Downgrading from Vista to XP

[MaxPower]

Hi all - I've decided I have to downgrade from Vista Business to XP Professional on my 2 month old T60. I read the instructions in Windows OS threads and the FAQ on doing an XP Install, but had a couple of additional questions:

1. I have the factory install of Vista and an OEM XP CD from an older Dell laptop. From what I understand my Vista license permits a downgrade to XP. As I understand it, I need to install XP from my OEM CD, then call MS with the key (either the OEM XP key or the Vista Business key) and get them to activate it. Is this correct?

2. How do I re-create the Thinkvantage folders and install the Lenovo tools once XP is installed.

3. Besides the SATA drivers are there any other issues I need to be aware of when installing XP?

Finally, if someone has a less roundabout way of doing this I'd love to hear it! Thanks for reading...

Regards

M

[bonestonne]

2. How do I re-create the Thinkvantage folders and install the Lenovo tools once XP is installed.

unless it was available through an extra CD you got, or you can download the tools, it would be difficult.

i work mainly with desktops, and through installing XP tons of times, i've seen many things happen.

i wouldn't advise just up and doing this method, however its possible. there are a few things you need to know first though.
1) if your account is password protected, unless you remove the password, this will not work unless you decide to [in theory] hack your own computer.
2) sometimes it completely fails, and destroys everything
3) if something goes stupidly wrong, its possible that this could end with an unwanted dual boot situation where one partition is not visible at all, and not accessable either.

basically, its possible that while you install XP, you leave the filesystem alone. unless something goes wrong, when you're finished installing, and you open up My Computer, and then go into C: [assuming thats the name of your primary partition with windows], you'll see a folder called "Windows.old" sometimes this will have several zeros at the end [and look like "Windows.old000"], but normally its there. basically, you can go into that folder and recover anything from what was previously there.

basically, it doesn't always work, so don't do it unless you're willing to accept failure in that case. not only that, but a Dell OEM cd simply wont work in anything but a dell. its rigged like that.

a downgrade to XP would be pretty hard..but possibly. you might want to email Lenovo about that...mainly because its not exactly a direct process, unless they installed XP, and then Vista over it, which would just involve simply backing up, and then rolling back from vista to XP.

[MaxPower]

Thanks for the detailed reply. I actually managed to get everything to work - yes, even using the Dell OEM CD to load XP. Here's what I did:

1. Backed up my existing hard disk (took about 6 DVDs!).

2. Downloaded the Intel Matrix driver for SATA and burned it to CD

3. Popped in my Dell OEM CD and began the Windows install (with SATA mode set to compatibility in the BIOS). I think I was able to save my R&R partition, because the install offered me the choice of which partition I wanted to use. However, I haven't tried to recover to Vista yet.

4. Completed the Win XP Prof. SP1 install successfully. Booted up, and realized I had no connectivity and a bunch of unrecognized devices. Installed the Intel Matrix driver. Switched bad to AHCI mode in the bios. Downloaded a bunch of drivers, burned them to CD and installed them one at a time until all devices were recognized.

5. When prompted, I used the license info from the Dell to activate WinXP (the install gave me 30 days to activate). The activation (over the 'net) seemed to work without any problem.

6. Downloaded the updates to Win XP SP1 (SP2 plus a bunch of fixes).

7. Downloaded and installed all the Lenovo/Thinkvantage tools I think I might need.

I still haven't been able to install R&R (I think it needs an existing install?). And CSS has issues - I haven't been able to get it working the way it was under Vista.

Other than that, it works perfectly well. It's seems much more responsive, and the user interface is much more familiar. Most importantly, I'll be able to install the XP-only software I need now.

M

[RealBlackStuff]

As you seem to like to 'tinker' with Windows, I'd advice you to create a new XP-CD, but this time slipstreamed with SP2, saves you a lot of time and downloading.
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm

[akatz17]

I am in the same exact situation as you. I am waiting on my T61 to be shipped, but am thinking about downgrading to Vista asap. My only question is, what happens if something goes wrong? For instance, I was reading a guide on how to fresh install XP and there was this message

" Note: Be sure to install Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver before
installing the operating system. Otherwise your computer will not
respond; it will only display a blue screen."

What happens if you get this blue screen? Can you still restore your computer to its original condition at this point? Or are you completely screwed?

Thanks for the detailed reply. I actually managed to get everything to work - yes, even using the Dell OEM CD to load XP. Here's what I did:

1. Backed up my existing hard disk (took about 6 DVDs!).

2. Downloaded the Intel Matrix driver for SATA and burned it to CD

3. Popped in my Dell OEM CD and began the Windows install (with SATA mode set to compatibility in the BIOS). I think I was able to save my R&R partition, because the install offered me the choice of which partition I wanted to use. However, I haven't tried to recover to Vista yet.

4. Completed the Win XP Prof. SP1 install successfully. Booted up, and realized I had no connectivity and a bunch of unrecognized devices. Installed the Intel Matrix driver. Switched bad to AHCI mode in the bios. Downloaded a bunch of drivers, burned them to CD and installed them one at a time until all devices were recognized.

5. When prompted, I used the license info from the Dell to activate WinXP (the install gave me 30 days to activate). The activation (over the 'net) seemed to work without any problem.

6. Downloaded the updates to Win XP SP1 (SP2 plus a bunch of fixes).

7. Downloaded and installed all the Lenovo/Thinkvantage tools I think I might need.

I still haven't been able to install R&R (I think it needs an existing install?). And CSS has issues - I haven't been able to get it working the way it was under Vista.

Other than that, it works perfectly well. It's seems much more responsive, and the user interface is much more familiar. Most importantly, I'll be able to install the XP-only software I need now.

M

[MaxPower]

I am in the same exact situation as you. I am waiting on my T61 to be shipped, but am thinking about downgrading to Vista asap. My only question is, what happens if something goes wrong? For instance, I was reading a guide on how to fresh install XP and there was this message

" Note: Be sure to install Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver before
installing the operating system. Otherwise your computer will not
respond; it will only display a blue screen."

What happens if you get this blue screen? Can you still restore your computer to its original condition at this point? Or are you completely screwed?

No - I think you'd still be OK.
I believe the instructions tell you to first set the SATA mode to "Compatibility" in the BIOS before starting the WinXP install. Then, after installing the driver (read the instructions that come with the Intel driver download) you can go back to the BIOS and set the mode to AHCI.