I have just purchased a brand new Dell PC with Vista Home Basic 32 Bit. Some of the programs we use are not supported by Vista at present so I am wanting to remove Vista from the PC by formatting the hard drive and installing a fresh copy of XP. By using the Vista installation DVD I have managed to format the harddrive but when I try to install the XP system the PC crashes after so far into the installation. I have re-installed the Vista system and tried to install XP from boot up but the option to install XP is greyed out. Can anyone help?

You're not the first one with this endeavor. Scroll down the topic list for similar post in this Forum and Vista Forum. The consensus is that it's not easily done especially when the machine is an OEM and Vista is preinstalled. BTW I should also caution you on something else that you may not have considered. What you are trying to do will void the manufacturer's warranty and any extended warranty you may have purchased. i_XpUser

Why are you continuing to frighten this person, XpUser? I replied days ago that this is simply not true. I just happened to stumble onto this thread now and saw that my reply was deleted. In actuality, I kind of expected that anyways as nobody can dispell anything XpUser says. One only needs think back a few days ago when you threatened to leave... it's all very easy to decipher now..... Anyways, may I suggest you check with Dell to learn about reinstallation procedures. The person will not void any warranty on the new Dell. If the person CAUSES damage to a part from doing this reinstall, then that part is not warranted. There is no, and I repeat no way that this person's reinstall of the operating system will void the warranty. It would be nice if you could refrain from posting your usual "I am higher than thou" replies. Think that I'm the only one noticing this? You need a reality check, my friend. That's why you recieved flack a couple weeks ago and you threatened to leave. More and more folks are noticing what's going on here. Sure, you have your usual lap-dogs who will pat your head and console and agree with everything you say.... It appears that you're so bent on being the bearer of bad news, and particularly anything negative towards Microsoft. You need a reality check... Just like another member went through many months ago. Fortunately he woke up and changed his ways; a very refreshing site to see because he is a knoewedgeable person with regards to computers. You are too... but at least provide honest and factual replies to the original poster. I have much contact with Dell, and this original poster here is probably in a panic mode now from your wrong advice.... that is why I am typing this. Just like my reply a few days ago, I perdict that this reply too will get the ole' boot too because of this constructive critism. I only hope that the original poster will see this before it gets the boot, and he/she can head over to the Dell user forums where they can obtain factual info specific for Dell computers. In all honesty, maybe you're confusing this reinstall issue with some other manufacturer... I don't know. But I do happen to know Dell's quite good.. Well... it's now 9:40 a.m. and this reply will probably self-destruct by 10:40, and that sadly is just about a certainty. You will quickly notify Justin Weber to delete this reply as it critizes your remarks.... and that is what's not only sad, but is getting more and more notice from more and more folks here too. Any satisfaction for me to type this? No.. it's probably a waste of my time and guaranteed to get the boot. But I do hope the original poster can decipher fact from fiction.

Hi I bought Dell laptop in feb 2007 and its already installed with vista 32 bit by dell ppl home edition...But now i am not confortable with vista so planned to install Win xp pro..I finished installing win xp successfully without any problem (offcourse with the help from this forum and some other sources!)..after installing...then i tried to install drivers (for e.g., vga,drivers for modem, etc)..But i cant install..its showing error..this device and drivers CD was given by Dell ppl. who gave me the laptop.. Can any one help me to install drivers... Or can i install vista again and then device and driver CD and then format vista and reinstalling win xp...will this workout!! thanks for help raj.