How do I make XP install over Vista?

Well, you really can't, although there is supposed to be a roll-back option in Vista.

I tried Vista out and hated it, and ended up wiping my drive clean and doing a clean install of XP.

Edit: All of the people who are telling you to insert the XP disk then proceed are incorrect; it will not work this way, as it will read Vista as the most current operating system and not install XP.

A way to force an install is simple, though, if you cannot wipe your drive first: simply delete some of the files from your Windows/system 32 file. Vista will not work without them, and you can then proceed to use the XP disk to install XP.

Edit 2: Okay, I'm writing. :)

My instructions:

Okay, this is the way to do it. Mind you, this will disable Windows completely, so it thus overrides Vista being read as a workable operating system. With this done, you can insert the XP disk, it will read that there is no working operating sytem, and then it will install XP.

Go to your computer, then select the C drive, then select the Windows folder. After selecting the Windows folder, select the system32 folder. All you do then is delete as much as you can from there; it doesn't really matter what you delete, as your object is to disable Vista, and make it non-functioning.

After you have done this, restart your computer. It will read no operable system and you can insert the XP disk and proceed with an install. As it will read a Windows file on the drive, it will assign a new file for the XP system, usually designated as WINDOWS1. The original Windows file will hold all of the stuff retained from the Vista system, which you can access, or simply delete, as you wish. You might want to save it, and then transfer files over to the new windows folder of important stuff you want to keep.

Jeff is right about checking whether your XP disk is a full disk or an upgrade. A full disk will do a clean install with no problems; an upgrade disk will, too, but you have to insert an earlier version disk to verify the upgrade, like Windows 98.

Of course, if you have the restore disks that came with the computer originally, that is optimal, but if it is a full install disk, there will be no problem.

The best I can recommend would be to totally wipe your hard drive, then install XP. If your XP disk is a full version (not just an upgrade), you might be able to do the whole thing just by booting from the installation disk. Tell the XP installation to format the partition you're installing XP to, and it will remove all the stuff that was on the drive before.

BEFORE COMMITTING: Make sure all files you want to keep are burned to a CD, and you have all your serial numbers on hand for whatever programs you'd like to use on XP. You'd be amazed how many programs can be bought as downloads... but once done, it's up to you to save a hard copy of them as well as the serial codes that go with them. Even if you think you'll never use them on XP, save 'em. You can keep them forever, but only throw them out once.

Do a search for Ultimate Boot Disk. Download it and burn it to disk. You might need it later... you might not--but it's better to have it sitting on your desk when you get started, rather than having to bum someone else's computer to go looking for it later.

Download all the XP drivers you're going to need and burn them to disk. It'll save you some time once XP is installed. Video card, sound device, printers, internet connection... the works. Go get 'em.

Make sure you really are done with Vista. If it's frustration over drivers that makes you want to ditch Vista, remember that XP was the same way when it first came out; it's really a matter of time until vendors catch on and add support. No matter what your reasons, it'll pay you in the long run to make sure you have a way of reinstalling Vista should something go wrong with your attempts at installing XP.

Make sure your XP installation is the full version--not an upgrade. Full version disks will take care of installation pretty much on their own and save you a headache later. Upgrades can be installed from scratch, but there's hoops to jump through. Ultimate Boot Disk offers options for making this happen... but again, they are hoops: Get ready to jump.

If the XP disk complains about erasing Vista, use Ultimate Boot Disk to reformat your drive. Then install XP.

That's what you will have to do. I had to do this and I completely got rid of Vista and replaced it with XP. It was a new computer so I did not have anything that I needed to back up, but it's not quite as easy as just deleting and installing...there are drivers to install, and it can be a pain.

Hopefully at the end of this sentence I found a link to help you, and if not....pay somebody! For a fairly small fee someone can do this for you and they will make sure it's done right.

Yep, here's an article so you can decide for yourself if you want to do this, or have someone else do it.

I paid someone else to do it, about $50 or so and it saved me a headache I didn't want to deal with, but here is some info.

Good luck

http://www.pctipsbox.com/how-to-remove-vista-or-in...

You have to add a boot program that sections your drive and tricks it into thinking it has multiple "C" drives - or reformat unfortunately.

The good news is you can go all the way back to windows 3.11 (or further) if you want and have every variation (or combination) of every OS you want on your drive if it is big enough. This allows you to run old programs without an emulator.

The bad news is you have to reinstall all your drivers too because they have suddenly ceased to exist and cannot be seen from the 'new' C drive. Even the keyboard and mouse.

Pop in your XP disc, and if it asks the installation directory, install it to the hard disk where you installed Vista. Format first. Note that your data would be lost.

you have to have a program to delete vista. the program called hard disk killer it will erase all the roots and all the files of vista so you can install xp.

1) Put XP cd in

2) restart computer

3) boot from CD

4) reformat the drive which has vista

5)install into a drive (empty)

6) follow prompts

* Note you will lose all the fiels on the drive you install xp on

To remove Vista and install XP format ur pc and load ur XP. to have both XP and Vista, install XP and then use EasyBCD 1.7.2 software to run both.

you can get the software from http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1

I don't know, but I do know vista is the devil. So, I wish you the best of luck with your XP installation.

you can go to best buy, they'll do it for you for thirty smackers.

yes, that's for real. and you can keep your files. doing it yourself is tricky, if you're not real savvy with computers. oh, and vista is not so bad. it doesn't have as many features that i used with xp, but you get used to it after a while.