Downgrading to Windows XP / Formatting HardDrive

[Dave of the Match]

Afternoon chaps,

Just considering getting Windows XP put on to a CD to downgrade.

Just one question though;

Do I need to format the harddrive? If so how do you do this on Vista?

Cheers

EDIT: Greenage up for grabs

 

[!famous!SUFC!!!!]

i have windows ex have no idea how you go about downgrading but am just curious as to why u want to?

 

[Dave of the Match]

i have windows ex have no idea how you go about downgrading but am just curious as to why u want to?

Because I'm starting to hate the glassy look of Vista, its security loop-holes, and dozens of stuff that it restricts you from doing

 

[MK Shrimper]

Vista is crap?

Uses huge amounts of system resources, full of bugs and holes.

My suggestion is to partition your hard drive and have a dual boot system so you can flip between the two.

 

[Dave of the Match]

Vista is crap

Well said.

My suggestion is to partition your hard drive and have a dual boot system so you can flip between the two.

:stunned: explain please lol I'm a bit weak in this area (:

 

[MK Shrimper]

Basically split your hard drive into two seperate drives - virtually, I'm not talking take an axe to it! Get a piece of software called Partition Magic and you can do it easily.

So keep Vista on the "C" drive and format the newly created "D" drive and install XP on there. At bootup your PC will ask you which OS you want to load up and bob's your fannies auntie.

 

[Dave of the Match]

Basically split your hard drive into two seperate drives - virtually, I'm not talking take an axe to it! Get a piece of software called Partition Magic and you can do it easily.

So keep Vista on the "C" drive and format the newly created "D" drive and install XP on there. At bootup your PC will ask you which OS you want to load up and bob's your fannies auntie.

Thank you very much Mr Cox, green coming your way.

 

[londonblue]

Vista is crap?

Uses huge amounts of system resources, full of bugs and holes.

My suggestion is to partition your hard drive and have a dual boot system so you can flip between the two.

If you were going to do that i'd use Linux not XP.

 

[Dave of the Match]

Hmm I want to completely scrap Vista so what do you think guys?

 

[MK Shrimper]

Why not keep it on there if your hard drive is big enough? They'll probably bring out a huge service pack like they did with XP in a few months.

 

[Dave of the Match]

Why not keep it on there if your hard drive is big enough? They'll probably bring out a huge service pack like they did with XP in a few months.

My hard drive is 120Gb and only has something like 20Gb free >.<

If I put i a CD with XP on it and went into BIOS setup on startup and chose "boot from CD" that should work?

 

[osymandus]

My hard drive is 120Gb and only has something like 20Gb free >.<

If I put i a CD with XP on it and went into BIOS setup on startup and chose "boot from CD" that should work?

Yup , the setup will give you teh option where you want to install the XP partition to , and how much space you want to use , but as Londonblue sadi id go for Linux , Umbuntu is a much better OS , and now very easy to install then any windows tosh !

 

[Dave of the Match]

I'm downloading this http://www.warez-bb.org/viewtopic.php?t=1901580&start=0 atm

 

[londonblue]

Yup , the setup will give you teh option where you want to install the XP partition to , and how much space you want to use , but as Londonblue sadi id go for Linux , Umbuntu is a much better OS , and now very easy to install then any windows tosh !

I take it you mean Ubuntu?

I'm seriously considering downloading it to test it out with various software packages I already have, mainly iTunes, and some video editing and conversion stuff. Are you able to give me an idiots guide to setting it up in parallel to XP?

Also, will I have to re-install any software already installed on XP? Will I therefore need two copies of it on the PC, one in XP and one in Ubuntu?

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Afternoon chaps,

Just considering getting Windows XP put on to a CD to downgrade.

Just one question though;

Do I need to format the harddrive? If so how do you do this on Vista?

Cheers

EDIT: Greenage up for grabs

If you downgrade from Vista, the PC will not recognize the HDD when trying to install XP. Running a partition is a good way. That or buy a new HDD, install XP onto it, have it as you OS and use the Vista HDD as a secondary HDD. You will then be able to transfer all your files over if needed.

 

[Dave of the Match]

Right, I've just downgraded to XP and I'm pretty annoyed. I've got my programs but that is it. Literally. All my documents, pictures movies and everything has gone. :(

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Right, I've just downgraded to XP and I'm pretty annoyed. I've got my programs but that is it. Literally. All my documents, pictures movies and everything has gone. :(

They may be hidden. Run a search!

 

[Dave of the Match]

They may be hidden. Run a search!

Nope - all gone ):

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Nope - all gone ):

Didn't back them up eh....hmmmm. 1st rule...always make a back up!

 

[Dave of the Match]

Jesus, I have to re-install EVERY program I had, and write out all of them documents again.

-Angry face. Not happy.