Reverting to XP from Vista problem

bm wrote:
> A friend has just bought a new Dell PC and ordered it with XP and not
> Vista. When the PC arrived it was fitted with Vista so he phoned the
> help line who said they would supply CDs to install XP.
> They duly arrived but not being very OK with computers he phoned the
> help line for assistance in loading XP.
> The assistance was given by an Indian Gentleman who he could not
> understand both from a language and technical point of view so he
> gave up
> Is there a clear set of written instructions available that he could
> follow?

XP Clean Install:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

"Shenan Stanley" <newshelper RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:eNZII%23RwHHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> bm wrote:
>> A friend has just bought a new Dell PC and ordered it with XP and
>> not Vista. When the PC arrived it was fitted with Vista so he
>> phoned the help line who said they would supply CDs to install XP.
>> They duly arrived but not being very OK with computers he phoned
>> the help line for assistance in loading XP.
>> The assistance was given by an Indian Gentleman who he could not
>> understand both from a language and technical point of view so he
>> gave up
>>
>> Is there a clear set of written instructions available that he
>> could follow? Blair
>
> As this is nothing more than a CLEAN installation of Windows XP...
> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
>
> May want to skip straight to the steps...
> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
Thanks for your help but what does he do about the Vista Installation? Is it
not necessary to delete it from the PC first?
Blair

bm wrote:

> Thanks for your help but what does he do about the Vista
> Installation? Is it not necessary to delete it from the PC first?

That's what a clean install entails! Step 10d takes care of deleting
Vista.

bm wrote:
> A friend has just bought a new Dell PC and ordered it with XP and
> not Vista. When the PC arrived it was fitted with Vista so he
> phoned the help line who said they would supply CDs to install XP.
> They duly arrived but not being very OK with computers he phoned
> the help line for assistance in loading XP.
> The assistance was given by an Indian Gentleman who he could not
> understand both from a language and technical point of view so he
> gave up
>
> Is there a clear set of written instructions available that he
> could follow? Blair

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> As this is nothing more than a CLEAN installation of Windows XP...
> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
>
> May want to skip straight to the steps...
> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps

bm wrote:
> Thanks for your help but what does he do about the Vista
> Installation? Is it not necessary to delete it from the PC first?
> Blair

"Clean Install" <- everything that was is gone, everything you want/have
will have to be restored from your backup copies/installation media.

"Clean".

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

bm wrote:
> A friend has just bought a new Dell PC and ordered it with XP and not Vista.
> When the PC arrived it was fitted with Vista so he phoned the help line who
> said they would supply CDs to install XP.
> They duly arrived but not being very OK with computers he phoned the help
> line for assistance in loading XP.
> The assistance was given by an Indian Gentleman who he could not understand
> both from a language and technical point of view so he gave up
> Is there a clear set of written instructions available that he could follow?
> Blair
>
>
>


Tell your friend:

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS
installation, simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be
offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part
of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of
boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Then the backed up data can be restored and applications re-installed.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

"bm" wrote:

> A friend has just bought a new Dell PC and ordered it with XP and not Vista.
> When the PC arrived it was fitted with Vista so he phoned the help line who
> said they would supply CDs to install XP.
> They duly arrived but not being very OK with computers he phoned the help
> line for assistance in loading XP.
> The assistance was given by an Indian Gentleman who he could not understand
> both from a language and technical point of view so he gave up
> Is there a clear set of written instructions available that he could follow?
> Blair
>
>
>
>

"bm" wrote:

> A friend has just bought a new Dell PC and ordered it with XP and not Vista.
> When the PC arrived it was fitted with Vista so he phoned the help line who
> said they would supply CDs to install XP.
> They duly arrived but not being very OK with computers he phoned the help
> line for assistance in loading XP.
> The assistance was given by an Indian Gentleman who he could not understand
> both from a language and technical point of view so he gave up
> Is there a clear set of written instructions available that he could follow?
> Blair
>
>
>
>

TomL : Yes can get Windows XP Pro SP2 or Home Edition install CD from Dell
technical Support to re-install Win XP Pro/Home Edition. On the Windows XP
install CD there is technical documentation regarding Win XP Pro/Home install
procedure.

Before starting Win XP install should print all existing hardware device
drivers on your desktop or notebook prior to install Win XP on desktop or
laptop.

After getting hardware drivers printout should download updated hardware
device drivers for the Dell model number and operating system Win XP Pro/Home
from Dell support technical web site !

Without correct hardware device drivers, can install Win XP Pro/Home but
graphics adapter, sound device, and LAN card may not work correctly !

Hardware device drivers may require special install order depending upon
Dell model (desktop, laptop) etc !

Have installed and re-installed both Win XP Pro and Home edition on both
Dell desktop (4600C) and HP desktop (xw4300, xw4400, nx9420) machines !!

During Win XP pro/Home install can delete existing Windows Vista partition
and create either FAT32 or NTFS partition for Win XP Pro/Home !

Because install procedure can be complicated and time consuming for first
time user would suggest getting more experienced computer person to do Win XP
Pro/Home install !

TomL

"Tom L" <TomL.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9B8A9C4A-3312-4BB0-B5AD-23B808854818@microsoft.com...
>
>
> "bm" wrote:
>
>> A friend has just bought a new Dell PC and ordered it with XP and not
>> Vista.
>> When the PC arrived it was fitted with Vista so he phoned the help line
>> who
>> said they would supply CDs to install XP.
>> They duly arrived but not being very OK with computers he phoned the help
>> line for assistance in loading XP.
>> The assistance was given by an Indian Gentleman who he could not
>> understand
>> both from a language and technical point of view so he gave up
>> Is there a clear set of written instructions available that he could
>> follow?
>> Blair
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> TomL : Yes can get Windows XP Pro SP2 or Home Edition install CD from
> Dell
> technical Support to re-install Win XP Pro/Home Edition. On the Windows
> XP
> install CD there is technical documentation regarding Win XP Pro/Home
> install
> procedure.
>
> Before starting Win XP install should print all existing hardware device
> drivers on your desktop or notebook prior to install Win XP on desktop or
> laptop.
>
> After getting hardware drivers printout should download updated hardware
> device drivers for the Dell model number and operating system Win XP
> Pro/Home
> from Dell support technical web site !
>
> Without correct hardware device drivers, can install Win XP Pro/Home but
> graphics adapter, sound device, and LAN card may not work correctly !
>
> Hardware device drivers may require special install order depending upon
> Dell model (desktop, laptop) etc !
>
> Have installed and re-installed both Win XP Pro and Home edition on both
> Dell desktop (4600C) and HP desktop (xw4300, xw4400, nx9420) machines !!
>
> During Win XP pro/Home install can delete existing Windows Vista partition
> and create either FAT32 or NTFS partition for Win XP Pro/Home !
>
> Because install procedure can be complicated and time consuming for first
> time user would suggest getting more experienced computer person to do Win
> XP
> Pro/Home install !
>
> TomL

Thanks to all who replied. I have passed on the information but recommended
that he gets a more experienced person to carry it out
Blair