Downgrade Vista Basic to XP Pro

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Franckwithak

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Hi Guys,
I have a new laptop (LGR400) and it came loaded with Vista Basic.
I have a new XP Pro CD and Licence so that I can "downgrade" to XP Pro.
If I boot from the XP CD then the laptop does not pick up the hard drive. I have tried to download the SATA drivers and used the F6 method but it still does not pick up the hard drive. If I put the CD in while Vista is running and try install XP that way it gives me an error.

Please has anybody got suggestions for me...I've been trying this for hours already.
 
On my Lenovo I had to change the compatibility mode for the SATA drive in the bios.
Then install Xp, then download the new drivers, run a program.

Then reboot and change the drive to its original mode in the BIOS. Then XP picked up the drivers for the drive and installed them automatically, because it detected new hardware.

Search your laptops site for drivers and info.
 
Franckwithak said:
Hi Guys,
I have a new laptop (LGR400) and it came loaded with Vista Basic.
I have a new XP Pro CD and Licence so that I can "downgrade" to XP Pro.
If I boot from the XP CD then the laptop does not pick up the hard drive. I have tried to download the SATA drivers and used the F6 method but it still does not pick up the hard drive. If I put the CD in while Vista is running and try install XP that way it gives me an error.

Please has anybody got suggestions for me...I've been trying this for hours already.
Click to expand...

I had the same prob with a laptop, I think the recovery partition prevents you from installing XP, I have not bothered to find a solution but I think it is possible once you delete the recovery partition.
 
ernstn said:
On my Lenovo I had to change the compatibility mode for the SATA drive in the bios.
Then install Xp, then download the new drivers, run a program.

Then reboot and change the drive to its original mode in the BIOS. Then XP picked up the drivers for the drive and installed them automatically, because it detected new hardware.

Search your laptops site for drivers and info.
Click to expand...

Of all the replies, this one is the correct reply.

WindowsXP does not have native support for newer SATA chipsets - you will need to slipstream the SATA drivers into your XP installation in order to install from scratch.
 
Most newer laptops have the same issue.
Get the latest drivers from your manufacturer support sit first.
It is possible to load SATA drivers from a USB stiffy device, eliminating the CD slipstream method.
Check with your manufacturer for XP installation methods.

Why downgrade anyway? Vista is better than XP... :rolleyes:
 
NoRulez said:
Why downgrade anyway? Vista is better than XP... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Vista to XP is actually an upgrade, ie more performance, more productivity.

Oh sure if u need Direct X10 for games that is ... but then you need
either a R21.000 laptop or a desktop with the latest 3D card.
Then again you're just playing around with your PC.

I guess the OP wants to actually get some WORK done on his laptop.
 
I have done this on a few of Laptops in the past 2 months and I'm 100% it works.
In the Bios setting, disable one of the SATA settings (I can't remember exactly which one it is but I'll check tonight) save and reboot your machine with the XP CD in the CD Drive. No need to load any new drivers.

I was battling to load XP on an HP Laptop that came with Vista. I search the forums and I got all different stories but I called the HP Support guys and they helped me out. It's worked on other makes of laptops too.
 
Download the relevent drivers for the SATA controller from the manufacturer's website. Download and install nLite. Copy the contents of your XP cd onto your harddrive and point nLIte to that directory. Use nLite to slipstream the SATA drivers into the CD. Reburn your XP CD and voila!
 
Caps:
It's the Native port-0 setting - not the SATA AHCI mode setting....
your bios will give it some funky names, so try figure it out if at all possible....
 
leelo:
Guess you could be correct. I got an HP laptop at home and will check it tonight. IIRC depending on the Bios/Manufacturers, they could have different names.

On the Upgrade/Downgrade issue, I personally would change to XP as I have been using both XP and Vista and Vista makes me pull my hair out at times.
 
Changing those settings in the bios is poor way of solving the problem.. forcing it to use legacy methods.
 
caps said:
I have done this on a few of Laptops in the past 2 months and I'm 100% it works.
In the Bios setting, disable one of the SATA settings (I can't remember exactly which one it is but I'll check tonight) save and reboot your machine with the XP CD in the CD Drive. No need to load any new drivers.

I was battling to load XP on an HP Laptop that came with Vista. I search the forums and I got all different stories but I called the HP Support guys and they helped me out. It's worked on other makes of laptops too.
Click to expand...

It works, but then you lose all the advanced features of the drive. Just don't ask me what these features are!
 
Thanks for the help guys. I still haven't come right but the DVD-rom is on the blink so I'm sending it back and they will load XP for me when they fix the DVD.
 
Another way is to use Xp-lite and write the SATA drivers in the Xp CD or external floppy drive can work as well.
 
Franckwithak said:
It is a company PC, Vista Basic does not connect to our network with the same easy that XP Pro does so that's why they wanted it to have XP.
Click to expand...

Maybe if they used Vista Business for a Business oriented PC.

XP Pro is similar to V Business, while Basic is XP Home.
 
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