OT - Strip Vista laptop and turn it into XP full time?

[Babette]

Hi there!

Well, I played around with the Vista 32 bit laptop this weekend.

Frickin' boat anchor....

Could NOT get it to talk to my BF's cable modem. Gave that up. Took it to Mom's, got it to talk to Mom's Wifi, tried to download ITunes to talk to the new Ipod.....

3 hours later.... GAVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I didn't even get to the part where I download Virtual Machine and try to install XP.

New idea - can I somehow strip EVERYTHING off this laptop and "re-birth" it into an XP laptop?

Well, not ME, probably, but a techie? I don't want to get taken for a ride by a starving techie, if this is just a bogus idea.

Maybe be cheaper to just Craigslist this and try to buy an XP laptop.

What do you think?
Barbara

[Brushy Hollow Bill]

A lot of people have went back to Xp, you might sign up at Kim Komado's place and get someone to tell you how to do it in a way that won't cost money.

[6PtStar]

Darn, I guess that means you did not get Encore Pro to run on it either!!!!!!!!!!!! I was counting on you to guide me through the process!!! Babette, I talked to the guys at the computer shop about this. They tell me that it is not possible with some Vista machines. It depends on whether XP can talk to the drivers and cards that are installed in that computer. On some it will work and some it will not. I am going in tomorrow and see if I can make a deal to buy a new one if I can stil get one that can have XP installed in it. They told me three weeks ago that they would do it on certain models for $100 plus the cost of the machine.

Jerry

[Babette]

Bill, thanks! Great site, checking it out.

Jerry, keep me posted. I'm thinking right this second that I should do the first obvious thing and strip out all of the stupid financial programs Mom overloaded this machine with. After that, I'll just go step by step and see what I can figure out.

I might cruise by this little computer shop I know and just ask them what they say. Can't hurt to ask.

Thanks guys!!!
B.

[DreamStalker]

You have a few options.

You could install Virtual Box as you mentioned.

You could partition your disk for dual boot OS and install XP (you need XP disks)... I think you can still do this with Vistas ... Den, help us out here.

You could strip Vistas off your PC by reformatting and then installing fresh XP (you need XP disks).

Do you have XP disks? I'm not sure if they are available as new anymore.

[bearcatx16]

Have you tried the "compatibility mode" in Vista?

Click Start
Click Help and Support
in the search box type - compatibility mode
#1 should be - start the program compatibility wizard

Hope it works for you.

Fred

[Babette]

So far, next to nothing works on this laptop. I don't know if it's a virus, or if Mom just stunk it up with a bunch of stupid financial programs, or what.

I don't have disks for ANYTHING, but have located a source for Windows XP disks, as well as Office, for not too much money.

I'm gonna start with un-installing some of the financial programs and work back from there.

Thanks!!!
B.

[mindy]

Hiya Babette,

I hate to pour gasoline on a raging fire .... but once my hard drive firmware was fixed on my Vista 32-bit laptop, it's been running smooth as silk with everything I've thrown at it --- and that includes EncorePro, SAS and various other goodies. My Vista 64-bit computer has been good since day 1 except that it can't run EncorePro (and I didn't have the $ to spring for another SAS license!!!).

Both computers are a bit slower than I'd like (and I have fast processors) because Vista is a *hog*. Outside of that issue, I like some of the little extra features.

Sorry!
Mindy

[Amontilado]

So far, next to nothing works on this laptop. I don't know if it's a virus, or if Mom just stunk it up with a bunch of stupid financial programs, or what.

I don't have disks for ANYTHING, but have located a source for Windows XP disks, as well as Office, for not too much money.

I'm gonna start with un-installing some of the financial programs and work back from there.

Thanks!!!
B.

Babs,

The computer makers have cut corner by not including re-install disks. They force you to make your own. There should be a program to run that will create restore DVDs/CDs. On my latest HP, it's in the "PC Help and Tools" menu item, "Create Recovery Disks". Just a though in case things don't go well.

I have found Vista not a problem to deal with. Turn off the visual bling, uninstall un-necessary stuff, and my system is quite snappy.

Steve

[Babette]

Steve, thanks for this. I don't think this laptop has a CD burner, either.

Can I save them to a flash drive?
B.

[carbonman]

I have found Vista not a problem to deal with. Turn off the visual bling, uninstall un-necessary stuff, and my system is quite snappy. Steve

B, FYI, w/a little help from a certain friend, I have EncorePro up and
running on my new Vista64.
I followed the SQL download fix posted here and downloaded
new drivers for the card reader.
It runs like a champ.

....what Steve said, too.

[6PtStar]

Steve, thanks for this. I don't think this laptop has a CD burner, either.

Can I save them to a flash drive?
B.

My Restore Disks on XP took 7 CD's or one DVD. Might have better luck with one of those USB External Hard Drives.

Jerry

[Babette]

I do have access to a USB external drive. Just made BF buy one. That's an idea....

Thanks Jerry!
B.

[Goofproof]

I just cured my slow Vista Laptop problems, My laptop is a Gaming machine, it has Core 2, fast memory filled up, and a 7200 RPM hard drive, with Vista's graphic Eye Candy turned off it ran at a snail pace. It was like going back to a 5 year old computer.

The cure, I got a new Seagate 320 MB, 7200 RPM hard drive and put it in and started over with Windows 7 Beta 32 Bit, I got Encore Pro to run one time fine, but now it can't find the reader, no biggie, I get it sorted out. So far the only program that won't install is Zone alarm, no problem I'll just use the one in Windows. The speed is back up to the level I paid for, close to MoneyPit I, and not as fast as MoneyPit II. Anyway by doing the drive swap, I can always go back to stock, without loosing a thing, a 15 minute swap, so basically I have a reserve laptop in a static bag.

I did loose some Toy's that came with my machine, Fingerprint Reader & Web Cam, nothing useful, except I miss Outlook Express, now I have to use Outlook. I don't know why new always means worse and a learning curve too.

We'll deal with getting EP back after we fine tune the new system. Jim

[DreamStalker]

I switched over to Ubuntu last year and I only go into XP within Virtual Box about once a week to run Encore.

If only some one could come up with the SmartCard de-encryption for Respironics machines ... I could probably do without XP altogether.