Guide for installing Windows XP on a laptop with Windows Vista
 

Hey all,

I am wondering if anyone knows of an easy-to-follow guide to change a HP laptop with Vista on it so that one can install Windows XP. My father wants it because he wants to be able to play various games and use various applications. I looked around and so far only seen bits and pieces, but no real guide.

Thanks.

Do you want to dual boot the two OSes? If so, you'll need to pop in the XP disc, reboot, format and create two partitions on the drive, then install Vista. Everything has on screen instructions.

If you just want XP, pop in the install disc for XP and choose to format your hard drive when it asks. Continue as normal.

Might want to mention the backing up all of your data first part, too.

Hm, well, pretty much what the two of you said is what I found.

So far, my dad is thinking of not doing it because it seems complex and for some reason circuit city is saying that he can't take Windows XP off one computer and place it on another (the computer he originally had it on broke down). They went on to say he would have to pay several hundred dollars to buy a new copy of Windows XP and set it all back up.

I don't believe that is true though (not being allowed to put Windows XP on another computer as long as you uninstall it on the previous one first)...

Oh it is, if it's an OEM version. It's legally tied to that particular machine.

It possible, just install xp in an empty partition of the HD.

Then fix the boot files with a bcd editor like easybcd

FOr me, I would not worry as much about that.

For my Dad, well, it took him months to learn how to MAXIMIZE and MINIMIZE windows.

Thanks for the tip Zerg. That makes more sense.