First you'll want to make sure XP drivers are available for your motherboard. Download and run (it's free) SIW (System Information for Windows) to find the motherboard manufacturer and model #:
http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html
Scroll down to the siw Without Installer (English-Only) version. Once running click on "motherboard" in the left margin.
Then use your search engine to find the manufacturers' website and go there to see if the XP drivers are available.
Before wiping out Vista make sure that you create a recovery CD (s) so you can recover Vista if things go wrong. Usually you'll find that somewhere in the start menu listed under "create recovery disk" or similar phrase under the computer manufacturers' folder. Sometimes there is a hidden recovery partition installed by the manufacturer. When installing XP you will see it if it's there. Don't install XP over it.
Sometimes Windows won't let one install an older version of itself. If that happens while trying to install XP, post back and I'll guide you through the workaround.
You must feed the SATA driver to the XP installation program.
Options include.. disabling "Native SATA Support" (or enabling IDE
emulation) in the BIOS which allows you to install and run XP without
the SATA drivers..
or
Using a USB floppy drive to install the CORRECT SATA drivers during the XP install.
or
Finding
and slipstreaming the CORRECT SATA drivers for your specific laptop..
The correct XP driver information for computer can be gleaned by writing
down the appropriate Vista Device Manager listings BEFORE formatting
the computer.
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