Compaq SR5633WM Vista to XP

Hello, I got a new Compaq SR5633WM for Christmas and much to my dismay it comes with Vista. Bottom line is that I gave Vista a try and it turns out that I really can't stand it. I don't find it more "user friendly" as Microsoft claims. I much prefer XP to it because XP works better for my specific needs. I did contact Compaq/HP on their website during one of those online chats and got drivers for XP (that their representative searched for my system..referring me to such sites as intel and realtek for such drivers) to use on this computer which are for ethernet, audio, video, and chipset. I do have a few questions concerning my transfer from Vista to XP and I'd much rather ask here since this isn't like an AIM session where you have to stay connected in order to get a reply.

First off, when I first got the computer I made DVDR recovery discs for Vista like it suggested. And it also came pre-installed with a image partition (listed as drive D) on my C drive. What I would like to know is the following:

- If I remove the image partition of Vista will my recovery discs be enough to reinstall Vista if need be?
- If I leave the image partition of Vista on the drive. Will it try to boot up and "recover" my system even though I already installed XP on to the drive?

The HP representative told me to format C and install XP. Then install those drivers (obviously from a cd or usb drive) once XP is installed. Would this possibly be all I need to do to get XP to run smoothly like it should? I've browsed google using "vista to xp" as a search and I've seen some people talking about redoing the bios and everything. I really don't want to go that deep into it, but I really want XP back because I'm more comfortable with it.

Here are my computer specs:
2.2 GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core Desktop Processor E2220
2 GB of DDR2 system memory
320 GB hard drive, 7200 rpm

 

there is another alternative, why don't you dual boot. that way you will have xp and when you finally come around to vista you will have that also. in the near future xp will stop all support for xp and concentrate all it's efforts on vista so you may not want to get rid of it completely that's why I'm suggesting dual booting.
One more advantage to dual booting since it is a new computer installing xp this way will not void any warranty you may have with HP because the original op system will still be on the computer.

 

Well, I would do that but I really don't want to waste space on Vista. I highly doubt I'll come around to it because I don't like anything about it. And plus, I have no idea how to dual boot. Wouldn't that mean that every time I had to restart the computer I'd have to click on XP before it actually loaded up? That could get really annoying. Just as annoying as Vista's constant nagging pop-ups. I'd rather put Mac on here than have Vista.

So even if I format the C drive (and install XP on it) and leave the D drive partition of the Vista recovery intact; I still won't be able to run XP without the recovery drive kicking in every time I reboot? Because this is what I was planning on doing, but wasn't sure if the D drive would try and fix the C drive because it wouldn't have Vista on it. (I hope this didn't confuse anyone!)