If I have Windows XP and Visa install discs and Vista installed, can XP overide it?

Question

I want XP back on my computer. The new computer I have has Vista on it. I have a Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/SP2 install disc and if I put it in, will it simply over ride the Vista or do I have to go through some complicated process? Thanks

Answer 1

Possibly.

If you have the "full" version of Windows XP Professional w/SP2, you can boot from it and completely overwrite your computer's hard disk drive with new partitions and perform a clean installation.

You would, of course, probably be forced to boot from the Windows XP Professional SP2 installation CD because you probably would not be allowed (by Windows Vista) to initiate an installation of an older version of Windows from within Windows Vista.

You will want to make very certain that you have XP-compatible drivers for all the hardware in your laptop before you initiate the process of installing Windows XP Professional SP2 onto your laptop. Thus, you may need to go to the laptop manufacturer's Web site and download the appropriate hardware drivers for Windows XP for your computer's hardware. Then, you will need to save those drivers to removable media of some type so that they will be available for you to use when you're done installing Window XP Professional SP2.

Also, you may want to check to make sure that your laptop's recovery partition has been burned to CD or DVD (as the case may be) before you do anything. If you have a full recovery CD or DVD already (supplied by the laptop manufacturer) you may be safe. But, you need to read your computer's documentation to find out whether your laptop's hard disk drive has a "hidden" partition that contains "restore" data.

And, one last thing (I promise). Before you jettison Vista, make sure you go online to download all the protective software that you may desire to use on your laptop (once you have XP installed and before you connect it to the Internet). Some such software includes AVG Free anti-virus (or similar), SpywareBlaster (or similar), Spybot Search & Destroy, CCleaner, ZoneAlarm firewall (or similar). You will want to store the installers for all these programs on removable media so that you can have them without needing to venture out on the Internet "unprotected" after you have installed XP.

Answer 2

I think you're playing with fire.

Yes, the process is indeed complicated.

I would seek professional advice or get the computer shop to do it. Windows XP will NOT override Vista. it's never heard of Vista so how can it override it? All it will do is install itself, then you have two OS's on the same computer. If Vista continues to work, XP won't. Not until you install all your programs like Office, Nortons, etc., again, then Vista won't work. What a mess. As I said, get advice, and not from Yahoo Answers. You have no idea who you're talking to or how much experience they have. For example, I could be a 12 year old kid!

Microsoft have released a Vista to XP downgrade disk, but it's NOT available to the public. Your computer dealer may have one however.