Installing windows XP on a machine running Vista

Sparky · 23 May 2009 at 11:33

Will windows allow me to install a older operating system? If so what is the best way to do this?

Thanks

CaptainCrash · 23 May 2009 at 12:22

If you mean dual-booting, yes it can be done, but it's a bit fiddly - the XP bootloader will stamp all over the Vista version and then fail to recognise the existing Vista installation, so you'll have to reconfigure things manually.

There's a guide here which seems to explain it nicely.

Unless you need your full hardware capabilities under XP, it might be better to install it as a guest in a virtual machine.

Sparky · 23 May 2009 at 20:42

What if i want to remove Vista totally?

VirtualAdept · 23 May 2009 at 20:55

Back up data
Format Drive
Install XP = Vista gone.

Sparky · 23 May 2009 at 21:35

VirtualAdept said:
Back up data
Format Drive
Install XP = Vista gone.

Nice one, thanks

Kennysevenfold · 23 May 2009 at 22:09

CS||nuTs said:
Nice one, thanks

hope all goes well, maybe make sure there are drivers for your hardware first.?

Teki187 · 23 May 2009 at 22:49

Why anyone would go backwards in regards to operating system tech is beyond me.

Kennysevenfold · 23 May 2009 at 23:01

Teki187 said:
Why anyone would go backwards in regards to operating system tech is beyond me.

W7 beats both of them.!

Sparky · 23 May 2009 at 23:11

Teki187 said:
Why anyone would go backwards in regards to operating system tech is beyond me.

Have 2 laptops in the house on Vista,also another pc on Vista but my media centre pc i would prefer to have on XP. The media pc i connect to work with as it uses a vpn client that Vista causes issues with.