Putting XP on a Vista computer

[Driller]

I had to replace the two computers at work as they were getting cranky.

I couldn't find PC's with XP, only Vista.

Unfortunately my work software doesn't like Vista at all.

I have a copy of XP Pro and a licence.

Apart from finding out if there are XP drivers for the video card are there any other drivers I need to check? (network card perhaps).

Thanks for helping, the technical support are no fking help at all

[paddyhasneeds]

It depends how far you want to take it.

Network, chipset and video are of course the main ones, then it comes down to "optional" things such as firewire, some USB controllers (to be fair chipset should cover this) and things such as audio drivers.

If it's a half-decent brand I'd be surprised if there aren't drivers available for the bits, and if not directly, the generic ones from the likes of Intel/Nvidia/ATI etc. should go quite a long way.

[Driller]

paddyhasneeds said:

It depends how far you want to take it.

Network, chipset and video are of course the main ones, then it comes down to "optional" things such as firewire, some USB controllers (to be fair chipset should cover this) and things such as audio drivers.

If it's a half-decent brand I'd be surprised if there aren't drivers available for the bits, and if not directly, the generic ones from the likes of Intel/Nvidia/ATI etc. should go quite a long way.

Thanks for the reply!

I didn't think about the chipset drivers. The PC is an Acer.

Will the chipset drivers be listed under chipset on their site or should I go to the chipset website after looking in Sytem.

[paddyhasneeds]

Without knowing the model of PC, I would find out what chipset it is and have a look on Intel/Nvidia/Via's website as I'd be surprised Acer are offering much over what you can get direct from there - keep in mind as well that the "Vista" drivers you can download from Acer may well cover XP they may just not state it as they don't/won't support it.

Just a thought but could you use VMware if it's just a single application?

Ditto the "Compatibility Mode" options if you've not already explored them.

[netherfield]

Although XP is still available if you know where to look.WWW.pspecialist.co.uk

[Driller]

Thanks, I'll check those sites out.

[onlynik]

Be careful, we have an HP Vista laptop with an nvida 6150 go chipset.

Nvidia don't do XP drivers for them!!!!

[Driller]

Video card is a G100 and apparently there is an XP beta driver for this. I don't know how risky that is...

Can anyone explain this to me that I found on another forum:

_____________________________________________________________
I have the Acer Aspire X1700 working on Windows XP SP3.
First, download the software for the nForce 630i from NVidia.com

As mentioned in this post, slipstream the nvidia drivers using nLite, BUT, when you add the IDE drivers, use the textmode option, not PNP
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[TurricanII]

netherfield said:

Although XP is still available if you know where to look

If your machines came preinstalled with Vista Business then you can insstall XP professional legally at no extra cost (other than your time!!) under the Microsoft licence. You just install XP Pro from another CD and licence key. If the XP activation fails (because the other key has already been activated on another computer) you have to ring Microsoft on the number shown explain you are doing a 'downgrade' and they give you the activation code.