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If I were to try and install XP on a machine where Vista is currently installed what would I need to do and what problems may I encounter?



If that is not possible, could I delete Vista and then install XP?



Thanks for any help.



I have programs that don't run right on Vista that came with machine. They have always run correctly on XP.

What kind of computer is this?

Did have XP on it before? Anyway try these...........

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



Vista Dual Boot with XP Installation

Or get a new machine with windows 7, seems to be working OK so far.

Or see if there are updates for the programs you want to run for Vista.

Jazzy;1283511 wrote: What kind of computer is this?


FUBAR;1283514 wrote: Did have XP on it before? Anyway try these...........



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







Vista Dual Boot with XP Installation



Or get a new machine with windows 7, seems to be working OK so far.



Or see if there are updates for the programs you want to run for Vista.
I have a dell desk top, it came with Vista and has never had XP. I have copies of XP so I thought I would try and install it. It won't let the CD install because it is an older version of windows.

Can I just somehow delete Vista and then install XP without any problems? If so How would be the best way to delete then install?

Try this link as see if it helps you any: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... l?1560df80

As I understand it you will have to put a partition on your hard drive and install XP on the new one bit. You are in effect turning it into two computer systems. I don't think you can uninstall Vista completely as it is your operating system so without you will just have a metal box full of wires. What should happen after you split your drive and add XP is when you turn it on it will ask which partition to open. It's not a simple thing to do I think, much easier to look for program updates.

Thanks for the responses I will do more checking on this in the morning when I have more time.

Not that I've done this but Vista / Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Disk Management has the ability to reduce the size of the Vista partition. If you do that you'll have free space to install XP to. You'll need to boot from the XP CD to do the install, opening it in Vista isn't going to let you do that. When you boot the XP CD, don't use the "entire hard drive" option or you'll lose your Vista boot option and you really honestly don't want to do that.

Install Windows7.

It is designed to overwrite Vista and is an upgrade to XP. You are better doing that than trying to take out Vista and reinstall XP.

I agree go with windows 7 but run the advisor first to make sure your system can handle it.



I hate to say it either way you will be better off reformatting your hard drive before installing either XP or 7. You can play around with partitions and space and eventually you will come to the realization that your system would preform better if you would have just reformatted it before installing a new operating system. If you don't like Vista dump it correctly by cleaning it off your system completely IMHO.



Back you your drivers and data and reformat and then install XP or 7 you will be much happier in the long run.





Install Windows7.

It is designed to overwrite Vista and is an upgrade to XP. You are better doing that than trying to take out Vista and reinstall XP.

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I went to Microsoft and downloaded some fixes and repairs. Worked 3 hours this morning and finally got it to run my programs that I need, One more program to go and I will try to keep running vista for awhile anyways.

Cool sometimes those updates are necessary if you want to keep functing glad it is working out.

NOTE TO SELF: Buy a Macintosh, Leopard OS rocks and has no viruses or problems.

YZGI;1283787 wrote: I went to Microsoft and downloaded some fixes and repairs. Worked 3 hours this morning and finally got it to run my programs that I need, One more program to go and I will try to keep running vista for awhile anyways.


Glad to hear it's working out for you!

Glad it is working for you, but in the long run you may still want to convert to Windows 7, it is straight forward and is a better operating system than Vista, you should find your computer will be faster and all.

(No I am not selling the stuff, I have family members that are big into computers and programming and this is the advise they give and have upgrade my computer at home to windows 7.)

It does, as Carla says, depend on the hardware to an extent. There's also the small matter that Wisey already legitimately owns an install copy of XP whereas 7 will cost an arm and a leg for an end-user new-install license.

How long do people generally run a machine before deciding it's obsolete and buying new? Three years? Four?

Total replacement is the cheap answer after the first year or so. The last time I re-installed a factory copy of Vista the patch system took a week to bring the machine up to date. Time is more valuable than hardware.