Switch back to Windows XP

[kap]

Brother bought a Toshiba laptop that comes with Vista. With all the bugs and driver conflicts, it has been a headache for him. He now wants to install Windows XP. How can that be accomplished? TiA

Satellite A305-56825
Intell Core Duo Processor T5550
3072 MB PC5300 DDR2 SDRAM
250GB (5400RPM) HDD
802.11a/b/g wireless

[AllGold]

Step 1. Buy a copy of Windows XP. (If it came with Vista, you don't have either the physical media or the license for XP.)

Step 2. Install it.

Step 3. There is no step 3. Actually, step 3 is fighting to find and install the correct drivers.

[Paul F.]

step 4; Toss PeeCee laptop with WinDoze out window... buy MacBook. Be Happy.



I've got two people at work "sold" on that solution.. I recommended a Mac, they bought PC's, they've had no end of trouble, and they're both itching to dump the PC and go with a Mac Mini or MacBook.

But yeah... pretty much what AllGold said..

[onthedownlow]

First, the model is an "S6825"...not a '5'.

No worries.

Secondly, before he hoses his Vista install, have him go here (or on another computer): http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/...1210211623@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceadeeddifhelcgfkceghdgngdgnj.0&ModelDLOS=Windows+XP+SP2%7C838443&ModelDLCat=null&BV_SessionID=@@@@0225783835.1210211623@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceadeeddifhelcgfkceghdgngdgnj.0&ListType=Model&ct=DL&moid=1998602&rpn=PSAG0U&OrderBy=D&PublicStartIndex=0&PrivateStartIndex=0&PublicCutOff=&PrivateCutOff=&AddOldPublicItems=false&AddOldPrivateItems=undefined&all_docs=false&x=38&y=7

...and download every driver there (should be all XP drivers), put everything on a USB drive, CD, whatever...then have him reinstall XP (if he has it already, if not...then he may be able to contact Toshiba for a disc, or will have to purchase one). Once he is back into Windows XP...have him go to the disc that has all of his drivers on (ignoring any prompts XP will pop up saying it has 'found a new device') and install them one by one...restart, and he's good.

[bazookaman]

thats the worst part (IMHO) about erasing and reinstalling the system on a PC...reinstalling all the frickin drivers! And some websites have tons of different options for which particular option YOU have but of course you have no idea which option you have.

[onthedownlow]

Doesn't take that long if you already have them downloaded all nice and neat.

I would say it would take 20 minutes to install all of those drivers (you do not need to restart, even if it says you should...just 'restart later' and go on to the next driver). The only restart necessary, usually these days, would be a BIOS update (but you would do that last anyways when you are ready to restart the system.

[sekker]

Keep in mind that for most windows laptops, installing XP will void the warranty.

I learned this when I helped a friend buy a laptop - in the end, she chose a dell small business machine because she could get XP (which was compatible with her legal software). This was true for Sony, HP, Lenova and Dell machines.

[I know, I lost out when I tried to convince her just to buy a MacBook...]

[tenders]

Call Toshiba and express his extreme frustration and disappointment with Vista and ask them to send him a copy of XP at no charge. Toshiba undoubtedly represented Vista's capabilities and ease-of-use very favorably when they advertised the machine and their statements did not jibe with reality because of driver conflicts, incompatibility, difficulty of use, etc.

He will undoubtedly not be the first or the last person to have this issue with Vista.

This worked with my father-in-law with Dell. At first he insisted that Dell replace his computer with one that had XP installed. He settled for a free copy of XP; certainly a booby prize but a prize nonetheless.

[kap]

[quote Paul F.]step 4; Toss PeeCee laptop with WinDoze out window... buy MacBook. Be Happy.
Hey Paul,
He already has the 500MHz iBook I gave him and he's happy. However, there are times he needs to use a PeeCee, my friend

[d0e]

[quote kap][quote Paul F.]step 4; Toss PeeCee laptop with WinDoze out window... buy MacBook. Be Happy.
Hey Paul,
He already has the 500MHz iBook I gave him and he's happy. However, there are times he needs to use a PeeCee, my friend
macbook and bootcamp