Need help downgrading my laptop from Vista to XP

figarot

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figarot
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May 5, 2003
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I recently received an ASUS X58C laptop that has Vista Home Basic for an operating system. I also own a desktop that works on XP (Service Pack 2, for which I have the original disk). I have only ever worked with Windows 95 and XP and do not like Vista one bit, it takes up too many resources and won't allow me to delete folders, etc. even if I've got so-called "Administrator" status.

I want to downgrade my laptop to XP from the original disk that came with my desktop but I'm a neophyte when it comes to working with upgrading and downgrading. I don't even know how to make a bootable CD or if I'll be needing one for this operation.

The laptop came with some software, mostly media players. It does have a driver disk but the drivers are only for Vista. It does not have a disc from which I can reinstall Vista if something goes wrong.

I found this site for XP drivers:

http://www.laptopdrivers.net/asus-x58c-laptop-download-vista-to-windows-xp-drivers/

but do not know in what folder I'll have to put them under, nor the order in which to install them (from the webpage I presume there is a specific order as it says to first install some drivers before others, like the wireless console driver that incidently is not among their list of drivers).

This is the filelist of drivers on the driver disk that came with the laptop:

Driver\ATK0100\Vista32 ATKACPI Driver for Vista 32 bit (V1043.2.31.100)

Driver\ATK0100\Vista64 ATKACPI Driver for Vista 64 bit (V1043.2.15.66)

Driver\KB_FILTER KB filter Driver for Vista 32 bit (V1.0.0.0)

Driver\KB_FILTER KB filter Driver for Vista 64 bit (V1.0.0.0)

Software\ADSM ASUS Data Security Manager for Vista 32/64 bit (V1.00.0006)

Software\AGFNEX ATK Generic Function Service Utility for Vista 32/64 bit (V1.00.0008)

Software\AREADER Adobe Reader Utility for read PDF file for Vista 32/64 bit (V8.1.2)

Software\ATKHotkey ATK Hotkey Utility for Vista 32/64 bit (V1.00.0034)

Software\ATKMEDIA ATK Media Utility for Vista 32/64 bit (V1.17)

Software\ATKOSD2 ATK OSD2 Utility for Vista 32/64 bit (V6.64.1.8)

Software\AUDIO Audio Driver for Vista 32/64 bit (V6.0.1.5657)

Software\BTOOTH BT-253 Bluetooth Utility for Vista 32 bit (V5.2.0.500)

Software\BTOOTH BT-253 Bluetooth Utility for Vista 64 bit (V5.2.0.500)

Software\CARD RICOH Card Reader Driver for Vista 32/64 bit (V3.55.01)

Software\CDROM\MKE MKE ATAPI CD-ROM driver (V1.21)

Software\CDROM\TEAC TEAC ATAPI CD-ROM driver (V1.27q)

Software\CDROM\TOSHIBA TOSHIBA ATAPI CD-ROM driver (V2.24)

Software\CopyProtect ASUS CopyProtect for Vista 32/64 bit (V1.00.007)

Software\ExpressGate ASUS ExpressGate Utility for Vista 32/64 bit (V0.7.6.0)

Software\LAN LAN Driver for Vista 32/64 bit (V2.0.1039.1660)

Software\LIVEUPD ASUS Live Update Utility for Vista 32/64 bit (V2.5.6)

Software\MODEM\Vista32 Modem Driver for Vista 32 bit (V2.1.88.0)

Software\MODEM\Vista64 Modem Driver for Vista 64 bit (V2.1.88.0)

Software\MULTIFRAME MultiFrame Utility for Vista 32/64 bit (V1.0.0018)

Software\NBProbe NB Probe utility for Vista 32/64 bit (V3.0.0038)

Software\NET4SW Net4 Switch Utility for Vista 32/64 bit (V1.00.0016)

Software\NIS2008 Norton Internet Security 2008 for Vista 32/64 bit (V15.5.0.23)

Software\P4GX Power4 Gear utility for Vista 32/64 bit (V1.0.18)

Software\SPLENDID ASUS Splendid Video Enhancement Technology for Vista 32/64 bit (V1.02.0020)

Software\SSAVER Screen Saver for Vista 32/64 bit (V2.0.0007)

Software\TOUCHPAD Touchpad Driver for Vista 32/64 bit (V10.1.8.0)

Software\VGA SiS Graphics Driver for Vista 32/64 bit (V5.12.02)

Software\WALLPAPER WALLPAPER

Software\WCONSOLE ASUS Wireless Switch (Wireless Console2) Utility for Vista 32/64 bit (V2.0.10)

Software\WINFLASH BIOS Flash Utility (Windows Version) for Vista 32/64 bit (V2.24)

Software\WLan\NE770_GE780 Azureware WiFi Wireless LAN Driver for Vista 32/64 bit (V7.4.2.57)

Software\WLan\NE771 Azureware WiFi Wireless LAN Driver for Vista 32/64 bit (V7.6.0.114)



I have no idea how to go about downgrading and ensuring that I have all the drivers, etc. I'll need to get my laptop fully working on XP.

A list of steps, do's and don'ts, etc. will be most appreciated, or any other places on the web that would help. Thank you.
 
If you have two gigs or more, I'd really suggest don't bother. Vista is the more secure operating system. Also, if you have a 64 bit system, XP 64 is a joke, a terrible and unusable operating system.
 
Wudang said:
I wouldn't do anything until I had a backup my current system. Hmm, both my personal laptops (HP and Lenovo) came with a tool to backup the system - can you check your system for something similar?
Click to expand...

I have a disk called Recovery DVD ASUSTeK Computer Inc. but I don't know if that would restore the Vista OS back on my laptop if I stuff things up.
 
GreyICE said:
If you have two gigs or more, I'd really suggest don't bother. Vista is the more secure operating system. Also, if you have a 64 bit system, XP 64 is a joke, a terrible and unusable operating system.
Click to expand...

I have enough space but folders I've copied from my desktop onto my laptop via a flash drive are unviewable on my laptop. And I keep getting told I do not have permission to delete them. I've hardly managed to use the laptop and am quite frustrated with Vista.
 
Too much of a headache to get you to XP, frankly.

Either upgrade to Windows 7, or change your administration settings (and UAC, etc).

Honestly, if you're really bugged about needing permission to delete folders, just change the admin settings in Vista. Far less time consuming than downgrading to XP. Far less of a headache.
 
I think I have the admin settings to where I'm meant to have the highest order of ability. Far as I know there is no higher setting and still I'm unable to both delete and view folders I myself created.
 
figarot said:
I think I have the admin settings to where I'm meant to have the highest order of ability. Far as I know there is no higher setting and still I'm unable to both delete and view folders I myself created.
Click to expand...

That sounds really odd, because I have Vista, and I have no problems viewing and deleting folders I create. In fact, I do it quite often.
 
That's what I expected it to work like.
I check the settings and it says I'm the administrator, but it's not allowing me any leeway.
 
figarot said:
That's what I expected it to work like.
I check the settings and it says I'm the administrator, but it's not allowing me any leeway.
Click to expand...

The only thing I can think of is that some program is using some file in those folders. That would 'lock you out' of deleting them. Did you try in safe mode?
 
And is UAC turned on or off? I don't think it would be the problem (as it has more to do with programs), but I dunno.
 
You cannot legally install your desktop's copy of Windows XP
onto another machine.
You'd be better off looking into an upgrade to Windows 7.
I'm a desktop Linux user who dual boots to Windows 7 for games, and although I absolutely HATED Windows Vista, I have to admit that Windows 7 is not bad.
Check microsoft's site for your upgrade options. IIRC you can upgrade for as cheaply as $99 US.
 
GreyICE said:
The only thing I can think of is that some program is using some file in those folders. That would 'lock you out' of deleting them. Did you try in safe mode?
Click to expand...

Haven't tried safe mode, but the folders were never in use and the errors messages state I don't have the permission to do the desired action (in this case deleting). I feel I have very little control with Vista, far less than I do with Vista.
 
TriskettheKid said:
Too much of a headache to get you to XP, frankly.

Either upgrade to Windows 7, or change your administration settings (and UAC, etc).

Honestly, if you're really bugged about needing permission to delete folders, just change the admin settings in Vista. Far less time consuming than downgrading to XP. Far less of a headache.
Click to expand...

That's what I was going to suggest, upgrade to Win7. It's a far superiour O/S to Vista.
 
p2theAtrick said:
You cannot legally install your desktop's copy of Windows XP
onto another machine.
You'd be better off looking into an upgrade to Windows 7.
I'm a desktop Linux user who dual boots to Windows 7 for games, and although I absolutely HATED Windows Vista, I have to admit that Windows 7 is not bad.
Check microsoft's site for your upgrade options. IIRC you can upgrade for as cheaply as $99 US.
Click to expand...

I thought as much, but the legalities are less important now than being able to use the laptop as easily and not trying to find my way around it to no avail as I'm currently doing. I cannot afford an upgrade as affordable as it is. So far I loathe Vista, would try Windows 7 if I could afford it but my monthly income after expenses is about the cost of the upgrade.
 
figarot said:
Haven't tried safe mode, but the folders were never in use and the errors messages state I don't have the permission to do the desired action (in this case deleting). I feel I have very little control with Vista, far less than I do with Vista.
Click to expand...


What kind of user account do you have set up?
Go into control panel, users, make sure you're in the privileged users group, i.e. a computer admin or somesuch.
 
Assuming that I had a legitimate copy of WinXP to work with, I've generally installed/reinstalled XP in this manner:

Back up all important documents and/or folders to a flash drive or other media, even hand copying them (by dragging and dropping). I'd scour the directory tree around three times or so, to make sure I didn't overlook something.

I'd use a small program like Everest or SIW (System Information for Windows) to conveniently view all of the information of my hardware and simply write down the specs for my ethernet card, monitor and video card for starters. It doesn't matter much if the hardware is embedded in the motherboard or add-on cards; it's the same process. It's always imperative for me to then download the XP drivers for the ethernet card first, so I can directly access the 'net to search for then download and install other drivers. I'd always d/l the drivers to a flash drive, naturally. I have always avoided the wireless stuff until after I have a running, functional install, so I would recommend simply plugging the laptop into your router/hub/whatever first.

I'd google for the drivers and generally spend an hour or so looking around for legitimate sites with free drivers because sometimes the manufacturer no longer offers those drivers directly. Driver hunting isn't always fun or fruitful and I've bought some of those software packages that's supposed to automate the process, but I personally wasn't too impressed with any. Driver Detective wasn't too shabby if you want to go that route, I guess.

So, after that, I'd put in the CD and boot to it and follow the Windows install steps. I'd choose to completely overwrite the harddrive and follow those prompts.

The drivers should be in .exe format, so it's simply a matter of double-clicking it and the install should be automatic.

Use Everest or SIW liberally at this point so you can get a full picture of the hardware and keep track of your progress.

I'd then install SD search and destroy as soon as I was able; this program monitors in real-time the status of your system's registry file; vital to alerting you to potential VTM's (virii, trojans, malware) that would try and secretly change the registry. It's free and highly recommended.

Do that and then post your success or any questions you may have at that point, okay?

Good luck!
 
Isn't Windows Genuine Advantage going to freak out on the activation of the laptop's XP since it's already been activated on the desktop?
 
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