I am running vista home premium on my Acer 5100-5674 laptop.

I have windows XP Professional upgrade disc.

Can I do a clean install using this disc. It is a legal copy and I have the product key.

What I understand is that a qualifying copy of a previous OS is needed to allow the installation of XP prof. I have Windows Me on my older PC and the re installation of windows me disc. Would this be considered a qualifying disc?

Has anyone had success in downgrading so to speak.. from an upgrade disc.

Since you have vista on the computer now, the upgrade more than likely will not work because you can't upgrade to an operating system that has not been recognized by the upgrade program....meaning that vista is newer than the upgrade.

Not to worry though....but you must be sure this is what you wish to do in the case of hidden partitions.

Use a boot utility program to wipe vista completely clean and then reset the partitions if you wish or leave them....

Now boot to the upgrade CD and follow the set-up proceedures...use the ME disc or a W95, W98 NT, 2000 to prove that you have the right to upgrade.

Thank you, that was very helpful.

I am in the process now of backing up all data, cool to do but phew.. and

1- still undecided on whether I will purchase the Microsoft Windows Xp prof 64 bit OEM...creating new possible problems.. but still seems to be more stable than Vista and allows full use of this laptop..

2. Trying to create a complete clean re-installation restore disc for vista 1 year after it has been used ... (Just in case )

"didn't this use to be easier..."
action -> (pulling my hair out)




I will post my results as maybe they can help someone else, and salvage someone else's hair...

Lurks Within or other....

It was suggested that I use a boot utility program to erase vista and proceed from there to clean install XP with my upgrade CD..

Would this boot utility program allow me to create a bootable diagnose cd.

Basically I would put in the CD and it will bring me to the Dos command prompt. I could then use commands to wipe out C..(right) or diagnose tools. (A Emergency boot CD)?

Is there a program that YOU could suggest to help me in this?
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Update:
I have found a website that outlines how to do a clean install of vista using the provided anytime upgrade CD. or oem and so forth.. ()Guess this is only for people who have a factory installed version of vista on there PC/Laptop and want to wipe out hard drive and do a clean install, not just a repair or restore.

- FYI - for those who are experienceing problems with vista and want to keep it there is a website that offers the vista recovery CD (and it works well)

If anyone is interested in my process..

I am still preparing to install XP, still have not completed my backing up.

<Website> for Clean Install
T61 - Vista - Clean Install Guide

<Website> for Vista Recovery CD
Download: Windows Vista x64 Recovery Disc &#x2014; The NeoSmart Files

Will this Program allow me to create an emergency boot disc..?

I would put the CD in and it would bring me to the command prompt. I could then use the delete (like basic dos commands) to format the hard drive, or use diagnostic tools.

Can you suggest what is best to use to do this?

Update

I am still backing up vista and my data.. preparing for XP.

The boot utillity disc could be an emergency boot disc like the Ultimate boot disc
Ultimate Boot CD - Download the UBCD

or it could be just the harddrive manufacturer's disc utillity disc from your harddrive manufacturer's website!