[Joker4870]

I bought an Acer computer almost a week ago, it came with Windows Vista on it. Way too many problems with compatibility. I have tried everything to give Vista a chance, but can't work with it. I want to wipe out the hard drive and install Windows XP, but I am not sure how to collect all the drivers I need for this computer before I try to format. I was going to let my xp disk do it, but it will not let me, it says can't install with newer version of windows on computer. I am losing too much time and information using Vista. So I need to know 2 things...how do I make sure that I can save and re-install drivers for computer after re-formatting hard drive? And where can I download information to put on disk so that I can boot computer from disk and format hard drive from disk?

[JohnUSAF]

If you install XP and you ethernet card works you should be straight. Everything can be found online. Install XP d/l SP2 all updates, then proceed to Acer http://www.acerpanam.com/flex/acerdr...TOKEN=44315313

Find your product and d/l the drivers.

[Joker4870]

I tried installing XP Pro from the disk, but it will not let me, it says it can not install because I have a newer version of windows on my computer. Then I tried to make a partition to install XP to make it a dual boot with Vista and XP, but that did not work either. What I need to do is find a place where I can download to a disk to make a bootable disk that will allow me to erase hard drive so that I can install XP. I am not sure if this will work, but at this point I am willing to try, even if it means messing up this computer. It's useless to me the way it is.

[GEMINI33]

Try get MS virtuall PC, it'll will let you run more than one OS on the same hard drive without partitioning it. Do read the product info. first though.

[Joker4870]

Thank you, I'll check it out. I just wanted to let you know that the computer came with the hard drive partitioned already.

[Joker4870]

OK, I tried MS Virtual PC...I downloaded it, installed it...will not work with my machine.

[Joker4870]

First, I want to thank JohnUSAF and GEMINI33 for trying to help me with my computer. I just wanted to let the two of you know, that I tried both of your solutions and a few of my own. I finally figured out how to reformat the hard drive on my own, but all I succeeded in doing was having no operating system at all. Windows XP still would not load onto the hard drive. Luckily I was able to get Vista to re-install. I have succeeded in getting most of my problems with Vista taken care of...I'll keep working on the rest. Thanks again for trying to help.

[JohnUSAF]

That is very odd that XP would not install on the formatted drive. Did you get any specific error messages when you attempted to install on a formatted disk?

[crjdriver]

First of all, if this is a laptop I would check to see if the mfg has xp drivers available for download. If not, you are basically wasting your time.

Next are you using a real MS xp disk to install or are you trying to use a recovery type disk to install xp?

[Joker4870]

To JohnUSAF: only thing I know is that it had something to with missing NTLDR, and that computer kept freezing when I would get to the part where I tell XP to install...To crjdriver: it's a desktop that I was trying to do it with, and it is an actual MS XP disk.

[rocker_820]

I had vista on my pc when i first bought it. Then i installed xp it worked. If u dont want vista at all and only one operating system the best thing to do is install xp by booting it and formatting the hard disk. But when i installed xp i regret it. Lol. u know why cuz vista's better than xp and when i istalled xp by formatting my hard disk my video and audio driver was completely gone,then i installed vista again. And vista works fine.

[crjdriver]

Then there is no reason you should not be able to install xp. I would have xp setup delete ALL partitions on the disk. Once this is done, recreate one or more and format with ntfs. It should load fine.

[Joker4870]

Thanks for replying...doesn't matter anymore, I'm going to keep Vista. I have most of the problems with compatitability worked out. I am quite upset about losing my jukebox though, it doesn't work with vista, and it's the only jukebox out there the works like a real jukebox. I'll keep searching until I find another one that I can use.