[aaronquestions]

Hi,

I just bought a gateway desktop from best buy with preloaded windows vista. I don't like vista and want to load win XP. When i booted from cd rom, xp went through the normal set up stage. it goes to the screen to delete the partition/s with vista on it. on the bottom, i saw several partitions reading c:/ .......... I went to delete these partitions, but it will not allow me saying windows has encountered an error, current windows vista is newer than xp so it won't let me do a reformat or delete those partitions. How can I delete the vista on my new desktop and install a new xp? please any advice is appreciated. thank you.

[lefty.crupps]

Using a computer that will run this program:
http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm
which might be another machine, I am not sure.

Anyways, download a Linux live CD (which is an *.iso file) and use that above program to burn the *.iso onto a CDROM. Then boot into the Linux LiveCD and use GParted or QTParted or cfdisk (a command line program) to erase the current partitions (and create any new setups that you want).

Then use your XP cd to install onto the blank partitions.

DSL is the smallest, fastest LiveCD that you'll find, but if you're not familiar with Linux commands and permissions, then you might be better off getting Knoppix or Kubuntu or one of the more large, graphical LiveCDs. Download from here:
http://distrowatch.com

Good luck and enjoy the time in Linux, it'll be the last time you see all your hardware work out of the box... then begins your XP driver hunt... enjoy!

[aaronquestions]

thanks for the advice, will try it when i get home. But isn't there a way to go to the desktop on vista and under run program, you could type in disk and delete the disks that away? just a thought. if possible, how would i go about doing that? I forgot the commands that i have to type in. did you know best buy won't install xp when vista is already on there? now i see why, it takes too much time to do. what a deal.

[StumpedTechy]

Or just use something like diskwipe to make a bootable floppy and delete all partition information and then start fresh with the XP cd.

[aaronquestions]

thank you for the advice, will try that too. any other advice is greatly appreciated.

[Bob Cerelli]

I did a clean install of Vista
Then booted from a XP CD (nothing being done while Vista was running)
Deleted the partition where Vista was installed
Installed XP.
Nothing special required.

But then I only had one partition.
You have "several partitions reading c:/"

Any more information on that. Usually there aren't several partitions all with the same drive letter.

Did the computer possibly come with a hidden restore partition for Vista?

[techy689]

Insert the Vista Cd as if you were going to do a clean install. Have it erase all your partition, and right before it is is about to install Vista, cancel the install. Then insert the XP disk and install XP.

[aaronquestions]

first thing first. I don't have the windows vista cd because vista came on my computer. i have a recovery disk with all of the stuff on it. secondly, when i put my xp in for setup, it goes to the setup blue screen. after that it pulls up all of the disk partition and available space. it shows 4 lines that says " no disk" what does that mean exactly. i know i have a hard drive in there, how else would vista run? so can anyone thoroughly explain why it keeps telling me there is no hard disk in there? thanks

[StumpedTechy]

Ohhhh if it says no disk my bet is you are using an SATA hard drive nad you need to get the XP SATA controller cards Windows XP drivers.

What you want to do is this.

Go hunting for your SATA controllers drivers for XP not Vista. Get them onto a Floppy disk. Boot to Windows XP disk and at the beginning it will tall you to press F6 to install the alternate HDD controller drivers then put in that floppy.

This should make it so you no longer see No disk.

BTW if you need step by steps on this do a google search - Windows XP SATA F6 should yeild you any information on how to perform this process.

[Bob Cerelli]

When did "i saw several partitions reading c:/" show up?

Also in addition to any SATA controller drivers you may need, you will also need drivers for anything else that doesn't come with XP. Recommend searching the manufacturer's web site, getting everything you need on floppies or CD before starting, and then continue.

This is not necessarily an easy thing to do if you can't get all the drivers for XP.

[Rich-M]

The chipset determines the need for sata controller drivers not the OS and I am sure any pc with Vista on it would not need sata drivers these days.
If you use Acronis Disk Director, you can simply make a rescue disk, boot in to it and then delete the Vista Partition. That is the easiest though you need 10.0 DD to work on Vista.

[Bob Cerelli]

But they want it to work with XP, not Vista.

[Rich-M]

Originally Posted by Bob Cerelli

But they want it to work with XP, not Vista.

Yes Bob, reread what I wrote.
Install Disk Director into Vista which is all they can do now, and then make the rescue disk, so that they can boot to it and then delete the partition Vista is on so as to reinstall XP.

[aaronquestions]

Thanks so much guys. Just to save some time, I just bought a new hard drive. but I will try all of your advices on the old hard drive to see if I can accomplish this complex feat. You guys are the best....lots of good advices. Vista doesn't seem too bad to use, but you know, i don't want to leave my comfort zone just yet. XP has been working spledidly for me so I think i'm gonna stick with it for a little while longer. Thanks again guys.

[Bob Cerelli]

That's an easy way to go as well. Might not even be that much more than purchasing the software going through all that. I never needed to but maybe there is something unique about your computer.