Pending: Difficulties Removing Vista to Install XP - Page 4

Jelly Bean · 04-05-2008

There is a way of removing Vista completely.

You can buy the convert leads to convert an internal hard drive to an external.

Use these or try borrow off a friend then put the hard drive as a slave to another computer then format as a slave.

Put cleaned HDD back into laptop and then format with XP.

You can buy these leads and laptop covertors from ebay.

Gandalf · 04-05-2008

You didn't answer my second question.
If the DVD drive is the first boot drive, then you should be able to place the XP Windows installation CD in the DVD drive then Boot up (or Reboot). Booting off of the DVD drive should allow you to reformation and install XP. You might need to re-partition the hard drive before reformating.

jilarson · 04-07-2008

Originally Posted by Gandalf

I thought I'd put my two cents worth in here. Two questions:

1. How important is having VISTA on the Laptop?
I ask because I'm concerned that your Vista is from a recovery disk instead of a standard Windows Vista DVD. That might be part of the problems you are experiencing.

2. Do you have the first boot drive in the BIOS setup as the DVD drive?

For question1 I wanted to get rid of Vista and just have XP but I re installed Vista to see if i could do more with it.
I thought I might get it to run dual-boot.
Question 2 the DVD drive is first and the XP disc boots up there and then when it asks for my addl drivers it will not use that DVD drive to pull the drivers from even if I hav a CD that has Floppy emulation.
That is why I asked if I could Floppy Emulate from a USB stick.

The SATA Mass Storage drivers are different between Vista and XP. Through XP it doesn't even see the Hard drive, either partition.

jilarson · 04-07-2008

Originally Posted by Jelly Bean

There is a way of removing Vista completely.

You can buy the convert leads to convert an internal hard drive to an external.

Use these or try borrow off a friend then put the hard drive as a slave to another computer then format as a slave.

Put cleaned HDD back into laptop and then format with XP.

You can buy these leads and laptop covertors from ebay.

I wish I could borrow one.
I do have an adapter for standard IDE to Laptop-size IDE but since this is SATA then I can't.
I was going to try to find a SATA adapter but what is it called?
Would you have a link to one?
I usually use Newegg.com or I go to my local MicroCenter at Micro Center Online | the center of .computer shopping
If you find it at 1 of those 2 sites I will go get it.
I am the only one around that knows computers is why my family, my wife's family, my neighbors, my brother's friends and co-workers all call me....

Thanks for your help and research....

jilarson · 04-07-2008

I think my last resort is to try to install the XP drivers with Vista running and reboot and then run the XP install CD after Vista is back up and running. The worst that can happen is that Vista can't see the HDD afterwards. Then I have to format and start over AGAIN!!!

jilarson · 04-08-2008

OK I changed the SATA driver in Vista to the XP driver. -- Then i tried to install XP but vista wont let me because it is an older version. If I try to install XP from boot up then it doesn't use that XP driver.
I am now looking into this USB adapter to run it as an external Hard drive. It is my last resort.

I have to finish this because my neice just got accepted to Ghost Hunters International by Sci-Fi for next season and she leaves on the 22nd.
I am happy for her. Look for her, her name is Brandy...

I will keep updating on my problem.

jilarson · 04-08-2008

I think this USB dongle will work with a laptop 2.5" SATA Hard Drive.
Micro Center Online - the center of .computer shopping

04-05-2008	#22
Jelly Bean Stoooooopid Girl. Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Swansea Posts: 12,727 PC Experience: None.	Re: Difficulties Removing Vista to Install XP There is a way of removing Vista completely. You can buy the convert leads to convert an internal hard drive to an external. Use these or try borrow off a friend then put the hard drive as a slave to another computer then format as a slave. Put cleaned HDD back into laptop and then format with XP. You can buy these leads and laptop covertors from ebay. __________________ Rwy'n ceisio fy ngorau.

04-05-2008	#23
Gandalf Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California, USA Posts: 4,386 PC Experience: PC Guru	Re: Difficulties Removing Vista to Install XP You didn't answer my second question. If the DVD drive is the first boot drive, then you should be able to place the XP Windows installation CD in the DVD drive then Boot up (or Reboot). Booting off of the DVD drive should allow you to reformation and install XP. You might need to re-partition the hard drive before reformating. __________________ Klaatu Barada Nikto < Pre-Work ><CPUID>< SFC >< AV Scan >< BSOD >< Belarc ><How-To Geek> Join the PC Help Forum WCG Team and fight cancer with us!

04-07-2008	#24
jilarson Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 62 PC Experience: Experienced	Re: Difficulties Removing Vista to Install XP Originally Posted by Gandalf I thought I'd put my two cents worth in here. Two questions: 1. How important is having VISTA on the Laptop? I ask because I'm concerned that your Vista is from a recovery disk instead of a standard Windows Vista DVD. That might be part of the problems you are experiencing. 2. Do you have the first boot drive in the BIOS setup as the DVD drive? For question1 I wanted to get rid of Vista and just have XP but I re installed Vista to see if i could do more with it. I thought I might get it to run dual-boot. Question 2 the DVD drive is first and the XP disc boots up there and then when it asks for my addl drivers it will not use that DVD drive to pull the drivers from even if I hav a CD that has Floppy emulation. That is why I asked if I could Floppy Emulate from a USB stick. The SATA Mass Storage drivers are different between Vista and XP. Through XP it doesn't even see the Hard drive, either partition. __________________ If you are into Gaming then check out www.twhq.org It is a great gaming community. Tell them IM lightning10 sent you!!!

04-07-2008	#25
jilarson Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 62 PC Experience: Experienced	Re: Difficulties Removing Vista to Install XP Originally Posted by Jelly Bean There is a way of removing Vista completely. You can buy the convert leads to convert an internal hard drive to an external. Use these or try borrow off a friend then put the hard drive as a slave to another computer then format as a slave. Put cleaned HDD back into laptop and then format with XP. You can buy these leads and laptop covertors from ebay. I wish I could borrow one. I do have an adapter for standard IDE to Laptop-size IDE but since this is SATA then I can't. I was going to try to find a SATA adapter but what is it called? Would you have a link to one? I usually use Newegg.com or I go to my local MicroCenter at Micro Center Online \| the center of .computer shopping If you find it at 1 of those 2 sites I will go get it. I am the only one around that knows computers is why my family, my wife's family, my neighbors, my brother's friends and co-workers all call me.... Thanks for your help and research.... __________________ If you are into Gaming then check out www.twhq.org It is a great gaming community. Tell them IM lightning10 sent you!!!

04-07-2008	#26
jilarson Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 62 PC Experience: Experienced	Re: Difficulties Removing Vista to Install XP I think my last resort is to try to install the XP drivers with Vista running and reboot and then run the XP install CD after Vista is back up and running. The worst that can happen is that Vista can't see the HDD afterwards. Then I have to format and start over AGAIN!!! __________________ If you are into Gaming then check out www.twhq.org It is a great gaming community. Tell them IM lightning10 sent you!!!

04-08-2008	#27
jilarson Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 62 PC Experience: Experienced	Re: Difficulties Removing Vista to Install XP OK I changed the SATA driver in Vista to the XP driver. -- Then i tried to install XP but vista wont let me because it is an older version. If I try to install XP from boot up then it doesn't use that XP driver. I am now looking into this USB adapter to run it as an external Hard drive. It is my last resort. I have to finish this because my neice just got accepted to Ghost Hunters International by Sci-Fi for next season and she leaves on the 22nd. I am happy for her. Look for her, her name is Brandy... I will keep updating on my problem. __________________ If you are into Gaming then check out www.twhq.org It is a great gaming community. Tell them IM lightning10 sent you!!!

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