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Installing XP over Vista

Stg-Flame

Stg-Flame

Diamond Member
My girlfriend wants to get rid of Vista on her laptop and install XP. Since I have never done this before, I would like to check and make sure that it can be done before I go through with it. Especially considering the fact that she will be spending the money to buy XP.

Secondly, my first gaming PC was built on XP and I no longer use that PC. I was hoping I could call Microsoft and give them some sob story about needing another serial key and just giving her my old copy of XP, but I am unsure if this would work. Maybe a way to circumvent the registration process and just use my old serial for it to save her $100+ since she is on a fairly tight budget.
 
You can transfer your old key on her laptop. I've done it before, just give MS a call like you said. The biggest thing about installing XP over Vista is driver availability. Check with the laptop's manufacturer website to see if they have XP drivers. One time I tried to do that with a Toshiba laptop, and they won't give me the XP driver--saying that the laptop comes with Vista and that's all the will support. So I told the their tech support guy that I will never buy another Toshiba again. Anyway, back to your problem--check for XP drivers, backup her data, format and install XP.
 
Originally posted by: cprince
"...Check with the laptop's manufacturer website to see if they have XP drivers. One time I tried to do that with a Toshiba laptop, and they won't give me the XP driver--saying that the laptop comes with Vista and that's all the will support..."
Click to expand...

I wonder if you can get schematics, part numbers, or what-not so that you can do searching for XP drivers. I mean if it was a desktop I'd just crack the case, identify the part and search for XP drivers; however, I wouldn't crack the case on a laptop. I'm just wondering how you could find out exactly what's inside to assist in driver search.
 
I'm just wondering how you could find out exactly what's inside to assist in driver search.
Click to expand...

Sure, in Linux it's as simple as running 'lspci' to get you 99% of the way there. In Windows, I have no idea.
 
I did not know about the links you supplied. I usually just used dxdiag coupled with the hardware manager to pinpoint the hardware, but I guess if you are going to look that in-depth, then the bottom link is the next best thing to cracking the case.
 
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