I think I just owned my PC.

I wanted to add XP and remove Vista right. So first I took out my wireless card in the PC, because when you install the card for XP, it cant already be "installed". So I took it out.

Now when I turn on Vista, I put in the XP OS cd, and all the options are there for the CD except "Install XP". So I thought it was already installed.

So I turned off my PC, ran the BIOS, changed the boot sequence to CD drive first. And tried running the XP install from there, that didnt work.

Turned Vista back on, now my mouse and keyboard will not connect because there is a hardware failure (most likely me taking out my wireless card). So I put the card back in, and it's still the same situation.

Can anybody help me, after reading that. And show me how to remove vista, then install XP. And get my mouse/keyboard to work. Basically nothing will work except during the boot, that's when the keyboard will work.

Help appreciated !

Search Google for:
"how to downgrade windows vista"

There are a lot of sites to help you do it.

"So I turned off my PC, ran the BIOS, changed the boot sequence to CD drive first. And tried running the XP install from there, that didnt work. " Can you be more specific about what didn't work ? Did setup start to load files ? Once you are able to remove Vista and install XP, you will need various drivers which work with XP. They may or may not be on the DEll CD. Also, there could be an issue with a hidden restore partition from Dell.

512MB isn't enough RAM to run Vista anyway, so it's a smart move to dump it. I don't know why you felt it was necessary to remove the wireless card & I don't understand your explanation?

To install XP, you have to boot off the CD & to do that you have to "press any key" when prompted. If you don't hit the keyboard at the proper time, it will bypass the CD & boot into Vista. Even if you do hit a key at the proper time, "install XP" won't be an option. You have to go thru numerous steps before the installation begins. Have you ever done this before?

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/win...

-The wireless card cant be in the PCI slot when you install the drivers, so I took it out before I was going to go back to XP. But now the computer is messed because it says hardware has been damaged or missing, and it needs it to run. I would install the drivers when prompted, but my mouse and keyboard have become "un-usable".

-I have not done this before, so I am a novice FYI.

-Okay when I run the BIOS it all works fine, I changed it to CD first so I could run the XP setup, but that wont work, when it tries to run the setup it gives me an error message.

Yea when I try to run the XP disc in after pressing anykey, it says hardware error, which is probably proportional to me removing the wireless card. Thats why I can't install XP. Sorry I was very unclear with you all. It's hard to remember/type it all out.

"The wireless card cant be in the PCI slot when you install the drivers"

Who told you that? Your problem has nothing to do with the wireless card. Did you make any other changes to the BIOS settings?

And who installed Vista? I doubt your PC came with it pre-installed.

The manual for the card says it cant be in there before its installed.

I changed nothing else on the BIOS other than the order of the CD and HDD.

It had XP, but the wireless card wouldnt work on XP, so i "downgraded" to Vista.
So it had XP originally to answer the question.

The wireless card works on vista, but since i have vista on the laptop im using now, it only has 3 days left before vista wont function (copyright issues).

Is the Windows XP CD scratched? If so, that may cause you to get strange errors during XP Setup.

I hope you turned the PC off, unplugged it, and grounded yourself first before removing the wireless card. Failure to do any of the above may also be why you're getting the hardware error. I know a friend who was messing around inside the PC with the PC running. He ended up ruining a hard drive too as a result.

Also make sure everything is properly seated in your PC. Make sure your mouse/keyboard are not just loosely connected.

The wireless card probably didn't work because you didn't have the proper drivers installed.

WinSimple Software

i did all that, but the mouse and keyboard try to install their drivers when i boot up, but since it asks for my permission i cant click the allow or enter, so its like the most annoying thing.

Boot into Safe Mode and temporarily disable UAC by going to Start and typing msconfig and pressing enter. Click the Tools tab, select Disable UAP and then click Launch. Then reboot into Normal Mode and let it install your drivers. Then do the same thing to enable UAC back except click on Enable UAP instead of Disable UAP.

Is your Windows XP CD scratched on the bottom?

WinSimple Software

I have to go right now, I will be back tomorrow. I can clearly see all of you know what you're doing, and this problem has potential to be fixed. Thanks so far.

I'm willing to stay on if someone would like to help me over msn or aim since using a forum is a hassle.

MSN =
AIM = jeffislethal

Add me now, and I'll stay on if you are a cool person lmao (to troubleshoot lol). Thanks.

I have MSN. I'll add you and will be glad to walk you through it.

WinSimple Software

Not a good move posting your e-mail address. I suggest you edit it out of your post.

I don't know why you keep mentioning drivers? You must not be booting off the XP CD if you're getting that message. Check the link at the bottom of response #3 - it has screenshots of what *should* be displayed on your screen IF you're actually booting off the XP CD.

BTW, are you using a retail CD or Dell Restore CD? kx5m2g made the following comment in response #2:

"there could be an issue with a hidden restore partition from Dell"

To explain his comment a little further...if you're using the Dell Restore CD & you wiped out the hidden restore partition when you installed Vista, you're sh!t out of luck. The Restore CD is useless without that partition. If that's the case, you're gonna have to get a retail copy of XP to do the installation.

Inside the Dell PC Restore Partition

THANK YOU all sooo much, but a buddy of mine suggested to remove the card again, and run the setup. It worked....I have my PC back.

But you all rock, thanks a lot. Very helpful forum. I'll come back here again if I need yall. Thanks !

"I think I just owned my PC." I'm still trying to figure out what that means.

Life's more painless for the brainless.

I still say it had nothing to do with the wireless card but as long as you got it fixed, that's all that matters.

Maybe the manual suggested to remove the card because the writers knew of that hardware error in Windows Setup.

WinSimple Software

Jennifer... try reading "I think I just ruined my PC"... it makes sense like that because the rest of it doesn't.

Once I thought I was wrong, now I'm not so sure!

I think that the the manual suggested to remove the card because of what the OP said: "The wireless card cant be in the PCI slot when you install the drivers." Of course, that should not interfere with the XP setup CD, but I do remember building a computer which would not boot(even into the bios screen if I recall correctly) when a D-Link wireless card was installed in a PCI slot. If the OP reinstalls the wireless card and then has similar problems, it would probably be a different issue.

Yeah that's the point I'm getting at.

WinSimple Software

I think that he just confused the issue. The manual for the wireless card would say that because an operating system was already installed and he was adding the wireless card, which is the normal operation for doing the card installation.
None of which has any bearing on the re-installation of the operating system when the card has all ready been installed as the driver files for most wireless cards are pre installed in XP

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