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Posted by John Doue on April 26, 2008, 12:54 am
Please log in for more thread options Jerry wrote:
>> - Bobb - wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>> I have a Compaq C700 Presario laptop which came bundled with Vista. I
>>>> want to downgrade it to XP Professional. Can anyone tell me how to do
>>>> this? Any help would be greatly appreciated :)
>>>>
>>>> TIA
>>>> klyjak
>>> You're definitely not the first to want to do it, so read this note from
>>> HP's website first:
>>>
>>>
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01092639&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&product=3641211
>>> "If you have already downgraded your computer from Vista to Windows XP,
>>> you have probably discovered that your PC does not work properly. You may
>>> have noticed that features like sound, DVD, or the webcam on your new PC
>>> have stopped working. You are probably wondering where you can find the
>>> right XP drivers. HP does NOT provide XP-compatible drivers for PCs that
>>> were designed exclusively for Vista."
>>>
>>> If you call them for help they will say - insert DVD #1 and boot -
>>> reinstall Vista.
>>>
>>> I know you came here looking an easy help, and you can certainly install
>>> a store-bought version of XP and hope, BUT if it shipped with Vista, as
>>> far as HP ( all OEM's ? ) is concerned - you're on your own. Especially
>>> for laptops - where it's all onboard - I think you'll have issues as the
>>> company isn't going to write drivers for any version of software that
>>> they don't support. Why would they spend their time doing so ? Having
>>> said that ... look in device mgr to see what exactly you have ( a
>>> RealTek 1234 NIC , Nvidia 2345 video etc) Then look for similiar model
>>> PCs at compaq.com and see if same devices - XP drivers online for THAT
>>> device ( the Realtek 1234 etc). That's still not a promise that the
>>> drivers WILL work, depending upon what changed, but that's how to start.
>>> Worst case you'll restore Vista - SO make sure you have made Vista
>>> restore DVD's FIRST. Actually I'd spend the $20 and BUY Vista 'Full
>>> install' DVD's from HP site in case anything ever goes
>>> wrong with hard drive or if you wipe the restore partition while
>>> installing full XP etc.
>>> http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html?pageDisplay=drivers
>>> To order - have it 'detect your model' then click on parts info /
>>> manuals in left margin to get a full list of components ( While you're
>>> there ... maybe download all manuals / parts info etc if it's a rainy
>>> day - for future reference.) Click on part number for the DVD's for info.
>>> Or enter your model # here:
>>>
http://partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/spi/main?sel_flg=pmhier&oid=3641208&ISO_country=us
>>> Good luck and let us know how it goes.
>>>
>>>
>> All this is good advice. I will add, before your do anything, save your
>> present drivers (using for instance Driver Genius). Then, after installing
>> XP, using driver genius again to help you find the necessary drivers, and
>> check http://www.driveragent.com/.
>> well worth the price.
>>
>> At any rate, don't get intimidated by the hard work ahead of you, once you
>> have succeed (I am convinced you will), you will have a much better
>> machine.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>>
>> --
>> John Doue
>
> There's no guarantee that the OP will be able to find the XP drivers he
> needs, especially for a Compaq laptop.
>
>
Well, there seldom are foolproof guarantees in this kind of situation,
but persistance and trial and error may well be rewarded. Persistance is
the key word. In the past, Compaq machines definitely were odd machines,
not conforming to the general standards. But today, I suspect HP has
seen to it that Compaq oddities were replaced by the prevailing standard.
Anyway, it is well worth the try, provided the OP has the time and
persistance.
Regards
--
John Doue
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