Downgrading from Vista to XP?

Tom2k8 · 20 Apr 2008 at 13:07

Hello,

I'm trying to format a Vista PC with an XP Disk, however when the first loading screen has loaded, the setup will blue screen with an error... This is because you can't straight format a Vista PC with an XP Disk.

What's the best / easiest way to get around this problem?

Cheers

Skeeter · 20 Apr 2008 at 16:00

Ive stright formatted a Vista machine with XP...

Just loaded into the screen where you choose where to install, and deleted all the partitions.

Make sure your disk isnt corrupted and you are booting to the disk and not starting the install from within Vista.

Tom2k8 · 20 Apr 2008 at 16:18

Skeeter said:
Ive stright formatted a Vista machine with XP...

Just loaded into the screen where you choose where to install, and deleted all the partitions.

Make sure your disk isnt corrupted and you are booting to the disk and not starting the install from within Vista.

Can't even get that far because as soon as it's loaded the files the blue screen appears.

Boscher · 20 Apr 2008 at 22:10

Is it an HP by any chance?

Brian Stuart · 20 Apr 2008 at 22:23

Sounds like it may be a RAM issue. Any problems I've had with installing XP or Vista were usually RAM related.

Skeeter · 20 Apr 2008 at 22:33

Foo_Fighter said:
Can't even get that far because as soon as it's loaded the files the blue screen appears.

If its loading the files and then crashing its wither a problem with the files (the cd/dvd) or a problem with where the files are going (RAM or HDD)

Run Memtest and see if the RAM is ok, and burn a new disk if you can

Grimbough · 20 Apr 2008 at 22:40

Do you have RAID turned on in the bios, but aren't providing the drivers for XP to support it. This happened to me and I got a blue screen every time I tried a windows install. I just turned of the RAID support in the bios and everything was fine after that.

Tom2k8 · 20 Apr 2008 at 22:59

Grimbough said:
Do you have RAID turned on in the bios, but aren't providing the drivers for XP to support it. This happened to me and I got a blue screen every time I tried a windows install. I just turned of the RAID support in the bios and everything was fine after that.

Cheers for that mate, I'll get that a try.