Solved Installing Windows XP on Windows 7 - Incompatibility Issues

[Gregrs]

Personally, I hate windows 7. I think its crap and that windows xp is more friendly to me. I know that windows 7 is more stable than windows xp, but I don't care, I just wan't windows xp. So, I put the disk in my computer and I clicked install windows xp, but than this thing popped up.

It syas that windows 7 is incompatible with windows xp. How can I make windows 7 compatible with windows xp so that I can install and use the windows xp OS instead of windows 7?

 

[Kari]

You cannot start installation of an older version from desktop of a newer version. You need to boot your PC with XP install media.

 

[TwoCables]

Boot to the XP disc and install it clean. Back everything up first, though.

How long have you spent trying to get used to Windows 7? I mean, I am finding 7 to be far more user-friendly than XP, and I even hated 7 at first.

 

[Gregrs]

I tried windows 7 for a bit over a year now. How do I boot it and install it clean though?

 

[Dude]

Boot to the XP disc and install it clean. Back everything up first, though.

How long have you spent trying to get used to Windows 7? I mean, I am finding 7 to be far more user-friendly than XP, and I even hated 7 at first.

I tried windows 7 for a bit over a year now. How do I boot it and install it clean though?

Select in your BIOS to boot from your disc drive and reboot...press a key to boot from the disc

 

[Gregrs]

I've tried that. It says that my computer was being shut down to prevent harm to my computer, or something like that. I'm guess it isn't compatible, which brings me back to my question. How do I make windows 7 compatible with windows xp?

 

[Dude]

It looks like you tried it from within windows again. You powered down and booted from the xp disc?

 

[TwoCables]

Put the XP disc in the drive and reboot. Before Windows begins loading, your motherboard may detect that you have a bootable disc in your optical drive and you may be prompted to press any key to boot from it.

If this works, then you'll be able to install Windows XP clean with no problem.

If you're not prompted, then you'll have to go into the BIOS to temporarily change the boot priority so that the optical drive is first.

In other words, Windows 7 will not need to be messed with first.

Please forgive me for this, but are there specific things you don't like about Windows 7 that maybe we can help you with? I hated it at first, but now I feel that XP is garbage in comparison. It's comparatively clunky and it looks like something someone made in their parents' basement.

 

[gregrocker]

XP is now too old to install on most modern hardware.

If you're using a CD with SP3 and it BSOD's like that then it likely needs the SATA drivers, which can only be supplied in XP by floppy, a media entire generations have never heard of. SATA Drivers - Load in Windows XP Setup on Dual Boot

Otherwise you can slipstream the SATA controller drivers into the XP CD this way: SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD

A much easier method is to virtualize XP from within Win7 using freeware like VMWare, Virtual Player or Virtual BOx, or free XP mode in Win7 Ultimate or Pro.

It's possible XPired methods were used with Win7 which can ruin it. Compare the tools and methods you used with those here which assure a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. We'll help you resolve your issues if your willing to try.

 

[TwoCables]

XP is now too old to install on most modern hardware.

If you're using a CD with SP3 and it BSOD's like that then it likely needs the SATA drivers, which can only be supplied in XP by floppy, a media entire generations have never heard of. SATA Drivers - Load in Windows XP Setup on Dual Boot

Otherwise you can slipstream the SATA controller drivers into the XP CD this way: SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD

A much easier method is to virtualize XP from within Win7 using freeware like VMWare, Virtual Player or Virtual BOx, or free XP mode in Win7 Ultimate or Pro.

It's possible XPired methods were used with Win7 which can ruin it. Compare the tools and methods you used with those here which assure a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. We'll help you resolve your issues if your willing to try.

He's not getting a BSOD. All that's happening is that he gets this when he inserts the XP CD while in Windows 7 (which I know is to be expected):

(middle-click this to see the full-size if you desire. This is the actual image, not a link to the image's page on TinyPic.com)

So we are asking him to boot from the XP disc which he has not yet done.

So we have two things here: the first is that he tried to install XP while in Windows 7 but he gets the above message (which again, I would expect). The 2nd is that we have asked him to boot to the XP disc which he has not yet done, so we are waiting for the results on that when he tries. There's nothing else going on yet.

So, I see no need for any of this advice yet at this point. It's just going to confuse him. I want to try to keep this as simple as possible.

 

[gregrocker]

So we are asking him to boot from the XP disc which he has not yet done.

So we have two things here: the first is that he tried to install XP while in Windows 7 but he gets the above message (which again, I would expect). The 2nd is that we have asked him to boot to the XP disc which he has not yet done, so we are waiting for the results on that when he tries. There's nothing else going on yet.

So, I see no need for any of this advice yet at this point. It's just going to confuse him. I want to try to keep this as simple as possible.

Perhaps you missed that he said he had tried booting the disk:

Select in your BIOS to boot from your disc drive and reboot...press a key to boot from the disc

I've tried that. It says that my computer was being shut down to prevent harm to my computer, or something like that. I'm guess it isn't compatible, which brings me back to my question. How do I make windows 7 compatible with windows xp?

Normally this means that XP CD needs SATA drivers.

 

[z3r010]

Before anybody continues with this it would be a good idea to check the system he wants to install the obsolete XP actually has all the XP drivers listed for it.

 

[Kari]

Gregrs, please tell us the exact model of your Lenovo computer. Also important to know is if you have had Windows XP installed on that computer before Windows 7 was installed, or if the Lenovo did come with Windows 7 pre-installed.

I've tried that. It says that my computer was being shut down to prevent harm to my computer, or something like that. I'm guess it isn't compatible, which brings me back to my question. How do I make windows 7 compatible with windows xp?

Two different operating systems cannot be "compatible", you cannot run nor install Windows XP on an other operating system like Windows 7.

The only possibility to install XP on a computer which has a newer version of Windows already installed is to boot (start) computer from the Windows XP CD or other XP install media.

Installation of XP will never work when you boot to Windows 7 and start XP installation from the Seven desktop.

He's not getting a BSOD. All that's happening is that he gets this when he inserts the XP CD while in Windows 7 (which I know is to be expected):

He has got either a BSOD or another type of crash. The message the OP says he got "A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer" is shown when Windows crashes and reboots.

(middle-click this to see the full-size if you desire. This is the actual image, not a link to the image's page on TinyPic.com)

Not on all mice and browsers. Left click shows images in actual size.

So, I see no need for any of this advice yet at this point. It's just going to confuse him. I want to try to keep this as simple as possible.

Sorry? Should we others stay out from here and not mess with your instructions?

It could not be any simpler than it already is. If OP knows how to install an operating system, then he is ready to go. If the OP does not know how to install XP, it has been told to him.



Kari

 

[Stephanie]

Hi Gregrs

To enter BIOS (Lenovo)

240 series
390 series
570 series
i Series 1200
i Series 1300
i Series 1400
i Series 1500
i Series 172x
A20, A21, A22, A30, A31
R30, R31, R32,
S30, S31
T20, T21, T22, T23, T30
X20, X

Pressing F1 during startup when the ThinkPad logo is displayed.

Older ThinkPad systems

310, 315
310E/ED
315ED

BIOS Utility is entered by holding F2 while the ThinkPad logo is displayed after power on.

365X/XD
360, 355 series
380, 385 series
560 series
600 series
701C/CS
75x series
76x series
770 series

With the unit powered off, hold the F1 key and power the unit on. Keep F1 held down until Easy setup appears.

 

[Stephanie]

Hi Gregrs

To install XP on your PC you need to boot from the XP Disk, to do this you need to change the boot order (in BIOS) then restart your PC with the XP Disk in.

You need to wait for the CD to load, and then you will find some onscreen instructions that you need to follow, read them carefully and do use full format on your C:\ partition %90 if the installation is automatic just take your time

 

[Arc]

I want to add a little, if it becomes anyhow helpful.

To boot from XP disc, either enter into BIOS and change the boot order to Boot from ODD (Optical disc drive; CD or DVD) first. Otherwise you may press and hold the Boot Menu key (usually it is F12 for Lenovo).

I guess these are the steps you need to follow.

1. Enter into the BIOS and change the storage controller mode to IDE from AHCI
2. Place the XP CD in the drive and reboot.
3. At power up, when you are at the post screen, tap and hold F12 key. it will list up all possible drives to boot from. Select the CD/DVD drive using the scroll Arrow Keys, hit enter.
4. Now follow this video to format the Disc/partition and reinstall XP.
   

 

[TVeblen]

Gregrs: I just want to add that you should make sure you have a path back to W7 before you start this project. Just in case it all goes south.

Do you have W7 installation media (DVD, USB)? Could you borrow one?
Have you made the Lenovo Recovery Disks? (In case you lose the Recovery Partition).
Have you backed u[p all your personal files?

 

[Gregrs]

It says "Windows is being shut down to prevent damage to this computer"

and than some other stuff.

Could it be that I don't have an actual disc? Well, I have a disk but I think its not the right one. Its a blank disc that says Windows XP SP1 on it. It doesn't have a picture or anything, its just a plain disk. When I put the disc in and press a key to continue, is says that windows is loading files. It loads the files and the drivers and than the error comes up...

 

[Gregrs]

I can't back up anything really, I don't have a blank disc that is more than 700mb. I could make a system image though. I have a lenovo Ideapad Z575 and windows xp was not pre installed on the computer. Also, when I boot from the disc ( The XP boot disk is in ) it doesn't do that hard drive thing, it just says that windows is loading files and than followed by an error.

 

[TVeblen]

Do you have an installation Product Key for that copy of XP? If not you are headed for disappointment.

So we know the CD is booting anyway. That is good.

Here is your first problem to solve: XP is going to need to load SATA drivers before it can install on a SATA hard drive. But XP is going to be looking for that driver on a Floppy Disk. So getting SATA drivers on the computer before XP install is going to be a chore.

And before you can even start that chore you need the SATA drivers. Do you have them?
If you give us the exact model number (all the numbers) of your laptop then we can check for you.