I just installed Vista, acct of messed up system restore, which caused nothing to work.
I would like to reinstall Windows XP and remove Vista.
Can someone outline the steps in a organized fashion.
My keys for windows XP did not work on my copy of windows XP and am awaiting a new copy.. That is why I installed Vista.
Thanks
Roger

meteore wrote:

When the new disk comes in, boot from the XP CD, during setup, you have the option to delete, create and format partitions. Delete the Vista partition, create a new partition to replace it, format and setup XP on the new partition by continuing with XP setup, just follow the prompts.
Michael Solomon

Hi Roger
I would like to lobby you not to ditch Vista; if you want to install XP as a dual boot you can do it.
1) If you'd tell us what you mean that "messed up system restore" caused nothing to work I'd like to take a stab at explaing what happened, because I don't think System Restore in Vista had anything to do with nothing working with all due respect. But I'd need more information to explain what happened here.
2) I think you ought to dual boot XP and Vista shortcutting from the Vista desktop to access your files and folders on XPyou can do that easily.
From Vista Desktop:
XP Drive\Documents and Settings\Meteore's XP Profile Name\Desktop
3) It's best to dual boot by installing the oldest OS firsXPbut you can get a dual boot done with Vista already installed.. You have a better chance of things working well that way but here is a way to dual boot:
How to dual-boot Vista with XP - step-by-step guide with screenshots
apcmag.com/5485/dualbooting_vista_and_xp
apcmag.com/5485/dualbooting_vista_and_xp
4) If you have an XP CD, you can simply put it in and install XP and format Vista. Michael just gave you steps, but you won't be able to do so until you get a valid product key for XP that works on a CD you have. I don't know what edition of Win XP Home or Pro you will receive but steps are the same:
windowsxpprofessional.windowsreinstall.com/installxpcdoldhdd/part1.htm
hth,
CH
"meteore"

You can boot from the XP CD, format or even delete & recreate partitions & install XP on a freshly created/formatted partition. I dual boot XP Pro & Vista Ultimate. I still like XP better. Vista hasn't grown on me a bit, neither has IE7 or Office 11. In fact (gets ready for the roars from the Vista Booster Club), the more I use Vista, the less impressed I am with it. New & different doesn't necessarily mean better! They claim better security, but I didn't have problems with XP SP2 security. If anything, the UAC in Vista will get people de-sensitized to the warnings & they will get used to just clicking through the warnings. I want functional, not pretty. Pretty is for art galleries. I turn off all the eye candy anyway & use classic menus. A Professional Amateur...If anyone knew it all, none of would be here! CarGodZeroOne hotmail.com Change Alpha to Numeric to reply "meteore"

Hi Not Me
You may a very valid point on the desensitization. It's been a fear of mine that many end users will do this; I hope not but it sure seems like they would. I think that should have been debated more among the UAC team and other security experts at MSFT.
On the functrional but pretty count though, I think that if you drill Vistait's an icebergyou will find plenty of functionality under the hood.
There are many things they should have fixed but they ran out of time, and Jim Allchin essentially reorganized Vista systemically in 2004.
CH
"NotMe"

Dear Chad,
Maybe my posting was not clear. Previously I attempted to install some "Windows Me" hardware, with a windows me disk on a XP system, after attempting to D\L a XP version which did not work. I received error messages on screen, from windows me software. I used system restore which some how made things worse. Internet would not work. I installed Vista and I now got the hang of it, but I need more memory, which is a kind of patch for my particular computer. It works ok, but some of my previous software programs do not work. Nothing really important, but I do not wish to spendmore money at this time.
Thanks for taking the time to reply to my posting.
Roger

Further to my previous posting, for anyone who cares.
I rebooted my system this morning and received a message something to the effect that I had no operating system. I called the good people at Dell Canada, not some far away place and they instructed me how to reinstall windowsXP and Vista, after needlessly formatting disk. .. After booting up again the same problem reoccurred. I called Dell Canada again and I got some chap who figured it out in two minutes. He made me repair file with Vista disk and d\l some patch for the HD from Dell. PROBLEM solved and keeping vista on my computer.
Don't let anybody tell you Dell service is terrible. I would highly recommend Dell and their service to anyone who wants a new computer.
Roger

Further to my posting commending DELL.
while d\l bios patch on Dell site, my computer crashed nine days ago.
The tech advisor at Dell had me pulling cover off computer and disconnecting various wire connections. They concluded my motherboard was defective. Within two working days someone from a company that worked for Dell repairing computers came to my house and replaced motherboard.
They even helped me a year ago to configure a corrupt windows me operating system on a old Dell computer at no charge even after warranty expired several years ago.
I have no complaints with their service and will stick with DEll forever.
I think politeness goes a long way and that is the secret for good service..
Roger