Trying to install Windows XP on a Windows 7 laptop

[Kescarte_DeJudica]

Hello,

I have a laptop I bought a year back with Windows 7 installed on it. The laptop is a Acer Travelmate P243-M-6416, Model number ZQW

Serial number: nxv7baa004230175637600

SNID:23009558776

I want to install Windows XP on it and get rid of Windows 7. The reason is I have a newer Windows 10 computer that handles my normal computer activities, and  because I have a lot of old game software I bought at thrift stores that was made for Windows 95 and 98. These won't run on Windows 7, but will run on Windows XP.

I have a copy of Windows XP Pro, SP3, which I went through the installation process with on my laptop. It installed without issue.

However, after installation, I found out that I had deleted all my drivers, as I had deleted all former partitions in the hard drive upon installation. So, now my computer can't do basic functions, including connecting to the internet, and running software. When I try to install my games, I get an error about Runtime Libraries or Direct X.

I also cannot find drivers online for Windows XP for my computer model.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks very much for your help!

[patio]

Ain't gonna happen without XP drivers...especially a laptop.

This may help...

[BC_Programmer]

It doesn't look like Acer provides any Windows XP Drivers for the system, making it, rather unusable as you have discovered.

I did find This Site which claims to have Windows XP drivers. I downloaded a graphics driver and it seems like they are the drivers direct from the hardware manufacturer so you might have some luck with those. Do avoid the "Driver update utility", however- that's just crapware the site wants people to install.

I've not had issues running most older games even in Windows 10, except for MS-DOS or 16-bit software.

[cornemuse]

I have a Toshiba A505D W-7 laptop I installed XP 64 on. (well, I tried, , , ,). I finally took it to a computer shop & paid $50 & the dude installed everything, except a toshiba thingie for? protecting the computer from shaking <- some such thing.  Looking back, the $50 was cheap compared to wasted time & effort.

1st thing I did was, I cloned a second hdd, just in case, , , , (this laptop has an 'e-sata' plug)

-c-

[patio]

The difference here is your laptop probably had WinXP drivers...his does not...

[Geek-9pm]

For what it is worth.... Old computers with Windows XP are a dime a dozen.
Search Amazon or eBay for old computers.
Weill... not a dime a dozen, but some for about $50 in working condition.

I searched of desktops under $55 and got:
89 results for working desktop PC .
...with free shipping. 
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=desktop+PC&_udlo=11&_udhi=55&LH_BIN=1&_mPrRngCbx=1&LH_FS=1&_osacat=58058&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR2.TRC1.A0.H0.Xworking+desktop+PC.TRS0&_nkw=working+desktop+PC&_sacat=58058
The more common brand names should have XP drivers on respective web sites.