Wiping Vista - drum

I'm planning on formatting the HD on my laptop to install XP on it - not
happy with Vista. Someone said that Vista still leaves a footprint. Is this
true? And if so, will a third party formatter wipe it clean?
Thanks,

First of all, go to your laptop's Manufecturer's website, and see if there are - MickMurph

First of all, go to your laptop's Manufecturer's website, and see if there
are XP drivers available for your model laptop.

If not, forget the XP install.

If there are, set your BIOS to boot from CD/DVD drive, insert XP disk, reboot.

After reboot, load XP files, delete existing Vista partition(including
Recovery Partition, if there is one!), formatt your Hard drive, install XP.

Everything you need is on the XP disk; you don't need 3rd party software.
--
Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia

Wiping Vista - meerkat

No footprint.Yes to formatter. XP should do it tho`.
~But don`t forget to make sure you have all the drivers you need, for
Video/Audio/ printers etc. etc.

Wiping Vista - drum

Thanks!

Wiping Vista - DevilsPGD

You do not need a third party formatter, the XP installer is more then
sufficient.

Just a note... DBAN is a bootable free disk eraser. - kenbob

Just a note... DBAN is a bootable free disk eraser. it is a must too if your
discarding an old harddrive

Wiping Vista - Bruce Chambers

If you format the hard drive, how could that possibly be true?  I'd
strongly suggest that you never, ever pay any heed to anything regarding
computers that that individual says.



Sure, but why bother, when a normal partition deletion, recreation, and
formatting (all from the WinXP installation CD) will accomplish the same.

However, there could be a couple possible adverse repercussions of
which you should be aware.  First and foremost, if the specific computer
model in question was designed specifically for Vista, there may well be
no WinXP-specific device drivers available to make the computer's
diverse components work properly.  Consult the computer's manufacturer
about the availability of device drivers.  Secondly, removing an
OEM-installed operating system and replacing it with another will almost
invariably void any and all support agreements and, sometimes, even the
warranty.  You would, at the very least, have to re-install Vista before
getting any support from the manufacturer.  Again, consult the
computer's manufacturer for specifics.  Thirdly, there may be the
additional cost involved in purchasing a WinXP license for this new
computer.

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS
installation, simply boot from the WinXP installation CD.  You'll be
offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part
of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of
boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Then, assuming you were successful in obtaining WinXP-specific
device drivers so that the computer can be made to work with WinXP, the
backed up data can be restored and applications (those that are
WinXP-compatible, that is) re-installed.


--

Bruce Chambers

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