Fighting Vista on laptop

[pinecone]

I got a great deal on a Compaq laptop at an early morning sale at Walmart last Saturday. A very basic laptop but my needs are very basic as well. I just don't need much power and wanted to get out as cheap as possible.

My plan was to get it home, format the hd and install XP. First of all HP listed no driver files for this computer. Then threads started showing up on this forum and others of folks who had bought this laptop who were having absolutely no success either.

It appears Compaq has forced Vista on us by not making the chipset XP friendly and not releasing drivers for this laptop. I assume other manufacturers are doing the same.

Before I return the laptop, has anyone bought a laptop lately that they were successful in installing Windows XP? If so, what brand and model.

Thanks

 

[F1shF4t]

Why not just use Vista? If its for personal use that is. As long as it has enough RAM it'll work well.

 

[Blazer]

not likely to find the drivers, vista would be a better choice, esp after the crapware is removed, may not even need drivers as vista has plenty.

 

[pinecone]

I have 2 programs that the manufacturer states *will not* run under Vista. These 2 programs are part of the reason I bought a laptop in the first place. I don't want to have to spend the money or time to find replacements.

Also, I have the original installation disks for XP meaning I could reformat anytime I want, and get away from all the preloaded junk on the laptop.

I'm used to building my own machines and putting exactly what I want on them regardless of what is the newest OS.

It may be impossible to find a new laptop that I can do this with.

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: pinecone
I have 2 programs that the manufacturer states *will not* run under Vista. These 2 programs are part of the reason I bought a laptop in the first place. I don't want to have to spend the money or time to find replacements.

Also, I have the original installation disks for XP meaning I could reformat anytime I want, and get away from all the preloaded junk on the laptop.

I'm used to building my own machines and putting exactly what I want on them regardless of what is the newest OS.

It may be impossible to find a new laptop that I can do this with.

May we inquire what two programs these are? You might be surprised to find there are ways to make some of these programs run under Vista, even if the manufacturer says it will not or is not supported by Vista.

 

[pinecone]

Originally posted by: soonerproud

Originally posted by: pinecone
I have 2 programs that the manufacturer states *will not* run under Vista. These 2 programs are part of the reason I bought a laptop in the first place. I don't want to have to spend the money or time to find replacements.

Also, I have the original installation disks for XP meaning I could reformat anytime I want, and get away from all the preloaded junk on the laptop.

I'm used to building my own machines and putting exactly what I want on them regardless of what is the newest OS.

It may be impossible to find a new laptop that I can do this with.

May we inquire what two programs these are? You might be surprised to find there are ways to make some of these programs run under Vista, even if the manufacturer says it will not or is not supported by Vista.

Thayer Bird Software Ver. 3.5
http://www.thayerbirding.com/H...tabid/581/Default.aspx

MS Outlook XP ver 2002

 

[tw1164]

What's the model number? Who makes the chipset? I would just get the drivers from the chipset from the manufacturer's website.

 

[nerp]

Outlook XP runs fine in Vista. I dunno what whoever told you it doesn't was smoking.

In terms of the birding software,

The reason that you are having a problem installing your version 3.0, 3.1 or 3.5 CD on your new Vista computer is because it can't be done! We had to totally rewrite the program to work on Vista. This new Vista-compatible CD is called version 3.9.

You can now order a new version 3.9 and get 20% off. Visit OnlineNatureMall.com and enter the promotional code W428 during checkout to get your "20% Loyal Customer Discount"

Are you unwilling to upgrade to the newer version? It might be easier in the long run than wrestling with an 8-year-old OS on a new computer.

 

[yuchai]

Another potential solution to get around the driver issues is to run Win XP under Vista by using virtualization software like Virtual PC 2007.

May not be practical depending on the specs of the laptop and whether you need 3D acceleration, but I just wanted to throw it out there.

 

[evident]

from my experience bud, reverting back to XP on a laptop, especially a cheap laptop from a 2nd tier company (acer, imo) is a complete hasslehoff and not worth it. i would only even consider doing it on a dell, but imo its not even worth it, since vista is pretty good on new hardware.

 

[Griffinhart]

Originally posted by: pinecone
My plan was to get it home, format the hd and install XP. First of all HP listed no driver files for this computer. Then threads started showing up on this forum and others of folks who had bought this laptop who were having absolutely no success either.

Honestly, just give Vista a try. You have it, it's installed. If you end up not liking it then consider installing XP. Frankly, you're going to have more headaches putting XP on it than Vista will give you.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: evident
from my experience bud, reverting back to XP on a laptop, especially a cheap laptop from a 2nd tier company (acer, imo) is a complete hasslehoff and not worth it. i would only even consider doing it on a dell, but imo its not even worth it, since vista is pretty good on new hardware.

Don't Hassle the Hoff, man!


If you're not willing to upgrade your birding software, try MS Virtual PC. It should run XP fine inside Vista.

Personally, I don't think it's a problem that there are no drivers for new hardware under XP. It's time to put it where it belongs, people - on 2006-era hardware.

 

[DrGreen2007]

" have 2 programs that the manufacturer states *will not* run under Vista. These 2 programs are part of the reason I bought a laptop in the first place."

You bought a machine with Vista to run apps that dont run on Vista ?

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: DrGreen2007
" have 2 programs that the manufacturer states *will not* run under Vista. These 2 programs are part of the reason I bought a laptop in the first place."

You bought a machine with Vista to run apps that dont run on Vista ?

In fact, one of the apps he said doesn't run under Vista most certainly does.

 

[pinecone]

Maybe I should have reworded my topic title! I'm not fighting Vista. I love Vista. It's a great OS.

I simply asked if anyone recently had bought any brand of laptop (make and model and any price) that they have changed out to XP on. This was my *only* question. I can live with a "no" answer. I'm really not trying to justify my use of XP, just asking if it is possible.

I'm really not debating the benefits of any OS. Vista is great. I've used it and like it. I don't have Vista installation disks but I do have XP Pro. I want clean installs with none of the junk on a packaged computer.

Now with that in mind, I googled "Outlook 2002 Vista" and found many url's listing the problems. Yes it will "run" under Vista. Not major problems but more than I want. Thunderbird works fine and I'll use it. I would prefer to stick with Outlook 2002.

And no, I'm not going to upgrade the birding software. I'll just run it on one of my other XP machines.

I DID buy this laptop knowing I'd have issues with these programs if, and only if Vista stayed on it. Honestly, I bought it fully thinking I could put XP on it and go on with my life. It ain't gonna happen so I won't worry about it.


Thanks for all your input. I'll live with Vista. I feel like I've opened a can of worms.

 

[lxskllr]

If you keep the laptop and Vista, running the bird software in a VM might be a free option you could try. You could load XP(or other older supported O/Ss you have) in a VM and run it from there.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: nerp
Outlook XP runs fine in Vista. I dunno what whoever told you it doesn't was smoking...

Heh! I've been running MS Office 2000 on my Vista HP lappy for over 18 months with zero issues.

Outlook 2000 worked fine too, but the only thing I *needed* it for was the calendar - and the Windows Vista Calendar is sooo much better than the one in Outlook that I dumped it!

I'm also running Paint Shop Pro 7 (circa 2000) with no problems.

Come to think of it, I'm running all the same proggies on my Vista lappy that I run on my W2K Pro desktops - can't think of one that doesn't work on both OSs!

EDIT

Oops! Just thought of one - Windows Media Encoder (WME):

http://www.microsoft.com/windo...s/encoder/default.mspx

LoL! So much for that theory...

EDIT2

OMG! I *guess* MS fixed the 32-bit Vista issues!

http://www.microsoft.com/windo...os/encoder/sysreq.aspx

LoL! I'm gonna go give it a whirl!!!

Okay, sorry! Carry on...

 

[novasatori]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
If you keep the laptop and Vista, running the bird software in a VM might be a free option you could try. You could load XP(or other older supported O/Ss you have) in a VM and run it from there.

:thumbsup:

 

[VinDSL]

W00T!

WME worked great - didn't even have to install the hotpatch. Vista rawks!!! :thumbsup:

SNAPPY

 

[VirtualLarry]

XP drivers for that laptop here

 

[Rottie]

I bought compaq laptop with vista I have no desire to install xp on it I got to get used with vista I dont have any old apps or any other apps to run under vista. this laptop is more basic for me to do simply thing

if you really want to install xp then check at Notebook Review HP forum