"downgrade" to XP ?

[PennyGirl]

I have a big nice HP, bought with Vista installed.... and what a pain. I've had it!

I also have a brand new copy of XP with SP2. It is my intention to reformat the disc, remove any partitions, and install XP (which I understand includes it's own boot, although I have access to an XP boot disk if needed).

Out of curosity, I contacted a local computer service shop -- and was told that I must contact HP and acquire their drivers before XP will perform, or they can install for me. HOWEVER, doesn't XP have it's own drivers?

Help me out here guys.... anything else I need to know before I take on this task? I would say my knowledge level is "intermediate" -- and certainly not expert. Any advice?

THANKS/Pennygirl

[SuperDave]

I found this. It might help.
http://forums.techguy.org/windows-vista/577386-hp-computer-remove-vista-install.html

[soybean]

Out of curosity, I contacted a local computer service shop -- and was told that I must contact HP and acquire their drivers before XP will perform, or they can install for me. HOWEVER, doesn't XP have it's own drivers?

Seems to be a misconception here.  Yes, HP has it's own drivers, um... on their website.  You have to download them.  That's what the local shop was telling you. 

Drivers are not embedded in the hardware; they are software that must be installed in order for various devices to work properly, or work at all.  The drivers installed with the current installation of Windows Vista were installed by HP before you bought the computer.  I presume you have a Recovery partition on your hard drive.  That would include all device drivers needed for Windows Vista.  But, if you're going to install Windows XP, you need to obtain the drivers for Windows XP for your model computer. 

[drmsucks]

I would suggest keeping Vista and setting up a dual boot with XP. Like it or not, Vista is the newest OS and will only get better; besides, you've already paid for it!  (Do you have at least 2 GB of RAM? Vista is most unsatisfactory with less.) A lot of people didn't like XP until SP2. But, as you suspect, I guarantee you that today, XP will speed up your computer in virtually everything that you do. But, if you have at least 2 GB or of RAM already, the difference might not be startling.

First, whether you are going to set up a dual boot or not, it is essential that you make a set of Vista Recovery Disks per the HP directions. Installing a new OS, whether as a dual boot or on top of an existing one (in place of), is not a frivolous activity. Probability is much >0 that the computer is rendered inoperable and you want an easy bailout position!

Second, IT IS ESSENTIAL that you verify that HP has XP drivers for your system - if yours is a very new system they may not have XP drivers. Go to their forum, look around for your EXACT model and ask questions.

Third, if you go the dual boot option, google "dual boot Vista and XP" and review the many 'how to' articles.

Fourth, if you have done your homework, and verified that XP drivers exist for you motherboard and all other hardware, the methodology is pretty straightforward: a) make a partition for the new OS, b) install the new OS into that partition*, c) install XP drivers, d) since you'll be installing XP after Vista, get Vista Boot Pro to straighten out your boot options.

Five, enjoy BOTH OS's!

EDIT: *You probably have a SATA hard drive - be sure to read up about installing SATA drivers when installing XP before you begin. The XP SATA drivers need to be loaded very early in the XP install procedure.

[PennyGirl]

Well, it seems I have some studying to do. The link to the techquy forum was interesting.... and I will go to HP and see what they can offer in the way of XP drivers before I do anything else.

This decision to downgrade -- or go to a dual OS, as you've suggested -- comes after months of struggling with Vista, and installing many patches as suggested by HP support, to no avail. Vista's mail is clogged full of emails that cannot be sent nor deleted; it will not allow IE to be repaired; and crashes or the dreaded blue screens are constant daily affairs.

Hardware all claims to be working properly and software diagnostics show no problems or conflicts.

I have more important things to do than continue this struggle with Vista, and frankly, by now, I'm leary of keeping it at all -- although I will set up recovery disks in Vista, as a fall back. I assume if I should dual install that I can always try the XP-only route, should the dual system not work out.

Come next week I will have more time to devote to this project... and you may see me come crying for more advice. For now, THANKS muchly.

Pennygirl

[drmsucks]

This decision to downgrade -- or go to a dual OS, as you've suggested -- comes after months of struggling with Vista, and installing many patches as suggested by HP support, to no avail. Vista's mail is clogged full of emails that cannot be sent nor deleted; it will not allow IE to be repaired; and crashes or the dreaded blue screens are constant daily affairs.

Hardware all claims to be working properly and software diagnostics show no problems or conflicts.

I have more important things to do than continue this struggle with Vista, and frankly, by now, I'm leary of keeping it at all

What you relate is absolutely not a Vista issue (NO, I am not a fan of Vista, I use XP 95% of the time - but have two dual boot Vista installations), this is an HP issue; HP installed the OS on their hardware and is responsible for ensuring that it works for you. The problems you describe are not reflective of the Vista user experience that I personally have had or read about.

Has HP had you 'recover' the OS?

My gratuitous advice is to get this resolved with HP BEFORE you mess with XP and BEFORE your warranty expires; or, return the machine and get a full refund.

[merlin]

What happened to your old pc.


I also have a brand new copy of XP with SP2.

[shashgo]

I can tell you what Ive done before,  I have removed vista and installed the Win XP OS, and everything has been working fine.  The drivers that are needed are indeed part of the OS, except for peripheral devices like a printer, a camera etc. 

Now, I can also tell you that I have heard a lot of complaints about HP in particular with the VONGO software that HP preinstalls.  I have also heard good things. 

Anyway to get back to the discussion, the machine on which I removed Vista and installed XP was a DELL not an HP.  But Im guessing a machine is a machine is a machine. 

Even if you do decide to downgrade to xp and do it, you can always go back and remove it and reinstall Vista if you dont get XP to work properly.  And if your computer is still under warranty, then you can return the machine for a refund.

Let me know what you do and how it works out

[SuperDave]

Pennygirl, I would also suggest you go back to HP to get these issues resolved. I also am struggling with Vista but it's nothing like you describe. It's just trying to figure out their filing system.

[drmsucks]

  The drivers that are needed are indeed part of the OS, except for peripheral devices like a printer, a camera etc. 

This is absolutely wrong.

[shashgo]

drmsucks,

The drivers are not part of the OS?  How then does Vista get installed on any computer by putting the Vista installation disk in the drive?