Help, I am in Vista Hell

[EmilyB]

I've lost a work week trying to get this crap to run, all I want to do now is install my Windows XP. Are there any simple instructions to do this, browsing online, it seems all very complicated. Window XP won't simply install, as it says a newer version of Windows is loaded.

[ridder]

Best way to reinstall Windows XP is format the hard drive for a clean install.
Boot the computer up with an old Windows 98 boot disk (can be found with an search engine). At a: format C: , once you format the drive then boot from the cd-rom with Windows XP in the drive. When the computer starts it will say press a key to run the cd> press a key and it will start to load Windows. Another way to load Windows XP is just boot up the computer with the Windows XP cd-rom and then format the drive in Windows XP setup.When Windows XP setup loads it will ask you if want to recover or a fresh install of Windows XP. Make sure you format the drive and load a new fresh copy of Windows.

Don't try to install windows in Windows XP.

Hope this helps.

[DanG]

don't mess with a boot floppy, just boot off the xp cd. All windows discs since Me have been bootable.
Boot off the disc, format the drive and then install xp. Install XP SP2, install drivers, install antivirus, then the rest of the windows updates.

[Aquattro]

What issues are you having in Vista? Turn off User Access Control, that causes all kinds of problems.

[tmbar19]

I wasn't able to get Vista to work while using Google as a main start-up page. Apparently they are incompatible. Dell sent me three new computers before I managed to figure out what the problem was. Nightmare!
Good luck!

[Aquattro]

I wasn't able to get Vista to work while using Google as a main start-up page. Apparently they are incompatible. Dell sent me three new computers before I managed to figure out what the problem was. Nightmare!
Good luck!


I've been using Google as my home page since Beta 2, no issues at all.

[EmilyB]

lol, two suggestions and two rebuttals, I'm still so confused.......
:cry:

[EmilyB]

What issues are you having in Vista? Turn off User Access Control, that causes all kinds of problems.

I tried that once already, I hate having that on there. Then it wouldn't start up without a system restore..

[EmilyB]

I wasn't able to get Vista to work while using Google as a main start-up page. Apparently they are incompatible. Dell sent me three new computers before I managed to figure out what the problem was. Nightmare!
Good luck!

I will try that, google is my main start up page...:idea:

[EmilyB]

don't mess with a boot floppy, just boot off the xp cd. All windows discs since Me have been bootable.
Boot off the disc, format the drive and then install xp. Install XP SP2, install drivers, install antivirus, then the rest of the windows updates.

I know how to install updates etc. but you lost me at format the drive. :frown:

[DanG]

I know how to install updates etc. but you lost me at format the drive. :frown:


It will ask you if you want to install windows, say yes, it will ask if you want to repair the existing install of windows, say no and then it will ask you about the file format and if you want to format, you want format (NTFS), not quick format NTFS.

[EmilyB]

It will ask you if you want to install windows, say yes, it will ask if you want to repair the existing install of windows, say no and then it will ask you about the file format and if you want to format, you want format (NTFS), not quick format NTFS.

Is my problem the fact that it is the Home Edition? It just says the installed version is newer and won't install.

[Buccaneer]

I built a 4200 dual core machine with 2 Gig Ram and 500Gig HD ... loaded vista and my memory usage when the machine idled was over 45% :surprise:

Did some downloading and ram jumped to 75% usage and even up to 95% at times ... running just basic stuff


got fed up and loaded XP Pro last weekend and have not been above 10% ram ever since :wink:


I just booted from the XP CD as mentioned before ... full format of the drive ... and new XP install :biggrin:

[EmilyB]

Okay I found the XP Version that came with my Dell. I booted with it, nothing happened.

[ridder]

You may have to go into the bios to change the boot options. If you
have a Dell computer, when starting the computer press the F2 key and
it will go into the bios setup. When you're in the bios setup screen look for
boot options and then change to cd-rom for first boot option. Just look on the bottom of the screen and it will tell you how to make changes. When you
exit out make sure you save changes. When you exit out, the computer should restart and a screen should appear. ( Press any key to boot with cd )
press any key and windows xp should start loading drivers, just follow the steps.


Here's a link: http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/topics/troubleshooting/os/windows_2000/4349/

[DanG]

when booting on a dell with the restore cd in the drive, hit F12 to bring up the temporary boot menu and it will ask what device you want to boot from, tell it the CDROM drive and then the rest of the steps should show up.

[EmilyB]

I appreciate this so much !

I got rid of the user controls.

When I go into the boot setup, these are my choices:

P1-HL-DT-STDVD-RAM-G5A-H30N
Generic - Compact
Generic - SM/XD Picture
Generic - SD/MMC
Generic - M5/M5PRO
Hitachi HDT725050VLA

Which one do I pick?

[EmilyB]

Okay I figured that out. I've learned a lot today. Slipstreamed an XP2 boot disk, found out it won't install because of the hardware drivers, found out I can't do a dual boot because Windows Vista Home Premium came pre-installed on the system and they do not give you a Vista CD.

Called Future Shop and they told me the drivers aren't available to make XP2 work on my system (unless I find someone on line who writes their own) and that I am stuck with what I've got.

Thank you Bill Gates.

:drinking:

[Aquattro]

I find it hard to believe there are no XP drivers for something made today. But really, with some tweaking the Vista install should not be problematic.

[EmilyB]

Brad, apparently the system I just bought is the reason. I would need to get the XP drivers for the hardware and they just aren't available.

[skylord]

Drivers aren't available because FutureShop tells you they aren't? I wouldn't believe anything they try to tell you. Get a hold of the company that makes the computer. I have to agree with Brad... I find it hard to believe that any company writes their drivers for Vista only. There are large numbers of comps sold with Vista that are being changed to XP. I won't toss out my Color Laser printer because HP won't write new drivers for that work with Vista.

I also agree with Brad that with a little time you should be able to get Vista to work the way you want/need it to (if you dont have an HP color laser printer.... :( ).

Scott

[spoot]

anyone know how to add vista to an existing network set up with xp computers? I do the network setup thing in vista, but it doesn't see the network. I'm really contemplating installing xp on that computer. Vista ****es me off,

[Patrick1]

yeah it's your router call the router manufactor and they will walk you threw the set up

[Aquattro]

I've been running vista now for about a year, and I've grown to love it. Sure, the first few weeks are a bit frustrating, but I wouldn't go back.

[EmilyB]

For all of the problems I've read about people having one or two, we have them all. System won't shut down. System won't restart. Ghost windows. Lost data files with system restore because of bad restart. Incompatibility with virtually everything.

I researched online about the drivers (the hard drive is incompatible with XP) and even if we could get them, we would need to add a drive to install them (the install is in drive D:, the drivers need to be on another floppy drive as the install gives you the option to add drivers with F6 at one point).

Enough. We are taking it back tomorrow, it's not as if we didn't try. I really didn't even realize there was a 14 day return policy or it would have gone back a lot sooner.

[EmilyB]

anyone know how to add vista to an existing network set up with xp computers? I do the network setup thing in vista, but it doesn't see the network. I'm really contemplating installing xp on that computer. Vista ****es me off,

We swapped off with router and wireless card between the Vista machine and the XP machine until we arrived at the best option. Base station on the Vista machine. It doesn't recognize the XP machine. Card in the XP machine it recognizes the Vista machine. XP machine will run IE but no email. Hope you have better luck installing XP.

[Moogled]

Man, I feel your pain.

After I built my new system I decided to go with Vista Home. The networking was a b1tch to deal with and certain applications kept crashing.

It seems to work awesome for some people but totally wreaks havoc on others. After a week of nonsense, I decided to switch back to XP 32-bit.

[Aquattro]

Does it seem the Home edition has most of these issues? I use Ultimate, no issues at all anymore.

[EmilyB]

Maybe that is the difference?

Just took the system apart and hooked up the old XP Dell. It makes a lot of noise and I hope I can get by until I get a new Dell.