Want to downgrade windows 7 to xp.

**Killgorian** · 06-17-2010, 03:11 PM

Ok so I got a dell studio 1555 off ebay for a pretty good price. Only issue was it had windows 7. I figure I can just re-install xp. Turns out its not so simple when 7 is the original os. I can dual install, but I really want to downgrade, as it's a tech computer. Anyone done this?

**Genuwine1976** · 06-17-2010, 03:13 PM

Try installing from boot and if that doesn't work send me a PM

**Killgorian** · 06-17-2010, 03:22 PM

Did it and got the bsod. Im assuming my windows copy is bad, so Im getting another tonight and going to retry.

**Genuwine1976** · 06-17-2010, 03:24 PM

Another thing some dell computers require you to have a dell recovery disc so if you can get one for a Dell PC you may be good to go.. Some of the new Dell PC's check the disc for a security tag on it... Something like a game disc.

**Killgorian** · 06-17-2010, 03:34 PM

**** I hope not. Of course the only disc I got was win 7.

**ten0rplaya04** · 06-17-2010, 04:19 PM

From what I've read so far online, you shouldn't have any issue installing Windows XP on your laptop. There are some conditions though.

1) If you want to use the recovery partition to restore 7 at a later date, you cannot install XP
2) You need to format the drive (or use a blank drive) in order to install.

My suggestion to you is to either clone the drive or replace the hard drive with a blank drive and put that one aside in case you want to sell the laptop later. You need to format the drive completely with a CD/DVD utility that formats hard drives or plug it into a different computer and use something like partition magic or Windows "Format" tool. If it's a Seagate or WD drive, there are tools on those companies websites to format hard drives from USB and CD's if I'm not mistaken.