Downgrading to XP from Vista (Now With Network Problems!!)

rts

I went and purchased a copy of Windows XP Home today, and I am trying to downgrade to it from Vista Home. However, when I boot from CD, it gets through the installation process until it says 'start windows' (this is still on the blue screen with white text) and then it crashes to the less friendly kind of blue screen. Vista won't let me install it from inside windows, and I don't really know what else to do.

I need my computer to work so that I can work. Should I purchase a new hard drive? I don't mind wiping this one at all, I just need it to work. I am not sure what is causing the blue screen.

MurphysParadox

Do you get a chance to see what the BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) says?

rts

Yeah it stays there for awhile though I will have to write it down. My short term memory is pretty poor. I guess I will do that now.

rts

Haha, ah man. After trying it like 10 times and it crashing every damn time...it just worked when I went to copy down the information from the blue screen.

At least it seems to be working now. I have made it further into the installation process.

Sorry to waste your time.

MurphysParadox

EDIT: OBE

Glad I could help (remember it was my doing that got you to try again!)

rts

Haha yeah thanks, it just told me it couldnt write some file. But being an impatient and retarded jackass I failed to make note of it before I told it to skip it. Oh wait here is another one:

ipcfg.xml ipconfig?

Hopefully these don't matter because I am just skipping them.

RiemannLives

You really, really should just reformat rather than trying to install xp on top of vista.

rts

Thats what I think I am doing. But I don't know what I am doing.

All I know for sure is that I have a lot of work I need to do and I need a computer that works with my cintiq to do it.

rts

Damnit...ok I finished installing xp. But now when it tries to start up the computer says 'Error loading operating system'

Seattle Thread

Yep. You need to completely erase the drive before installing an operating system on it--you can do this through the XP installation screen. Delete the primary partition.

Note that you will have to backup any important data before you do this, or else it will be lost. That should have been your first step, for future reference.

rts

Data is backed up. So the option I am looking for is 'delete the primary partition' ?


EDIT Nevermind I think I figure that out.

rts

Crap I reformatted the drive (it said it would delete everything on it when I did this) yet when I try to install again it says the windows folder is already there still.

Rook

format c: /y ?

Zonkytonkman

yeah, if you can get a dos prompt, a quick format c:\ may do it

alternatively, download a copy of ubuntu, burn it to a cd, and give that a try. I'm liking it.

MurphysParadox

When you go into the windows setup screen, you can look at the partition list for where to install. Get rid of everything on the list (I think the option is letter L but the instructions are pretty straight forward). Once you see there is nothing in that list, choose Create new partition and choose the long NTFS format (vs Quick). Once that's done, there wont' been anything on the system.

Now, once the first install copying is done, you need to let the computer reboot and come up off the harddrive. Usually you are given the option to boot off of the CD (press any key in 3... 2... 1 kind of prompt); don't do it. If you aren't given an option, see about pulling the CD out during the "your computer will reboot in 15 seconds" screen after it copies the files.

rts

Thanks guys! You have been really helpful! But now I have a new issue. I cannot get the computer online even though it is connected directly to the router via ethernet cable.

Driving me nuts actually. My only thought is that windows isn't recognizing the ethernet ports themselves. There is a single connection showing up in the network connections list but it doesnt connect me to the internet and when I try to repair it I get a message saying there was an error retrieving the tcp/ip whatevermajigger. I say that it is an issue recognizing the ports because when I plug/unplug the ethernet cable the computer doesn't seem to care in the slightest.

Now these ports are on the motherboard, not a seperate card. Which makes simply updating drivers a little complicated for me. I tried installing the drivers on the 'drivers' disc that came with the computer, but I think they were designed for Vista and they don't seem to do shit. Should I just go buy an ethernet card and slam it in there? Its sort of a run around solution to the problem and I was trying to do this thing right, but I need it to work.

So, any suggestions?

Rook

Find out what motherboard you have, then install the drivers from the manufacturer's website. Not much will work properly before you do that.

Ditto with any other hardware you might have.

Seattle Thread

Rook wrote: »

Find out what motherboard you have, then install the drivers from the manufacturer's website.

cakemikz wrote: »

I cannot get the computer online even though it is connected directly to the router via ethernet cable.

Though, do you have a USB thumb drive? You can always hop over to friend's computer or the public library and get online from there.