Ive just changed computer, the new one is a dell, but has vista on it, but i want windows xp?

If your XP Installation disk is an OEM, for use only on a new PC (Read the CD label), you can't use it on any other computer, period. But, if it's a full retail version of XP, or a retail upgrade, you can use it, providing Dell has all the required XP device drivers for your SPECIFIC Model number, so check that FIRST!

Secondly, your version of AutoCAD must be out of date. The latest version does run on Vista / W7. Here's the system requirements:

TIP: Some higher versions of Vista / W7, like Ultimate for example, can run XP apps in Compatibility Mode. So, you may not even need to downgrade to XP.

You have way to much stuff running on your computer at one time. Your CPU and memory are over stressed so much that the memory is now using hard drive space to function (this is called virtual memory). You need to do a few things. Delete old programs you don't need anymore using the remove program feature in the control panel. Next go into accessories then tools in the start menu. Find you disk clean up and defragment. Run them with the disk clean up first then the defrag which may take a really long time to complete. Finally click on run under the start menu and press enter a box will come up. Type msconfig in that box and press enter. A new window appears. Click on the start up tab. These are all the programs that are running when you turn on the computer. You can disable all of them except your anti-virus and your computer will be much faster. The programs will still work but you will need to open them to use them. the won't be just running while you don't need them. This wastes a lot of ram.

I wouldnt run a dual boot, but if thats the way you want it than go for it, I ran a dual boot when vista came out cause my computer came with vista and all my software wasnt updated yet. If you just want xp than I would go that way. But You need to divide your harddrive into 2 partitions. be careful when you put xp on that computer, you will probably be missing some drivers. I was missing like 7 of them when I did mine. and to make things worse one was the ethernet driver. But I used vista to find them all. Which I think dell has all the drivers on there websight. And also depending on how your computer is set up, you might have to go into your computers bios at start up, and change your harddrive settings from sata to ide. But you might not have too. I had too on mine. It will let you know cause when you go to the xp installation. A screen will come up saying theres no disk or something like that, And like afran said, it does matter which instalation you install first.well good luck with your installtion

In order to dual boot your PC (have both Vista and XP installed) you have to have "two hard drives" in your computer. This can be two physical hard drives, or one drive that is divided into two partitions. You would install XP on one drive then Vista on the other.

Realize that dividing your current hard drive will mean that you will be giving up half your hard drive space in order to run XP. In order to divide that drive, you would have to repartition it. This means that you will end up wiping everything currently on it and reformatting the whole drive.

Also you will be unable to use your current XP disk to install it on the new computer. The activation code has already been registered with Microsoft with your old computer. You can not reuse it. You would have to purchase a new code. (Good luck finding one as XP is no longer sold.)

Another solution you might want to consider is to take the same money you would have to spend to purchase XP and to get a Windows 7 upgrade instead. Install that over your existing Vista so that you do not lose any data or programs. Windows 7 includes a virtual XP mode that allows you to run a stripped down version of XP inside of Win7, and then run your AutocadLite inside of that. Best of both worlds in one OS.

That's called dual-booting, and yes you can do it, but why? Just load XP and get rid of Vista completely.

All you need to do is set the machine to boot from disc, there may be an option screen when you start to tell you, if try F2 or F11, but that's variable, then follow the instructions very carefully. Do a complete, not quick, format.

Enter your XP number when requested. When you get different country and addition details screens, again look through them carefully,but it is easy. Delete the US keyboard.

You will need a few things to dual boot.

First off, you need either a second hard drive or create a new partition on your existing drive.

Second, you will also need a boot loader (program that lets you select which OS you want to run at start up), GRUB is a freeware example that works very well.

Finally, you will need a full (not upgrade) copy of Windows XP to install it.

Depending on how comfortable you are working with computers, dual booting is easily a DIY task.

You can have a dual operating system, meaning you can have both Vista and also install XP.

After installation, you can set XP as the default operating system.

You can change to Vista when required.

If you don't want to have Vista at all, you can uninstall Vista by formatting your hard drive and install a fresh copy of Windows XP.

What you are looking at is dual booting, which is quite easily done.

You need 2 partitions on your hard drive. you may already have this but 1 is likely to be the recovery partition for vista, if this is the case you need 3.

You can find a tutorial here

http://www.syschat.com/dual-boot-vista-xp-vista-al...

Run Virtual PC 2007 (you can download it free from Microsoft) and install XP on it. Then you can run Autocad in there. If you want to install XP natively on the hard drive, check Dell's site first for XP drivers for that computer. If there are none you can't run XP on it without running it in a virtual computer.

One thing though, if the xp os you bought was only for one computer, the serial number won`t work for your new dell.

If you`re no longer using the old computer, you could try ringing microsoft, tell them you`ve installed a new hard drive and you serial key won`t work, they may give you a new number.