Topic: Branded with Vista? I don't understand (Page 1 of 1)

So I've been out looking at packaged systems HP, Dell... all with Vista installed. When I've suggested my plan would be to format the HD and install XP... I've been told "Good Luck" or "Can't be done" because the MB has been 'branded' or something similar.

I don't understand and I can't find any answers... probably because I"m not asking the correct question.... so can anyone here shed some light on this?

I'm by no means an expert but I have been wrenching my own systems for 15 plus years but this is the first time I've heard that something on the MB prevents installation of an OS.

The old and slow guy needs some guidance... thank you.

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?It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.? Voltaire

I know I've heard a lot of stink about new "Vista-compatible" hardware, but I can't imagine the MB not allowing XP to be installed, though considering we're talking about MS, I wouldn't be all that surprised if that were the case... As long as you can find the right drivers for XP for the chipset and whatnot, I'd imagine you could put XP on it.

The question though is why buy a machine with Vista on it if you're just gonna wipe it? You could probably get a decent barebones box from TigerDirect or something with no OS pre-installed... I'm sure it'd be cheaper too.

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Any sufficiently advanced bug is indistinguishable from a feature.

Hope this helps:

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_102-0.html?forumID=133&threadID=243153&messageID=2460401

Not much info for you yet NoJive but I'm working on it.
I've heard something similar when I tried to shuffle my OS from my old computer to my new homebuilt computer. My plan was to install the XP from my old P3 to my new AMD dual core build and to install ubuntu on my old machine.
The computer just laughed at me, pretended to install, went through the whole process, the on final reboot just reported a mad error message something to the effect of "not allowed, toegangers verboten, get outta here". Apparently I need to contact MS to ask permission to switch my paid for XP to another system.

I realise this is not of any help to you other than shared frustrating experience, but I am on the case of trying to find out exactly what the situation is. I know it is hard, but not impossible, to get a new machine with XP rather than Vista.


Those who look for monsters should look to it that
they do not become monsters. For when you gaze
long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.

If all else fails, just download a Linux livecd and wipe the disk. (or just use Linux, sillies )

I had to download a Linux livecd the other day to get a Windows virus off a friend's box. The other options were all convoluted, and all involved multiple third party apps. So sad. Booted up, mounted the filesystem, deleted the problematic files - voila.

quote:

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NoJive said:

I've been told "Good Luck" or "Can't be done" because the MoBo has been 'branded' or something similar.

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Total nonsense - which moron told you this, tech support or a sales clerk? Downgrading from Vista to XP does have challenges...MB might need specific drivers, possible problems with SATA etc. The chief problem is when someone tries to install XP over Vista - doesn't work...delete the partition, recreate a partition, format it, and install XP....and stop listening to morons.


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edit: don't take my word for it, look here, Microsoft has programs to downgrade vista to xp.
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/29/1657256&from=rss
http://microsoft.blognewschannel.com/archives/2007/07/02/microsoft-offering-downgrade-options-from-vista-to-xp/

(Edited by SleepingWolf on 09-06-2007 03:34)

Thanks folks... my questions have been answered. But boy is that ever a whole lot of nonsense to go through to wipe out an OS.

And the reason I'm looking at an 'out of the box' system is the overall cost. Bottom line is maybe $ 150 more and perhaps not even that for someone else to do the wrenching... add to that 3 years parts & 5 years labour warranty and it looks pretty good.

And no matter what I end up with it will be an improvement on an 800 celleron.

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?It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.? Voltaire

Just beware if ya buy a laptop with a smallish h/drive.... Vista takes up at least 25 gig, and then ya start on the a/virus etc

By the time I was finished I ended up with only marginally more space than I had on my old laptop running XP!!*!!

Thanks for the tips, BTW, I'm still pondering whether to go down the "delete Vista" track or change out the hard drive... Then I gotta start digging for my P/shop CD's

(Edited by lan on 09-06-2007 08:44)

I have created XP/Vista dual-boots from a few machines now (starting with either as the base) and the only trouble I've had was with a couple of Sony Vaios with hardware that simply doesn't have working XP drivers available. I call BS on the whole 'branding' thing, though I've noticed that few manfacturers will officially support XP on their shiny new Vista machines.

(Edited by White Hawk on 09-10-2007 17:49)