Install XP on a vista preloaded laptop 3

[itsmystie]

Hello everybody.

I've got an Acer laptop. It came pre-loaded with Vista. I would have loved to remove it and install XP instead. But problem is I cant find XP-compatible drivers.

So now i'm thinking of dual-booting with XP with the hope that XP will at least have the graphics drivers.

Now is it possible to install XP without formatting the hard disk?

 

[GrimR]

would this help. What Model do you have

http://support.acer-euro.com/drivers/downloads.html

 

[wolluf]

apart from drivers - which as grimr pointed out, may exist on Acer's site - you will have some difficulty creating a dual boot, installing XP second - and honestly I can't see the value of doing it. Either you find XP drivers and reset machine up as XP or live with Vista. If you did have dual boot - which will you use - fully functional, not loved Vista or XP with missing drivers. Unless you're just experimenting, you'll find having 2 boot options 1 too many.

To create dual boot you'd need to repartition the hard drive - leaving room for Vista and making room for an XP partition. And I think you'll need to completely hide the vista partition during XP install - or if it will install unhidden, you'll need to repair the Vista installation afterwards as XP will overwrite boot sector - which will prevent vista booting.

PS. If you have a backup device & software (eg Acronis True Imanage, Norton Ghost), you could create an image of your Vista installation - then wipe and install XP - if you can't find all the drivers/don't like XP, just put the vista image back on.

 

[roland63]

I recommend you get yourself a test hard drive (got mine for $10. It doesn't have to be large capacity, just large enough for the XP install - mine was a mere 20GB.

Swap the drives, drop XP in, check DevMgr and go from there.

Once you have everything and it all looks good and you're completely satisfied everything works (test sound, video settings, USB and ethernet ports, I mean everything- time to put in your original drive and go for it.

 

[itsmystie]

Thanks for your replies.

GrimR, thanks for the link. Will check it out for the drivers.

Wolluf, I would use both. The reason i need XP is that i need to use some programs which are not vista compatible. So i would use XP to run those programs only and I would use vista mainstream. So if i can create an image, can i install XP first on one partition, and then put the vista image on another partition?

Roland63, I didnt quite get you when you said "swap the drives". What do you mean by that?

 

[itsmystie]

Laptop model is Acer 5710Z. I checked out Acer's site and drivers are available for XP.

 

[itsmystie]

I meant to say Acer Aspire 5710Z

 

[vacunita]

Roland63, I didnt quite get you when you said "swap the drives". What do you mean by that?

I think he means just that, swap the drives. Replace one hard drive with another hard drive.

You could also use Microsoft's Virtual PC to create a virtual computer with Windows XP that runs on your Vista. It can run in a Window or full screen. Then when you need to use your applications you boot up the Virtual PC and presto.

----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[BMcAnly]

Ever consider a virtual XP installation? VMware player is a freebie. Just be sure the system has the resources to handle running two OS's at the same time.

 

[linney]

Virtual PC 2007

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...3199-48a3-afa2-2dc0b40a73b6&displaylang=en&tm

How to dual boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first) -- the step-by-step guide

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_vista_and_xp_with_vista_installed_first__the_stepbystep_guide.htm

You could also look at VistaProBoot.

http://www.vistabootpro.org/

Some clues and past stories here.

How to install Windows XP over Vista
faq779-6713



How to restore a computer to a previous Windows installation after you install Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933168/en-us#appliesto

Downgrading from Vista to XP
thread1583-1350480

Using DBAN
thread1583-1373898


XP Drivers for a Gateway w/Vista?
thread779-1329243: XP Drivers for a Gateway w/Vista?


How can I install Win XP Pro SP2 on a Vista Pre-installed PC ?
thread779-1373663

Vista OS to xp pro OS?
thread779-1375858

 

[wolluf]

If you just need xp for compatibility then the suggested virtual machine approach would be best - unless machine doesn't have the resource (basically RAM) to support it (depending on what you are running on the XP virtual machine - if you only needed 256-512MB RAM, probably be ok). No need to reboot, and you can communicate between host and virtual machine. Be aware, virtual PC does not have USB support, vmware does (may be of no consequence).

 

[itsmystie]

I made another mistake in my post. Correction: "Drivers are NOT available for XP".

linney and wolluf, thanks for the tip. Will try VMware out.

BMcAnly, thanks for the great links. Might come in handy.

Many thanks to you all.