Downgrading from Windows XP to 2000.

[always_smiling]

I have done some reading on google and know this can be done. The problem I have is that I'm not used to reprogramming a computer without a floppy drive. (a boot up disk). The computer I'll be working on doesn't have one.

I have a few questions and was wondering if anyone can help.

Do I just boot up on the Windows 2000 disk and is there a certain key I press for it to boot up? Is it possible to delete all of Windows XP? Anything else I should be warned about?

TIA.

 

[cloudy]

Why would you want to?

 

[always_smiling]

Why would you want to?

I take it you don't have an answer.

Thanks for stopping by anyway.

 

[LoneOne]

Normaly you set the cd drive up as a boot drive in your bios and then you start you machine with the Win2k install cd. (most often it is set up as a boot drive allready, just try to start you pc with the disc in the drive)

There should be a question if you want to install Win2k

You go through the normal install process and when you should choose a partition for Win2k you can choose to create a new one or you can delete the WinXP partition and install Win2k on this one.

Warnings? Well, don't know... but I have to say my last re-install was a long time ago, I'm not sure if this with the boot up is correct but well if the installationprocess starts the rest should be as I remember.

 

[cloudy]

I take it you don't have an answer.

Thanks for stopping by anyway.

I do, but you don't want it, so....

 

[always_smiling]

Normaly you set the cd drive up as a boot drive in your bios and then you start you machine with the Win2k install cd. (most often it is set up as a boot drive allready, just try to start you pc with the disc in the drive)

There should be a question if you want to install Win2k

You go through the normal install process and when you should choose a partition for Win2k you can choose to create a new one or you can delete the WinXP partition and install Win2k on this one.

Warnings? Well, don't know... but I have to say my last re-install was a long time ago, I'm not sure if this with the boot up is correct but well if the installationprocess starts the rest should be as I remember.

I decided just to boot it up on the 2000 disk. It's working good, all programmed, but now I need to find the drivers for the motherboard. (Intel inside) This is gonna be the hard part because the comp didn't come with any disks. I can't get it on the internet without the drivers. I have lots of searching and reading to do.

Thanks for replying.

 

[linuxgeek]

I'm actually surprized it worked. There was some significant changes between the NTFS version used in 2000 and XP. The impression I had been given was they were not backwards compatable. And I do not recall 2000 reading FAT32. So if you have data still on the computer, I would recommend making a copy to a device not on the computer soon.

 

[jacintexas]

I decided just to boot it up on the 2000 disk. It's working good, all programmed, but now I need to find the drivers for the motherboard. (Intel inside) This is gonna be the hard part because the comp didn't come with any disks. I can't get it on the internet without the drivers. I have lots of searching and reading to do.

Thanks for replying.

You can usually do a search online for your brand and model PC and see what mother board you have. Then go to the motherboards website and download the latest drivers for it. Down load the 4 in 1 if the have it as it will contain all the drivers you need for the mother board except for the sound card and video card and it might even have that.

 

[Ran4]

You can usually do a search online for your brand and model PC and see what mother board you have. Then go to the motherboards website and download the latest drivers for it. Down load the 4 in 1 if the have it as it will contain all the drivers you need for the mother board except for the sound card and video card and it might even have that.

But who says that it's a brand PC?

 

[linuxgeek]

But who says that it's a brand PC?

If the model of the motherboard can be found, as long as the manufacture is still in business, may have a website with MB specific drivers. W2k isn't too obsolete yet, they may have some for it.

 

[always_smiling]

You can usually do a search online for your brand and model PC and see what mother board you have. Then go to the motherboards website and download the latest drivers for it. Down load the 4 in 1 if the have it as it will contain all the drivers you need for the mother board except for the sound card and video card and it might even have that.

This is what I'm having a problem with.

The model of the computer is Insignia D400 with Intel inside. I can't find anything online about Insignia, or even a phone number for their computers.

If anyone knows of any links for this brand of comp with the drivers to the Intel inside, it would be really appreciated. Right now I am stumped.

Thanks to everyone who has given advice so far.

 

[rydia57]

I was gonna do the same thing. I wanted to find a laptop on Ebay for keeping my DOS games on. So, I need to downgrade from XP (which is on the laptop) to Win95) I figure you'd have to format the hard drive, and then put win2000 on it. I don't like XP, it's too picky about what it wants on your computer. I figure Vista will be the same. Gad, you spend another grand just trying to upgrade your computer before you upgrade to XP!

 

[linuxgeek]

How much are you looking to spend on the laptop? I was looking around pricewatch.com and found a place in Ohio selling Gateway laptops without any OS installed for a low as $380. Didn't check if they were new or referbs, but they were relativity new since they were using the "mobile" specific CPUs.

 

[rydia57]

How much are you looking to spend on the laptop? I was looking around pricewatch.com and found a place in Ohio selling Gateway laptops without any OS installed for a low as $380. Didn't check if they were new or referbs, but they were relativity new since they were using the "mobile" specific CPUs.

380? I'll pay 80. Gad... it shouldn't cost much just to keep my DOS games.Refurbished sounds nice tho... I'd like to find the special place offices send their computers when they upgrade. They throw away some good stuff!

 

[jacintexas]

This is what I'm having a problem with.

The model of the computer is Insignia D400 with Intel inside. I can't find anything online about Insignia, or even a phone number for their computers.

If anyone knows of any links for this brand of comp with the drivers to the Intel inside, it would be really appreciated. Right now I am stumped.

Thanks to everyone who has given advice so far.

If I'm too late I apologize.. Here is a link to teh Indignia Driver Page..
http://www.insignia-products.com/t-drivers.aspx see if that helps..

 

[Quoll]

Upgrade, downgrade, customise, bastardise and hybridise, unofficial service packs, these guys are doing it all.

Well worth the time. http://www.msfn.org/board/forums.html

 

[linuxgeek]

380? I'll pay 80. Gad... it shouldn't cost much just to keep my DOS games.Refurbished sounds nice tho... I'd like to find the special place offices send their computers when they upgrade. They throw away some good stuff!

a lot of places are leasing office machines these days so that the upgrade process is someone elses headache to implement. Picked up a Dell GX270 that had come off lease for a little over $300 from TigerDirect. Run across a couple other sites on the 'net which specialize in selling off post-lease hardware.

 

[StonetheCrow077]

mmm Win 2000?? Your gonna have fun playing with that in a few years... it's gonna be useless... if you want something else besides Win XP or Vista, try using a Linux program... it'll take a bit to get use to, but in the end you'll be very pleased...

www.freebyte.com/operatingsystems/#linux


www.debianhelp.co.uk/tools.htm

 

[yoshimitsu]

mmm Win 2000?? Your gonna have fun playing with that in a few years... it's gonna be useless... if you want something else besides Win XP or Vista, try using a Linux program... it'll take a bit to get use to, but in the end you'll be very pleased...

www.freebyte.com/operatingsystems/#linux


www.debianhelp.co.uk/tools.htm

I would have sugested the same but it may be too much effort for a lot of people.
I have put a LOT of time into getting FC6 working on my comp and still have a few problems that keep me booting up on XP.
I know I could work them out but it's all a matter of how much time I feel like investing into one OS when another already works.

 

[yoshimitsu]

a lot of places are leasing office machines these days so that the upgrade process is someone elses headache to implement. Picked up a Dell GX270 that had come off lease for a little over $300 from TigerDirect. Run across a couple other sites on the 'net which specialize in selling off post-lease hardware.

I love tiger direct.
I also have had good experience with reputable sellers on ebay.
They have some good deals on returned and or refurbbed stuff.
Just make sure they have a good reputation and that the computer comes with some acceptable warranty.

 

[linuxgeek]

I would have sugested the same but it may be too much effort for a lot of people.
I have put a LOT of time into getting FC6 working on my comp and still have a few problems that keep me booting up on XP.
I know I could work them out but it's all a matter of how much time I feel like investing into one OS when another already works.

Tried Ubuntu yet? It's Debian for non-geeks. I have to say, of the ditros I've used, Debian and the distros built off of it have the best upgrade path process. It is the only one so far where I don't have to pull down a CD/DVD to burn to then boot with to do an upgrade. With Debian, the only reboot I've ever found necessary is if the kernel version is updated. Everything else I've seen that meets Debian package policies restarts itself as part of the packages post install script.

 

[linuxgeek]

I love tiger direct.
I also have had good experience with reputable sellers on ebay.
They have some good deals on returned and or refurbbed stuff.
Just make sure they have a good reputation and that the computer comes with some acceptable warranty.

The only down side for tiger direct for me is since they have a base of operations in FL, I still have to pay sales tax. But pricewise, between them and newegg, I can find most pieces parts I want at the lowests prices for somewhere I'm willing to give a creditcard. And at least one of them accepts paypal for payments.

The only down side I've had with newegg is they will only honor their warranty on items if you have the product's original box and all the stuff that was in the box. Otherwise you are stuck trying to get the manufacture to honor whatever warranty they provide.