Format Vista for Xp

[volf]

Short but to the point :

Have a friends laptop who wants XP put back on it.

I stick the XP CD into the drive to format Vista, Boot, Gets to the screen but then it tells me that Setup can not find any hard drives installed.

Any ideas?

(I used Vista on it for about 10 mins and already hating it)

[Null_Byte]

In the BIOS check the setting for the hard drive mode,

My guess is it has a SATA drive operating in either IRRT or AHCI mode, switch this to ATA mode and you are good to go

[Sheaf]

What version of XP is it? IIRC you need SP2 to install onto a SATA drive (so you'll need to slipstream your version with SP2), or use a separate boot disk which contains the SATA drivers.

[Scott]

ive got a corporate XP with SP2 from factory (not slipstreamed) if you need to borrow one.

Sounds very unusual though, try bios settings as mentioned, or, try the manufacturers web page for dos drivers for an xp install, then you can slip stream these to a CD with Nlite (done this before, bit fiddly, but only way to do with no floppy drive).

[rovex]

Dont like Vista? Get used to it since Windows 7 will be along soon and its much better, but not that different. XP is soon to die, and should have already. Its now the longest running Windows for the home PC.

Why not try Windows 7? Get a copy from the torrent sites, the 7057 build, and get a key from Microsoft (legally and free). I have it on my atom powered netbook, its very nice indeed. Will last until April 2010 before i need to get another version.

[s0ck]

What is so much better about it?

[volf]

Fixed - Changed the settings in the BIOS. Thanks for the help.

Windows Vista... Hate it, Hate it with a passon.
There was nothing worng with XP, Why change it?

[s0ck]

Fixed - Changed the settings in the BIOS. Thanks for the help.

Windows Vista... Hate it, Hate it with a passon.
There was nothing worng with XP, Why change it?

So Microsoft can rinse more money out of you!

[rovex]

7 is much faster and lighter, as i said it runs on my 1.6ghz atom powered netbook better than XP does, but still has all the prettiness of Vista, more in fact. Its more secure but less intrusive at the same time. It has some very nifty feaures

Its still under development, but its well worth a go ts free and you can always wipe it out if you dont like it. Most Vista drivers work, if anything its more compatible already. Everything worked on my desktop and netbook immediately with the latest build.

[Scott]

im still using windows 7 for a while now, and its good, much faster than vista or xp on the same machine. and its very pretty!

i also got the 64bit here on my desk if you want a copy, build 7000 only though...

[s0ck]

Unfortunately, Vista earned me minus 20fps average, so I won't be using it or any of its derivatives for quite some time

[rovex]

No reason it should unless your using bad drivers, or the games are defaulting to DX10 mode, which will likely reduce frame rates a bit, since it (allegedly) increases visuals.

[Scott]

jsut try the bloody windows 7 beta. I hate vista, but i love windows 7.

I got better FPS in windows 7 64bit!

[s0ck]

It was the latest nvidia drivers at the time and the game doesn't support dx10. I'm sure they will get it sorted before long.

May give 7 a shot, sometime, Scott