[dccfreak]

I have searched and browsed many posts on this forum as well as using many step by step guides elsewhere on the web, but, I cannot seem to find where anyone has found an answer to this issue.

I have Vista Home Premium on a pc which I just purchased in the past few weeks for my business. I don't mind the overall operation of the system, however, I have discovered that a very important piece of software which is the keystone of my business is not compatible with Vista in the slightest. I therefore tried to create a partition for installation of XP on my drive utilizing directions found online, which went well and as described. The problem I am continually facing is that when I try to install XP, it copies all of the files but when it is ready to launch the installation I get the same BSoD all the time.

I purchased another hard drive thinking that it might be easier and save time to just disconnect my existing HD and start as if I were beginning from scratch. Again, when installation starts, the BSoD appears. I have tried disabling the raid option in the bios and even found a workaround on the Microsoft site regarding the format process in Vista and the need to change registry values to simulate the XP format instead. All of this to no avail. I am running out of things to try and I am beginning to feel some heat from customers as I am being forced to do much of my work from an old pc until I can figure this out.

I have read posts where folks say that third party raid drivers may be needed, but, I am unsure as to what I need drivers for. Is it the mobo, hard drives, chipset drivers??? I am really confused and I am beginning to think that I need to scrap this as a lost cause and give it to my kids but, I really love this pc. I wanted a quad core setup but it was impossible to find one anywhere with XP installed or any new pc with XP for that matter.

If anyone has any ideas at all, I would be most appreciative and humbled by your wisdom.

Thanks in advance.

[Oily]

Originally Posted by dccfreak

I have discovered that a very important piece of software which is the keystone of my business is not compatible with Vista in the slightest.

Have you tried to run it in compatibility mode.When you right click on the .exe file of the program select "Properties" and then click the "Compatibility" tab and put a check in the box that says "Run this program in compatibility...." in the drop down box use "Windows XP (Service Pack 2).

This might work for you.

[Masterman10]

You can downgrade also to XP and get rid of Vista entirely.

[Oily]

If you are installing XP to a SATA drive or RAID configuration then you will need to load drivers so that the OS will recognise the hard drives.
You should be able to download these drivers from the manufactures web site.

[BMR528]

DCCFreak

NO NO NO No and NO. Please do not try to dual boot. Use VMware or VirtualPC to create a virtual install of XP on top of the Vista install, Then you can run them both at the same time

D