Windows 7: I need windows 7 to XP HELP

Ok, I put windows 7 on this computer a few weeks ago, the intalation disk was not working correctly and i had to try this 4 times, finally stuck the 64 bit disk in and it installed, Now, i have 4 windows.old folders on my c: drive taking up 80% of my space and it will not let me delete them without being the administrator .... which i am?... so i dont know what to do there...

had this bright idea to just simply use my windows xp disk to format the hard drive, install xp and then install 32 bit windows 7 because honestly this computer does not like the 64 bit at all...

the problem is the computer refuses to recognize the xp disk at all, will not boot from it, and if i put it in while windows 7 is running it wont even show it in my computer. So I'm at a loss of what to do, cant even figure out how to boot windows 7 into dos mode and format the drive the old fashion way n start fresh..

what can i do about this? I'm out of ideas.

Hi there
The problem with installing XP on modern computers is that XP doesn't recognize SATA drives and running a Windows XP install disk will give you the message "Windows XP was unable to find any Hard disks".

You need to create a new installation disk containing the drivers -- if you visit this site and go through it the process is explained.

You'll need to get rid of the Windows 7 MBR on your HDD as well as the boot process is different.

Look at the various bits of documentation and I think there is a tutorial on the Driverpacks forum.

This is the site.

All DriverPacks | DriverPacks.net

It's been a LONG time since I "physically" installed XP although I have created Virtual Machines where the problem doesn't arrive.

Cheers
jimbo

this computer originally had windows xp tho, says on the front "designed for windows xp"

Hello dwd, welcome to Seven Forums!


Have a look at the info below.

   Information

After you have made backups of everything you care to save and you want to do a real wipe "clean all" to the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) have a look at this tutorial at the link below, it over-writes everything, all the old Windows code including all the old Windows drivers, giving you the best possible space to install Windows 7 to; it goes hand-in-hand with a clean install.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7

The windows 7 disk I have is for upgrade from xp, is there a way to just take windows 7 and install it on to a empty hard drive or do I have to install xp first then upgrade to 7?

Have a look at this one.


Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Just take ownership of the windows.old folders and delete them if you're sure you have all of your old user files: Take Ownership Shortcut

Disk Cleanup will do it for you, or rightclick delete.

Ok I will check those out asap, haven't been on the computer since I made this post jus the phone. Thanks!