I just ordered a laptop that comes with Vista Home Premium pre-installed & I was told that it does have the drivers needed to install XP Pro.

From what I understand the only way to run XP Pro is to first have Vista Business edition and then downgrade to XP Pro.

So do I need to upgrade to Vista Business then downgrade to XP Pro?

Also with the system configured like this will I be able to use both XP Pro & Vista Business? Or will I just be running XP Pro with a Vista license.

The laptop is a Systemax Pursuit SR15
Intel Core 2 Duo T5750, 2.0 GHz, 2 GB DDR2
120 GB HDD, DVDRW, 15.4" WXGA

What No Answers :(

You can do a DIRECT downgrade from Vista Business to Windows XP Pro.

If you have the drivers for Windows XP and a legitimate copy of the software you can install from, you can wipe the computer and do a clean install. Check with the manufacturer and make SURE those drivers are really available.

Also another thing that I have noticed when doing downgrades on "vista only" laptops is that you have to turn off SCSI inside the bios or else you get a BSOD.

Check with the manufacturer and make SURE those drivers are really available.
I was told by the salesman that it can be switched over to XP-Pro & it the drivers are available!

Is there a way I can make sure?

What is the make and model of the laptop? If you go to the site they should be available for download.

Sorry just saw the first post... can you take a screenshot of the device manager and upload to imageshack so we can see the devices please.

sorry just saw the first post... can you take a screenshot of the device manager and upload to imageshack so we can see the devices please.

I don't have the Laptop set-up to go on line yet! I'm changing my Internet service at the end of the month & I don't want to add extra software for just a few weeks. There's enough junk on it already from the Manufacture that I need to get rid of!

I typed out what I think you may need!

The laptop is a Systemax Pursuit SR15
(Actual model # is SYS-D15TS-WL)
Intel Core 2 Duo T5750, 2.0 GHz, 2 GB DDR2
120 GB HDD, DVDRW, 15.4" WXGA

Computer is ACPI x86- Based

Display Adapter
Mobile Intel ® 965 Express Chipset Family

DVD/CD-ROM drives
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-T40N ATA Device

IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers
Intel ® ICH8M SATA AHCI Controller – 2829
Intel ® ICH8M Ultra ATA Storage Controller – 2850

Sound, Video and Game Controller
Realtek High Definition Audio

Storage Controllers
Microsoft iSCSI Initiator
O2Mirco Integrated MMC/SD Controller
O2Mirco Integrated MS/MSPRO Controller

System Devices
ACPI Fixed Feature Button
ACPI Lid
ACPI Sleep Button
ACPI Thermal Zone
Direct memory access controller
High Definition Audio Controller
High precision event timer
Intel ® 82801 PCI Bbidge – 2448
Intel ® 82802 Firmware Hub Device
Intel ® ICH8 Family PCI Express Root Port 1 – 283F
Intel ® ICH8 Family PCI Express Root Port 2 - 2841
Intel ® ICH8 Family PCI Express Root Port 3 - 2843
Intel ® ICH8 Family PCI Express Root Port 4 – 2845
Intel ® ICH8 Family SMBus Controller – 283E
Intel ® ICH8M LPC Interface Controller – 2815
Microsoft ACPI – Compliant Embedded Controller
Microsoft ACPI – Compliant System
Microsoft Composite Battery
Microsoft System Management BIOS Driver
Mobile Intel ® PM965/GM965/GL960 Express Processor to DRAM Controller – 2A00
Numeric data processor
PCI Bus
Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator
Programmable interrupt controller
System CMOS/real time clock
System speaker
System timer
UMBus Enumerator
UMBus Root Bus Enumerator

If there's any other info you need please let me know!
Thanks Again!

http://list.driverguide.com/list/company2296/

Here are just some drivers that I found on a quick search. I will find more when I have more time.

Wow that's a lot for just a quick search!
How do I know which one I need??

Well just match the names to the driver I suggest contacting the manufacturer for assistance in making a backup cd just in case you cannot find all the drivers for xp.

Thanks
At least I have a better idea of what I need to do!

From what I’ve been told there’s a couple of programs I run that might not operate correctly on Vista without being updated.

Either way I look at it, It sounds like I’ll just take it to someone that knows what they’re doing.

Thanks again!

Just curious why are you removing vista? I know there is a lot of talk about it being garbage but it really depends on what is in the system as to how it will run.

I was curious so I visited the Systemax support site and it's terrible!
Support For Your PC (http://www.supportforyourpc.com/tools/downloads4.asp)

Unless you have a driver's CD of XP drivers then you'd be on your own it seems. It you have a good listing of all the hardware devices then that makes it easier. Having said that doing an XP downgrade should not cause any major problems, Windows Update often picks up the missing hardware drivers. If you have not used the system much since purchase then that makes it easier, there is an issue with some folder permissions on a Vista to XP downgrade.

I had the same feeling... unfortunately its not setup like dells which is pretty nice.

just curious why are you removing vista?

I don’t really want to remove Vista!
However I have been told that at least one of the programs I have ran on XP will not run correctly on Vista without modifying the way it’s installed & also having to turn off the UAC. Sounds to me like that messes with the security of Vista?

I was hoping to be able set-up the laptop up to run either Vista or XP-Pro?

Stay in Vista and try this: Make older programs run in this version of Windows - Windows Vista Help (http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/bf416877-c83f-4476-a3da-8ec98dcf5f101033.mspx)

Personally I have turned off UAC but I'm a somewhat advanced Windows user/administrator

Personally I have turned off UAC but I'm a somewhat advanced Windows user/administrator

Yea I'm not that familiar with computers! :confused:
So I think I will have someone that knows what they’re doing get this laptop working the way I want it.

Thanks Again!