How do I go back to XP?

[lcollier93]

I have the Windows 7 Build 7100 32-bit installed and I would like to go back to XP. When I tried to simply install xp it said that it couldn't install because I am running a newer version of windows. Help please.

 

[Captain Zero]

Did you do an upgrade? You could simply re-install XP on a formatted drive.

 

[lcollier93]

No I did a clean install.

 

[Antman]

You are attempting to install XP from within 7. Set your BIOS to boot from CD/DVD.

Then, you will see -
Press any key to boot from CD...

 

[lcollier93]

Ok. How would I go about doing that.

 

[pparks1]

When you first turn on your computer and the BIOS screens come up, it will say something like Press delete or F2 to enter setup. From within setup, find the screen that talks about boot order and make sure that it says CDROM or DVDROM before the hard drive. Then simply boot the machine with the XP cd in it and perform a new clean install.

 

[lcollier93]

OK. Thanks alot you were alot of help.

 

[lcollier93]

Whenever I start up my computer, there is no BIOS screen. It first shows the HP Invent Screen then goes straight from that to Starting Windows. Do I need to first uninstall windows 7 and, if so, how?

 

[Captain Zero]

It's likely a matter of pressing F8 repeatedly when you boot. If your BIOS doesn't have a 'Quick Boot' function (normally F8) then you need to instruct the BIOS which device to boot from. Hitting the "DELETE" key, or sometimes even the "F2" or "F12" key when you first turn the computer on should present you with the BIOS options. Once in the BIOS, you want to assign your DVD drive to be first in the 'boot priority' menu. Look in the advanced BIOS menu. If the XP CD is in the drive, you should be able to 'boot from CD' next time.

 

[lcollier93]

I finally got the BIOS screen open and changed the dvdrom drive to priority 1. I also enabled the boot screen so it lets me choose what to boot from each time I turn the computer on. So I turned it on and selected DVD Drive as where I wanted to boot from and it just went to the screen Starting Windows. The XP CD is in the DVD Drive and I tried it in the CDROM drive and it did the same thing. I don't know what to do now.

 

[DocBrown]

Did you see the screen prompt that says Press Any key to boot from DVD/CD drive ?

Is the XP Cd a full install CD or a recovery CD ?

 

[ten]

If you are positive you are trying to boot off the CD, then there's something wrong with the CD.

 

[TGSoldier]

If the XP cd works while he's in vista.. I don't think something is wrong with the CD, so we can rule that option out?

Are you SURE you did not see the "Press any key screen"

It only lasts for about 3 seconds before it heads to XP, I my self have missed that screen on countless occasions

Also, I am assuming you only have one DVD/CD drive. Am I correct?

 

[ten]

If the XP cd works while he's in vista.. I don't think something is wrong with the CD, so we can rule that option out?

Not necessarily. The CD's boot sector could not be readable or not even exist.

 

[smarteyeball]

If the XP cd works while he's in vista.. I don't think something is wrong with the CD, so we can rule that option out?

Not if the CD is a non-bootable burnt copy of XP.


^^^ what Ten said

 

[TGSoldier]

Well I wasn't sure, hence the question mark.

Thanks for the knowledge.

 

[Lanthus20]

try mucking with the boot order. See what your options are.