Uninstall vista, instal XP

I just purchased an HPackard desktop that Ive taken back due to it having HPackard problems.

 

On this HP was Vista HmPrem that I was not looking forward to getting involved with as I bought a Toshiba notebook at Xmas with a free Vist HmPrem upgrade & I hated it! Just was not at all impressed. I quickly uninstalled it & have been running XP these past few months instead.

 

 

However, I set up the new HP & I spent just a short time clicking here & there within the Vista OS & started to figure it out. Now, I really like Vista. Its kinda cool to look at & I like the way it handles. I cant say its the pinnacle of OS's but for me its a welcome change regardless of how small.

 

Ive even reinstalled Vista on the Toshiba laptop I uninstalled from earlier as I wait for my new DELL I531 with Vista HmPrem. 

 

I think if anyone has a little patience theyll find it is easier & more productive than others have complained about.

 

It makes no diff to me but I find so many people complaining about Vista HmPrem that havent really given it a try. Many people have let a few so called, self proclaimed Gurus lead them to believe that its not worth the effort to even try it out.

 

I disagree & just thought Id throw in my 2 cents worth.

 

Now in a sense of full disclosure I also have a DELL SPS that still runs XP cuz I cant get my HP printer to work on the new driver yet.

 

 

Try this link

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/expert/russel_installsp2.mspx

then hope you can find drivers for XP !

If you have a full retail copy (or OEM) that IS NOT an upgrade CD:

1.) ensure your BIOS is set to look for a CD-boot before the hard drive

2.) start up the computer with the XP disc in the drive

3.) allow the blue screen setup information to load.  follow the on screen prompts until you get to the partition / formatting / installation section.

4.) If you want to fully clean the hard drive, erasing all of your data, including Dell's recovery partition, using the onscreen prompts, delete all partitions, including the unrecognized ones, until you have a single section of unpartitioned space

5.) choose to install XP on the single unpartitioned space.  (You can split your drives into C: & D: at this point if you so choose (one drive for OS, one for data, etc.) but I wont get into that

6.) when asked to format the drive, choose NTFS WITHOUT the (Quick) selection.  This will take longer to format the drive, but since there has been data previously installed, it will improve XPs performance by doing a full format rather than just a quick

7.) grab a coffe and let XP install itself.  the computer will reboot once or twice.  follow any on screen prompts you receieve except for the Press any key to boot from CD... prompt.  This will just causing the setup CD to start all over again.

 

This is a quick n dirty guide, but hope this helps.  If I had an XP CD I'd switch back... Vista's causing me too many problems on my XPS1210

I would think twice about what you want to do. You can run into numerous driver issues. Talking about not having time, wait until driver problems start popping up!

 

Give vista a try. I was a diehard xp fan. Found vista a little flustrating at first but I'm now catching on. Some things I really like then there are other functions I'm going to have to get use to.

 

TC

I just want to add a thought. I too had moments of hate for Vista, and occassionally still do! However as I do the computer thing as a hobby I relish the chance to learn and try out something new. I have started to really like Vista. Now here is the thought: I tried to run Vista like it was XP and had numerous problems. After my second restore to factory condition I said to my self, "Self, learn what Vista's about and if you have XP withdrawal fire up the HP notebook for a while." Thats the trick, Vista is not XP, learn how to make Vista run for your style and set-up, and it will come alive with possibilities. It is not that bad of an OS, but remember it's not XP.  -Bill