Making Vista 'Inactive' and installing XP

BawdaBingg · 07-05-2008, 05:14 AM

I apologize if this is 'long-winded'....but here is my problem...

I have an 'eMachine' that came with Windows Vista. I'm no computer genius, but I do have to shake my head and ask 'how did this program ever get approved for release?' ..no program should be this annoying.

Anyway, I signed up w/ the local phone company, (AT&T), for a high speed DSL connection. Following their installation instructions, I hooked-up the hardware, and then started the software install...only to have an error pop up saying there is an 'incompatibility' issue with the OS. I spoke with their DSL tech support on the phone and was told '....Yeah, it won't work with Vista...'

Maybe they could have mentioned that ...

Okay..to the point...I'm paying for a DSL connection that I haven't been able to use. I Hate Vista...would rather be using XP anyway....I've added NOTHING to the computer (files, programs etc...) it's just as it was when I bought it.
Is it possible to partition the HD, Install XP and basically 'inactivate' Vista so the computer boots to Windows XP? Is that my best option?

**simpswr** · 07-05-2008, 05:23 AM

and welcome to the Forum

If you do not want Vista, your best bet is to delete the partition it is installed on and install XP. If you think you might want Vista back sometime, you could buy a new hard drive, store the current one in case you want to go back.

Before you embark on either of those tasks, be double dog sure that you can find all the XP drivers for the devices on the system.

Have you installed SP1? . . it makes Vista much more stable and dependable.

How much memory do you have?

One alternative would be to set up the ATT modem from a XP system, then attach the Vista system to it. ( ATT should be whipped for not having a better way to set up the modem )

wrench97 · 07-05-2008, 06:11 AM

I would call AT&T back have yourself bumped up to tier 2 support so they can explain how to manually configure the modem it's not that hard and is done through your web browser. Also Vista has been out for almost 2 years now so I'm positive AT&T has heard of this issue before and has developed a way for their customers to configure a DSL connection.

**sobeit** · 07-05-2008, 09:55 AM

first of all, att dont know what they are talking about, before I dropped them because of their customer service, I was running vista and att dsl without any problems. Vista will run with dsl att.

you can dual boot xo and vista. you need to first make sure you have all drivers for your system. Check the manufacturers website. Then you will have to purchase a full retail version of xp, You cannot use a copy that came with another computer or any oem. See the following for step by step instructions
http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_v...step_guide.htm

BawdaBingg · 07-05-2008, 12:53 PM

Wow, thanks all for your quick responses....all excellent.

Could it really be that easy?.....set up the modem and establish an Internet connection using my XP computer and then just connect it to the new one? Vista would have a driver that would work the modem and it would install automatically when the new hardware is recognized....it would just bypass the 'incompatibility' error that came up when installing AT&T's software....am I understanding this right? I'm definitely going to try that.

And I don't know why I didn't think about just installing another HD...I could probably pick one up on sale at Best Buy. And on a new HD I could install XP using the copy used on my other computer right?

**simpswr** · 07-05-2008, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BawdaBingg

Wow, thanks all for your quick responses....all excellent.

Could it really be that easy?.....set up the modem and establish an Internet connection using my XP computer and then just connect it to the new one? Vista would have a driver that would work the modem and it would install automatically when the new hardware is recognized....it would just bypass the 'incompatibility' error that came up when installing AT&T's software....am I understanding this right? I'm definitely going to try that. Vista would not need a driver . . all the setup does is let you put your user name and password into the Modem settings so that it can connect to the ISP.

And I don't know why I didn't think about just installing another HD...I could probably pick one up on sale at Best Buy. And on a new HD I could install XP using the copy used on my other computer right? Not under the terms of the COA you agree to when you first installed it. It can only be installed on one pc at a time

wrench97 · 07-05-2008, 01:13 PM

You don't need a driver to connect to the modem all that software does is configure the modem to connect to the DSL service and it may have features that set up password protected WIFI and such, all of which can be done manually. If you have an XP machine set it up when your done you should be able to plug in your Vista machine and it will work.

wayne diffee · 07-06-2008, 09:07 AM

bawdabingg--I'm running a machine with vista and xp on it. Simply run from the other machine (xp) and do the set up. Once that's done plug up the vista machine with the lan settings set to auto configure and it will run,that's how i set mine up .

07-05-2008, 05:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
BawdaBingg Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2 OS: Windows XP Pro serv pack2	Making Vista 'Inactive' and installing XP I apologize if this is 'long-winded'....but here is my problem... I have an 'eMachine' that came with Windows Vista. I'm no computer genius, but I do have to shake my head and ask 'how did this program ever get approved for release?' ..no program should be this annoying. Anyway, I signed up w/ the local phone company, (AT&T), for a high speed DSL connection. Following their installation instructions, I hooked-up the hardware, and then started the software install...only to have an error pop up saying there is an 'incompatibility' issue with the OS. I spoke with their DSL tech support on the phone and was told '....Yeah, it won't work with Vista...' Maybe they could have mentioned that ... Okay..to the point...I'm paying for a DSL connection that I haven't been able to use. I Hate Vista...would rather be using XP anyway....I've added NOTHING to the computer (files, programs etc...) it's just as it was when I bought it. Is it possible to partition the HD, Install XP and basically 'inactivate' Vista so the computer boots to Windows XP? Is that my best option?

07-05-2008, 05:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
simpswr Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 4,497 OS: XP, Vista	Re: Making Vista 'Inactive' and installing XP and welcome to the Forum If you do not want Vista, your best bet is to delete the partition it is installed on and install XP. If you think you might want Vista back sometime, you could buy a new hard drive, store the current one in case you want to go back. Before you embark on either of those tasks, be double dog sure that you can find all the XP drivers for the devices on the system. Have you installed SP1? . . it makes Vista much more stable and dependable. How much memory do you have? One alternative would be to set up the ATT modem from a XP system, then attach the Vista system to it. ( ATT should be whipped for not having a better way to set up the modem ) __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Spyware Cleaning \| How to Post a Screen shot \| PC running slow] Last edited by simpswr : 07-05-2008 at 05:25 AM.

07-05-2008, 06:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
wrench97 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,457 OS: XPSP2	Re: Making Vista 'Inactive' and installing XP I would call AT&T back have yourself bumped up to tier 2 support so they can explain how to manually configure the modem it's not that hard and is done through your web browser. Also Vista has been out for almost 2 years now so I'm positive AT&T has heard of this issue before and has developed a way for their customers to configure a DSL connection. __________________

07-05-2008, 09:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 5,387 OS: windows/linux	Re: Making Vista 'Inactive' and installing XP first of all, att dont know what they are talking about, before I dropped them because of their customer service, I was running vista and att dsl without any problems. Vista will run with dsl att. you can dual boot xo and vista. you need to first make sure you have all drivers for your system. Check the manufacturers website. Then you will have to purchase a full retail version of xp, You cannot use a copy that came with another computer or any oem. See the following for step by step instructions http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_v...step_guide.htm __________________ Do not feed the trolls.

07-05-2008, 12:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
BawdaBingg Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2 OS: Windows XP Pro serv pack2	Re: Making Vista 'Inactive' and installing XP Wow, thanks all for your quick responses....all excellent. Could it really be that easy?.....set up the modem and establish an Internet connection using my XP computer and then just connect it to the new one? Vista would have a driver that would work the modem and it would install automatically when the new hardware is recognized....it would just bypass the 'incompatibility' error that came up when installing AT&T's software....am I understanding this right? I'm definitely going to try that. And I don't know why I didn't think about just installing another HD...I could probably pick one up on sale at Best Buy. And on a new HD I could install XP using the copy used on my other computer right?

07-05-2008, 01:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
wrench97 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,457 OS: XPSP2	Re: Making Vista 'Inactive' and installing XP You don't need a driver to connect to the modem all that software does is configure the modem to connect to the DSL service and it may have features that set up password protected WIFI and such, all of which can be done manually. If you have an XP machine set it up when your done you should be able to plug in your Vista machine and it will work. __________________

07-06-2008, 09:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
wayne diffee Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Tulsa OK Posts: 22 OS: xp home&pro/2kpro/vista	Re: Making Vista 'Inactive' and installing XP bawdabingg--I'm running a machine with vista and xp on it. Simply run from the other machine (xp) and do the set up. Once that's done plug up the vista machine with the lan settings set to auto configure and it will run,that's how i set mine up .