Would this be wise to do?

weedancer · Post by **weedancer** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 12:24 pm

I bought a computer about 3 months ago and sadly it came with Vista

Anyways im and avid WoW and CS player, although they both work, I know they would probably do A LOT better on XP?

So i was thinking of getting the reboot discs and buying XP and then in a year reboot Vista? Just until all the bugs get worked out?

Is that a good idea or should i just stick with Vista?

It's in HP a1700n so if you wanna look at another site for specs

And Just as a Reference here is my specs everthing is stock:

RAM
RAM details 2x512MB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM memory installled
Expansion
Expansion Details 3 PCI slots
1 PCI Express x16 Slot
Connectivity
Connectivity Details External Ports: Microphone/Line-in/Line-out (Front and Back), 2 PS/2, LAN, Digital Audio-out, Rear speaker-out, Side speaker-out, Center (subwoofer)
Software
Software details OS: Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium
Roxio Creator featuring LightScribe Technology, Microsoft® Works 8, Adobe® Reader 7.0, HP Total Care Advisor, Norton Internet Security 2007 (60 days of complimentary live updates), and more..
Misc
Additional details Front panel 9-in-1 memory card reader - supports SmartMedia, xD, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), Compact Flash I, Compact Flash II, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo
NIC
Network interface card details Integrated 10/100Base-T network interface
Total Drive Bays
Total drive bays details 2 external 5.25"
1 external 3.5"
1 internal 3.5"
Audio
Audio details Integrated High Definition Audio, 8 speaker configurable
RAM Config
RAM Configuration & Constraints 4 DIMM Slots, 240-pin
USB
USB ports details 7 USB 2.0 (3 Front, 4 Back)
Video Port
Video ports details VGA-out (Back)
FireWire (IEEE-1394)
IEEE-1394 (FireWire) ports details 2 FireWire (IEEE 1394) ports (1 Front, 1 Back)
HD
Hard Drive details 250GB 7200rpm Serial ATA Hard Drive installed
For hard drives, GB = 1 billion bytes. Actual formatted capacity is less. Up to 10GB of storage space is reserved for the system recovery software.
Video Subsystem
Video Display and video details NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE Graphics with 128MB dedicated graphics memory. Up to 319MB Total Available Graphics Memory as allocated by Windows Vista™
Monitor
Monitor Display and video details Monitor sold separately
Optical Drive (1)
Optical details SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology: 16x DVDR, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+R DL, 4x DVD-R DL, 5x DVD-RAM, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CDR, 32x CDRW, 40x CD-ROM
Modem
Modem details 56k modem - 33.6 Kbps send/up to 56 Kbps download/14.4 Kbps fax.
Cache
Cache standard, primary 0KB
Cache standard, secondary 1MB
Memory
RAM, standard 1024MB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM
RAM maximum 4GB
Total Number of RAM Slots 4
Total Number of Open Slots 2
Magnetic Drives
Hard Drive 250 GB
Hard Drive interface type SATA (Serial ATA)
Removable drive type 9-in-1 memory card reader
Optical Drives
Optical drive 8X DVD+-RW
Video Subsystem
Video Description NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE
Video RAM Standard 128MB
Video RAM Maximum 320MB
Slots
# of Slots 1 3 PCI
# of Slots 1 2 1 PCI Express Full
Ports
USB ports 7
Serial ports 0
Parallel ports 0
SCSI ports 0
Joystick/MIDI ports 0
Video ports 1
IEEE-1394 (FireWire) ports 2

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 4:53 pm

i dont see why not, i suggest downloading at least the nic drivers and throw them on a disc first so you can download al the other drivers if xp dosnt have them

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:01 pm

Ya I could see it either way since you only have 1GB of RAM.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:52 am

morbidpete wrote:i suggest downloading at least the nic drivers and throw them on a disc first so you can download al the other drivers if xp dosnt have them

Check the support section of HPs website for drivers....at the very least...download the NIC drivers..keep on a CD or USB stick. Newer laptops most likely will have hardware that is natively supported by XP...you'll need to get a lot of drivers. Without a fuctional NIC you'll be rather stuck.

weedancer · Post by **weedancer** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 10:39 am

well thank you im not the biggest computer genius so thats good to know .

jeremyboycool · Post by **jeremyboycool** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 12:09 am

I looked hp does not have xp divers for your puter. I thought this was a desktop is it?

if so I found this

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docu ... 93&lang=en

Motherboard manufacturer's name: ASUS A8M2N-LA

Onboard LAN 10/100 Marvell 88EC031

http://www.sharkyforums.com/showthread.php?t=289273
here is another forum about the same subject.

Different models but same motherboard

If I am understanding right here is the drivers you will need for nic
http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_nf4 ... _8.26.html

jeremyboycool · Post by **jeremyboycool** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 12:26 am

btw http://www.pctechbytes.com/hp-recovery-cd.htm

How to make a hp recovery disk. You can only do this one time.

weedancer · Post by **weedancer** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 1:36 am

um could you put all what that says in dumb terms? just so im clear on everything

jeremyboycool · Post by **jeremyboycool** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:44 am

Before you do anything make a recovery disk follow the direction on this page:
http://www.pctechbytes.com/hp-recovery-cd.htm

Than make sure this is your pc this way we know we are on the same page.

http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/rts_ ... 3hY!292229

If it is the same pc download this and burn to cd this is your nic driver to connect xp the internet
http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_nf4 ... _8.26.html

You should read this as it is about someone with the same concern as you. http://www.sharkyforums.com/showthread.php?t=289273

jeremyboycool · Post by **jeremyboycool** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:57 am

Just make sure you make the recovery disk or order one.

This way you can always restore you pc.

If you run into problems installing xp just take it slow it is a easy process just read the directions it will guide you through it.

After you have xp installed if your nic is not detected and installed. You will need to install the drivers that you burned to cd.

You will be able to to tell what hardware installed right by looking at the device manager. Control panel -> system -> hardware tab -> device manager. Anything with a yellow question mark needs drivers installed.

weedancer · Post by **weedancer** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:19 pm

Yes thats my computer. I am probably just gonna order the recovery discs it'll be a lot easier. So then after i get those can i just buy the upgrade addition of XP or do I have to buy the $200 one?

And my friend can help me with the driver situation.

Izzo · Post by **Izzo** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:27 pm

weedancer wrote:Yes thats my computer. I am probably just gonna order the recovery discs it'll be a lot easier. So then after i get those can i just buy the upgrade addition of XP or do I have to buy the $200 one?

And my friend can help me with the driver situation.

upgrade only will work ....and double check the links he posted ....there is more than likely a utility on your system already that will let you burn a recovery disc....again be careful as it's aone time deal only

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:17 pm

weedancer wrote:um could you put all what that says in dumb terms? just so im clear on everything

weedancer · Post by **weedancer** » Tue May 01, 2007 12:33 pm

Ok so about the one time basis thing does that mean i can only go from vista to xp once or just that I can make the disc once. Cause im just gonna order the reboot discs from HP

Izzo · Post by **Izzo** » Wed May 02, 2007 9:07 am

weedancer wrote:Ok so about the one time basis thing does that mean i can only go from vista to xp once or just that I can make the disc once. Cause im just gonna order the reboot discs from HP

just make the disc once

Genesis · Post by **Genesis** » Thu May 17, 2007 3:39 pm

In case the drivers do not work posted above, try searching on HP's website for a comparable model, usually what manufacturer's do is just add more ram and call it a new model, still using the old model's parts.

IE . a1700n has the same pieces internally as an a1680n

the drivers stated above should work no problem though but just in case. I have ran into this problem several times.

weedancer · Post by **weedancer** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:29 pm

ok thanks man