Vista to XP

[muzeman]

Hi,

This is my first post,just wanted to say hello to everyone.

I have been checking around for a while trying to get information for a computer purchase.
This place has been a great help.

I am looking at a computer to run some workstation editing software and Cubase AI.
It comes with Vista Premium loaded.
I would like to change it to XP home SP2,but not real sure how to go about it.
Do I just load the new operating system,or do I have to somehow remove the Vista first?
Will I have driver problems?

The computer has an AMD 64 X2 dual 4400+ processor and 2 gigs of PC2-5300 DDR2(I guess that's fast enough?)

Sorry if these questions are really basic,I'm a compete noob when it comes to this type of stuff.


Thanks for any help.

Pete

BTW-Does anyone think the Intel price drop on the 22nd will effect prices on pre built desktops?Just wondering if it would be worth waiting for.

 

[mechBgon]

Welcome to the Forums What about this option:

1) put a second HDD in the computer.

2) unplug the first HDD, then install WinXP Home on the second HDD, then plug in the first HDD again.

3) when your motherboard POSTs, use its boot-device selection menu (if it has one, e.g. the F8 key on Asus boards) to pick your boot drive for this boot-up, and thus the OS that you're booting up.


Result: you have both OSes available, and they're on independent hard drives so you could remove either one if you want to. You also can use the other drive as a scratch disk for your apps, and for backup space too.

 

[muzeman]

Thanks mech,

I don't think that would work for me,the only extra hard drive spot is for a removable micro-drive.
I would really like to remove the Vista completely,there must be a way to do this?

Anyone please.

Thanks,
Pete

 

[lxskllr]

Why do you not want to use Vista? Software incompatibility?

To load XP I think you'll need to format the drive, and do a fresh install. You should be able to do that by booting to a Linux live cd, format the drive, then do a fresh install with your XP cd.

Edit: You'll probably have to get your drivers off of the manufacturers site, then load them after installing XP.

 

[muzeman]

Thanks lxskllr,

That is probably what I will do.
I'll be using Cubase AI and some Yamaha editors for a new keyboard,both incompatible with vista.

When you say I will need to get my drivers and load them to XP,do you mean for the hardware loaded on the computer?
I am buying a new HP computer with USB2,Firewire,and a CD/DVD burner on it.
Everything else is going to be loaded from scratch.

Where can I get a copy of the Linux live cd?
Will it come with instructions on exactly how to do this?

Sorry for the basic questions,I'm kind of a noob at this.


Thanks very much for the help,

Pete

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: muzeman
Thanks lxskllr,

That is probably what I will do.
I'll be using Cubase AI and some Yamaha editors for a new keyboard,both incompatible with vista.

When you say I will need to get my drivers and load them to XP,do you mean for the hardware loaded on the computer?
I am buying a new HP computer with USB2,Firewire,and a CD/DVD burner on it.
Everything else is going to be loaded from scratch.

Where can I get a copy of the Linux live cd?
Will it come with instructions on exactly how to do this?

Sorry for the basic questions,I'm kind of a noob at this.


Thanks very much for the help,

Pete

Yea, I mean the drivers for the hardware. You'll probably have basic functionality from the Windows drivers, but for the best performance, and latest updates you'll have to get them from HP.

For a Linux live cd, I would suggest Ubuntu. You could even do a temporary install to see what Linux is like. It's kind of fun to use something other than Windows, even if you don't intend to leave it permanently. You could also use a Knoppix cd. That would probably be better if you really just want to format and get the reinstall over with.

Ubuntu

Knoppix

 

[KAZANI]

Why does it take a Linux disk to format a drive? A Windows XP installation disk can't do it?

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: KAZANI
Why does it take a Linux disk to format a drive? A Windows XP installation disk can't do it?

I always had problems with Windows not wanting to overwrite a newer version Windows installation. I'm sure there's a not too difficult workaround, but I found it easier to just use my Ultimate Boot Cd. I didn't suggest that because the disc needs to be compiled. I figured it would be easier to use a Linux disc.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: KAZANI
Why does it take a Linux disk to format a drive? A Windows XP installation disk can't do it?

I always had problems with Windows not wanting to overwrite a newer version Windows installation. I'm sure there's a not too difficult workaround, but I found it easier to just use my Ultimate Boot Cd. I didn't suggest that because the disc needs to be compiled. I figured it would be easier to use a Linux disc.

Windows wont overwrite a newer install, but you should have been able to format the drive by deleting partition and recreating before you even get to that step.

 

[muzeman]

Thanks for all the great help guys.

Seems it will be more hassle then it's worth to change over,especially since I'm not real sure how to do it.
I'll take a look at possibly buying a machine with XP loaded.
Think I would feel more comfortable that way.

Best regards,
Pete

 

[postmortemIA]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: KAZANI
Why does it take a Linux disk to format a drive? A Windows XP installation disk can't do it?

I always had problems with Windows not wanting to overwrite a newer version Windows installation. I'm sure there's a not too difficult workaround, but I found it easier to just use my Ultimate Boot Cd. I didn't suggest that because the disc needs to be compiled. I figured it would be easier to use a Linux disc.

sorry, but that is nonsense.

Windows 2000, XP, Vista will nicely get rid of all partitions, format them, or any combo of that two.

 

[orion23]

It's not hard, and your Windows XP cd will do it all for you. You don't need the linux cd or anything like that.

Put the XP cd in, boot from it (it will ask you to) and you will see your options:

1: Repair or continue with a fresh installation

2: Choose partition or delete partition

3: Delete all partitions or HD and Create them again.

4: Start installing Windows.

Chances are, most of your drivers will be recognized by windows XP. If not, then visiting the HP website will allow you to download the needed drivers.

Also, have you tried looking @ the new Dell line of computers?

Dell gives you the option to choose XP or Vista. I'm sure HP will do the same if you purchase it directly from them

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: postmortemIA

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: KAZANI
Why does it take a Linux disk to format a drive? A Windows XP installation disk can't do it?

I always had problems with Windows not wanting to overwrite a newer version Windows installation. I'm sure there's a not too difficult workaround, but I found it easier to just use my Ultimate Boot Cd. I didn't suggest that because the disc needs to be compiled. I figured it would be easier to use a Linux disc.

sorry, but that is nonsense.

Windows 2000, XP, Vista will nicely get rid of all partitions, format them, or any combo of that two.

Seriously...its really that easy...I have no idea why in the world youd even consider bringing linux into the mix when you can do it as part of the same windows xp install process.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: postmortemIA

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: KAZANI
Why does it take a Linux disk to format a drive? A Windows XP installation disk can't do it?

I always had problems with Windows not wanting to overwrite a newer version Windows installation. I'm sure there's a not too difficult workaround, but I found it easier to just use my Ultimate Boot Cd. I didn't suggest that because the disc needs to be compiled. I figured it would be easier to use a Linux disc.

sorry, but that is nonsense.

Windows 2000, XP, Vista will nicely get rid of all partitions, format them, or any combo of that two.

Seriously...its really that easy...I have no idea why in the world youd even consider bringing linux into the mix when you can do it as part of the same windows xp install process.

I don't know I remember having trouble with it once and using an external(not Windows) cd to get around it. I've formatted with a different cd ever since. Next time I'll try it using Windows only. Maybe then I'll remember the issue I was having