Acer 9410 Laptop Downgrade to XP How to?

[imported_ju421019]

Hi, I just bought the Acer 9410 from CompUSA and now was thinking of downgrading from Vista Premium to XP Media Center. I have the full CD and license from XP Media Center, which came with my Dell Desktop. Was thinking of putting Media Center on the laptop and upgrading the Dell to Vista Premium.

My concern is how do I go about doing the downgrade on the laptop with precautions? I was thinking first making a recovery CD, still got to figure out how to do that on the Acer.

Next was thinking maybe the hidden partition, which Im assuming it has would be beneficial to leave it as is, in case i need to revert back to factory default OS and drivers.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Harvey]

I searched Google for Acer Aspire 9410 + "Windows XP" and found that this model has been sold with XP. That means some version of the Aspire 9410 were sold with XP so the drivers you need are probably available from Acer. The only problems you may encounter would be if Acer changed any specific hardware in this model when they switched to Vista.

I suggest:

1. Here's a link to Acer's Aspire 9410 driver list. Download all drivers for XP and copy the text from the page so create a list of drivers you need.

Edit the list to delete the Vista drivers, print it and save it as a text file.

2. To avoid installing the wrong drivers for your hardware, open your Device Manager, and make a list of the specific makes and models of components such as your video, sound, modems, etc. Print and save this list, too.

3. If any of the XP drivers are for makes or models hardware other than those on the list from step 2, go to manufacturer's site for those devices, and download the drivers you need.

4. Burn all of your downloaded drivers and your lists to a CD.

5. If possible, use Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image to clone your drive to an external hard drive. These programs clones your complete hard drive, including the complete operating system. If you have any problems, either one will allow you to restore your drive as it is, now. Any version of Ghost from 2003 on should work with an external USB hard drive.

Also, save any of your own files you don't want to lose.

6. Do a full, clean installation of XP, including a complete format of the drive.

7. Install all the XP drivers from your CD. Depending on what drivers are required, you may or may not be able to get online for XP or other software updates until you do.

That should be about all you need. If you can't Ghost your drive before you start, you'll have to use your restore disk to put the system back where it is, now.

P.S. Installing XP is NOT a "downgrade." It's just good sense to allow others to debug a new M$ OS for a couple of years, and as a bonus, your machine may run faster.

Good luck. 🙂

 

[Shawn]

Well legally you can't switch either OS. They keys you have won't work because they are OEM versions and you can't activate them. Windows checks the bios to see if it's the correct PC instead.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Shawn
Well legally you can't switch either OS. They keys you have won't work because they are OEM versions and you can't activate them. Windows checks the bios to see if it's the correct PC instead.

Ding ding ding, we have a winner. Johnny, tell him what he's won.

- M4H

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: Shawn
Well legally you can't switch either OS. They keys you have won't work because they are OEM versions and you can't activate them. Windows checks the bios to see if it's the correct PC instead.

Ding ding ding, we have a winner. Johnny, tell him what he's won.

- M4H

He's won the great opportunity to purchase a retail copy of WinXP Home 🙂

 

[imported_ju421019]

Thank you Harvey for all the steps.

Thank you all for that critical information. I never knew Windows checks the Bios to see if the correct Edition is Installed on that PC.

That saved a lot of time and headaches for sure.