Windows Vista to Windows XP

rauginta_kojine · Post by **rauginta_kojine** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:01 am

Hi guys!

Maybe this topic has nothing to do with living in Finland, but as I am living in Finlan, and when I have a problem here and do not know whom to ask for help, then I think I can get some interesting suggestions here.

So my problem is this : I have bought a second hand laptop recently, and here the operating system is Windows Vista. I dont like it, so as my boyfriend has Windows XP installation, we decided to change it. But while installing, there occured some error, telling that something isnt ok. We tried to install two times and both times occured the same error. This never happened before when my boyfriend was like instlling his Windows XP into a new one. What could be the problem and wht shall we do?

Is it possible that if this laptop had Windows Vista installed when buying, that it is impossible to change the whole operating system to any other Windows operating system?

Please Help!

Thanks in advance

**Sponsor:**

DMC · Post by **DMC** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 6:48 am

What was the error message?

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 8:31 am

Is it OEM XP or full version?

(Isn't there something where OEM ties itself to hardware to prevent multiple installations?)

Oombongo · Post by **Oombongo** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:54 am

My wife got damn vista installed in her laptop.
I downloaded a genuine corporate copy of XP from a warez site and installed it.

DMC · Post by **DMC** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:30 am

> Isn't there something where OEM ties itself to hardware to prevent multiple installations?

I think that applies to most versions, including full retail versions. Some versions allow multiple or unlimited installations, but I doubt if rauginta_kojine has one of those.

littlefrank · Post by **littlefrank** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:41 am

Did you format the hard drive first? If you didn't that's the problem. If you did format, what's the error?

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:11 am

DMC wrote:> Isn't there something where OEM ties itself to hardware to prevent multiple installations?

I think that applies to most versions, including full retail versions.

Hmmm, my understanding was that OEM versions tie themselves to only one machine (I think the definition is motherboard, so if you change this, the new install will not work). A retail version can be installed on one computer, then if you build a new computer, you can install XP to there (of course legally you should uninstall XP from the original machine). I always thought that was the explanation for the difference in price between OEM and Retail versions ??

DMC · Post by **DMC** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:24 am

> Hmmm, my understanding was that OEM versions tie themselves to only one machine (I think the definition is motherboard, so if you change this, the new install will not work).

Oh yes, good call. I had forgotten that. The normal retail version allows some hardware changes without crying foul, but the OEM version is less tolerant.

littlefrank · Post by **littlefrank** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:39 am

The 'brand name' name computers usually supply you with an OEM (Original equipment manufacturer) OS disk, this is not usually the full OS version because they load the start up files onto the actual hdd or in a small partition, this means of course that if you try to load a different OS on it, it doesn't like it. So you have to delete these start up files (format, delete partition) and use a full installation disk. The motherboard doesn't make a difference.

annekmc · Post by **annekmc** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:06 pm

Kind of off the subject, I'm just curious, why do people tend to prefer XP to Vista? One of my computers is XP and the other Vista, to me Vista is so much better.

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:15 pm

I'm guessing Vista uses more RAM, so if you have less RAM then XP is a better option. Also I remember getting XP when pre-installed on a machine when it first came out, it seemed that twice a day it was having to install "updates", then the usual, "restart your computer now", it was rather annoying.

Just my 2 cents. I'm sure a real computer expert will be along soon to tell me that's just "not so"

littlefrank · Post by **littlefrank** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:53 pm

'I'm guessing Vista uses more RAM'

True but you also need to have a really good graphic card, system to run it for it's full 'benefits' (?), also there are a lot of compatability problems, as with any new windows OS, e.g. Windows XP home service pack 1 was a nightmare to use when it first came out, always best to wait a while before using a new windows OS. Of course if you have the right system and you don't use the software that has compatibilty problems, then obviously there will be no problems, well not too many anyway.

http://www.searchcio.com.au/topics/arti ... &SiteID=19

http://www.vnunet.com/itweek/analysis/2 ... ce-3665984

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 3:06 pm

littlefrank wrote: but you also need to have a really good graphic card, system to run it for it's full 'benefits'

True but you also need a decent screen so you can see all those benefits

littlefrank · Post by **littlefrank** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 4:53 pm

'True but you also need a decent screen so you can see all those benefits'

Well yeeeeeeess, like you need a decent screen to see this on a mac.

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:13 pm

I like the Pool option

Finland Forum

Find information about moving to, living in and life in Finland