of the PC manufacturer. They will usually have them all available there.

Answer 3

some eMachines have a restoration partition that is accessed through F10 or F11 on the BIOS splash reveal or you are able to in basic terms purchase a series of restoration CDs from eMachines. to aid you already know the fact, Vista won't run ok in this device. I strongly propose XP.

Answer 4

I personally haven't tried it, but you should be able to do it without a problem.

Theoretically, you should be able to pop in the XP cd, choose to completely erase the drive, and install XP.

Answer 5

I doubt you will have any problems at all. Just drop the XP disk in and when it asks you if you want to format, just say yes.

Good Luck

Answer 6

yea its definately easy..
jus format the drive n install xp in it.....
be sure u hve ur driver cds wid u...
peace

Answer 7

choose a classic view in vista and it will have the look of xp and all new technology of vista - why going back ???????????

Answer 8

as long as you can find all your drivers it is easy