Storage

delete the partition that Vista sits on before you try to install XP over it. This option should come up in a very early installation screen. Sorry, don't remember how early.

Read the screens carefully, then use the indicated key to delete the Vista partition. Once that is accomplished, installation will resume. You will then be prompted to create a partition from the now unpartitioned space. Once a new partition is in place, you shouldn't have any trouble, barring SATA drives, in which case you will need the drivers before installation can resume. This I can't help you with, not having ever messed with SATA.

The most important is to open the Device Manager make a list of all the hardware listed and then download the XP Drivers for it. Pay particular attention to the sound drivers some do not have XP Drivers and will not work with XP.

Then the next thing after you have downloaded the XP Drivers for all your Hardware is you need a M$ Branded XP Install Disc not a System Makers Recovery Disc as these do not have the necessary drivers for a default install at the very least.

After you have saved your XP Drivers to some external Media you need to wipe the HDD with something like Boot & Nuke available free here

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

Then insert the M$ Branded Install XP Disc into your Optical Drive and start the computer. Enter BIOS by following the On Screen Prompts and make sure that your Boot Order is set to Optical Drive then HDD and save the setting on exit and allow the system to start off the M$ Branded XP install Disc. Follow the On Screen Prompts and depending on the type of HDD that you have you may need to press the F6 Key at the first blue Screen to load the SATA Driver for a HDD.

If you do not have a Floppy available you can make a Slipstreamed Install Disc which includes the SATA Driver if it is required by either following the directions in this TR Article

http://tinyurl.com/6pfqo8

or this TR Download

http://tinyurl.com/5q2jsw

I've included both links for the same thing as I'm not quite sure what is working after the redesign. Or you can use nLite to make your Own Slipstreamed Install CD for this computer by using nLite available from here

http://tinyurl.com/e2mo4

If you use nLite just remember to read the guides here

http://tinyurl.com/hh3kb

Col