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    Reformatting with XP Pro

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Box801, Mar 7, 2010.

  1. Box801

    Box801 Notebook Geek

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    Hello, when I insert the disk and go to SETUP, I click on install Windows XP but it says:

    "Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your computer is newer than the version on the CD.

    Warning: If you decide to delete the newer version of Windows that is currently installed on your computer, the files and settings cannot be recovered."

    Continue is whited out and I cannot click it. I know I can boot from CD at the loading screen but I need to delete Windows XP first.

    How can I do this?
     
    Box801, Mar 7, 2010
    #1
  2. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Boot into the currently installed version, and wipe the disk out from there. A cleaner solution would be to get a LiveCD, boot into that, and use one of the disk utilities to wipe the offending partition off your hard drive.
     
    Shyster1, Mar 8, 2010
    #2
  3. Joel

    Joel coffeecoffeecoffeecoffee

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    Just boot from the disc after you reboot the computer, then once you are in the partitions bit, just delete them all and make a new one with WinXP on it.
     
    Joel, Mar 8, 2010
    #3
  4. Deks

    Deks Notebook Prophet

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    In order to boot from the CD/DVD, you have to access the BIOS by pressing the F2 (in most cases) button (before the POS screen) and setting the boot option to your optical reader drive to be first.

    Keep in mind that if you want to install XP on a new laptop, you might also have to set the BIOS's HDD option from AHCI to IDE (XP doesn't come with SATA drivers, and this has a tendency of causing a BSOD if you attempt to install it without changing the HDD interface in the BIOS).

    Furthermore ... if you really have set your eye to replacing the current OS with XP, go into device manager and look up all the relevant devices names/designations.
    Next go online to the manufacturers websites, and download XP drivers.

    Finally, if you want to avoid more headaches, make sure your XP install disc has SP2 and SP3 slipstreamed onto it (along with numerous other updates).

    P.S. Which OS came with your laptop? Even Vista with SP2 is worth keeping, and I would actually recommend leaving it. Removing bloat software that came pre-installed with the OS would actually be everything you need in order to make your computer run snappier/faster/as intended.
     
    Deks, Mar 8, 2010
    #4