Downgrading Windows Vista Basic to Windows XP Pro

Cosmas · July 17th, 2007, 11:56 AM

Hello people,
I have an HP laptop which was bought with Windows Vista pre-installed but I want to downgrade to Windows XP Pro, I have tried booting from a Win XP Pro cd but it tells me no hard disk installed,its using SATA and from BIOS settings it can be detected only when i boot from Win XP Pro cd the SATA drive cant be detected.

Please give ideas on this,how i cant install Win XP Pro, i have tried a few things but i dont seem to get anywhere.

I will really appreciate your help.

Thanks in advance.

Cosmas.

**GroundZero3** · July 17th, 2007, 12:00 PM

Most likely you need to get the drivers for the sata controller then press f6 when it ask you during the xp install.

You will load the drivers and you should see the hard drive

Cosmas · July 17th, 2007, 12:16 PM

"Most likely you need to get the drivers for the sata controller then press f6 when it ask you during the xp install."

Are there general drivers for the SATA controller or i have to get specific ones for my controller in this case?

Thank you

**GroundZero3** · July 17th, 2007, 12:24 PM

No you will need to look on the HP site for drivers for your laptop hardware

(you will need a floppy or put the drivers into the winxp cd)

Cosmas · July 17th, 2007, 12:31 PM

I will try it out then let know if it worked.

thanks for the opinions.

patbert · June 22nd, 2008, 10:03 AM

I have a pentiumlll which no longer support windows xp pro. I tried many times to install windows xp pro but in vain. I encounted many problems while trying to install the windows xp. I want to downgrade to windows 98. Is there any risk that I damage my hard disk. If so, tell me please, which method to use to have a successfull downgrade to windows 98

patbert · June 22nd, 2008, 10:10 AM

I have a pentiumlll which no longer support windows xp pro. I tried many times to install windows xp pro but in vain. I encounted many problems while trying to install the windows xp. I want to downgrade to windows 98. Is there any risk that I damage my hard disk. If so, tell me please, which method to use to have a successfull downgrade to windows 98

sevenal · June 23rd, 2008, 10:42 PM

To Downgrade from XP to 98
I have run the XP reinstall disc
Selected the REformatt option then upon completion of FORMAT pulled the power plug on the machine.
Then went into BIOS set the boot sequence to CDROM 1st
Insert the Win 98SE CD and did a normal reload.
You usually have to look for drivers afterwards.
Make sure you have at least the Win 98 NIC or Modem drivers on a CD so you can get
on line to find the other drivers.

Its been a long time so you mignt want to do more reserch before trying this
especiall if it your only or primary PC.

gl

Sev

ShyguyXPC · June 23rd, 2008, 11:46 PM

first question is...

why would the Pentium III not support XP Pro?

2nd, why downgrade to Win98, why not Windows 2000 or Win98 SE?