Help, I am in Vista Hell

[EmilyB]

I've lost a work week trying to get this crap to run, all I want to do now is install my Windows XP. Are there any simple instructions to do this, browsing online, it seems all very complicated. Window XP won't simply install, as it says a newer version of Windows is loaded.

[ridder]

Best way to reinstall Windows XP is format the hard drive for a clean install.
Boot the computer up with an old Windows 98 boot disk (can be found with an search engine). At a: format C: , once you format the drive then boot from the cd-rom with Windows XP in the drive. When the computer starts it will say press a key to run the cd> press a key and it will start to load Windows. Another way to load Windows XP is just boot up the computer with the Windows XP cd-rom and then format the drive in Windows XP setup.When Windows XP setup loads it will ask you if want to recover or a fresh install of Windows XP. Make sure you format the drive and load a new fresh copy of Windows.

Don't try to install windows in Windows XP.

Hope this helps.

[DanG]

don't mess with a boot floppy, just boot off the xp cd. All windows discs since Me have been bootable.
Boot off the disc, format the drive and then install xp. Install XP SP2, install drivers, install antivirus, then the rest of the windows updates.

[Aquattro]

What issues are you having in Vista? Turn off User Access Control, that causes all kinds of problems.

[tmbar19]

I wasn't able to get Vista to work while using Google as a main start-up page. Apparently they are incompatible. Dell sent me three new computers before I managed to figure out what the problem was. Nightmare!
Good luck!

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by tmbar19

I wasn't able to get Vista to work while using Google as a main start-up page. Apparently they are incompatible. Dell sent me three new computers before I managed to figure out what the problem was. Nightmare!
Good luck!

I've been using Google as my home page since Beta 2, no issues at all.

[EmilyB]

lol, two suggestions and two rebuttals, I'm still so confused.......

[EmilyB]

Originally Posted by reef_raf

What issues are you having in Vista? Turn off User Access Control, that causes all kinds of problems.

I tried that once already, I hate having that on there. Then it wouldn't start up without a system restore..

[EmilyB]

Originally Posted by tmbar19

I wasn't able to get Vista to work while using Google as a main start-up page. Apparently they are incompatible. Dell sent me three new computers before I managed to figure out what the problem was. Nightmare!
Good luck!

I will try that, google is my main start up page...

[EmilyB]

Originally Posted by DanG

don't mess with a boot floppy, just boot off the xp cd. All windows discs since Me have been bootable.
Boot off the disc, format the drive and then install xp. Install XP SP2, install drivers, install antivirus, then the rest of the windows updates.

I know how to install updates etc. but you lost me at format the drive.