[mymason]

how would i go about taking out windows vista and install windows XP? i have a compaq computer

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If you want to keep Vista till all the problems are worked out and a service pack is issued, just take your hard drive out, put a new one in and install XP on the new one. That way you can have both. Vista won't let you install over it, but you may be able to resize your partitions and install XP along side it, that is dual boot.

Or if you simply hate Vista and want to get rid of it you can write your drive to zeros and make a fresh install.

[Tyger]

If you want to keep Vista till all the problems are worked out and a service pack is issued, just take your hard drive out, put a new one in and install XP on the new one. That way you can have both. Vista won't let you install over it, but you may be able to resize your partitions and install XP along side it, that is dual boot.

Or if you simply hate Vista and want to get rid of it you can write your drive to zeros and make a fresh install.

[Murray S.]

Vista won't let you install over it, but you may be able to resize your partitions and install XP along side it, that is dual boot.
Or if you simply hate Vista and want to get rid of it you can write your drive to zeros and make a fresh install.

Howdy:

Unfortunately those instructions won't give you a dual boot as the XP bootloader will overwrite the Vista one allowing you to boot ONLY from the XP partition. You need to install the older operating system first which would mean wipiing Vista and then installing XP on one partition and then Vista on the other.

If you just want to be toiatlly rid of Vista, simply boot your system with the XP cd and follow the prompts to remove all partitions and then to partition and install XP.

BTW, if the XP cd you want to use is anything but a retail cd, then you are NOT legally allowed to use it as it would be in violation of Microsofts EULA. Right now, that includes any OEM cd you purchase from anywhere. You will need to purchase a retail XP cd.

Murray