How to Install XP Professional SP2 on my Vista Compaq

Hi, I've decided that Vista is not for me right now. I have a Compaq SR5050NX PC that I bought installed with Windows Vista Home Premium and I have a copy of XP Professional SP2 that I'd like to install on it for a while, at least until the future when Vista is improved. I'm not keen at all on loading/wiping OS's, so can someone help me out?
Thanks,
John

 

Before doing this, though, is Vista's Service Pack 1 out yet? I'd like to download that first and see how it runs.

 

HP's are becoming notoriously stubborn to downgrade to XP, especially the sound. I would do some research, find out if your model has been successfully downgraded, what drivers were used, and where they were obtained.
Vista SP! should be out very soon. It will come as an update.

 

You will find that alot of todays preloaded systems have a small partition or extended partition on the HDD with all the original boot records for their setup as you will find the normall just use one disc with all bundled software on it so you might find you will have to do a fresh format! i have had to do this with Compaq`s and Backard Bells before !

 

i'd make sure you have your recovery disks in hand, so that you won't have to buy vista in the future. you can also contact hp/compaq, and order a set of recovery disks (if need be). this way, you won't have to buy a full version of vista. g/l, sos

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...c=us&dlc=en&product=3377255&rule=5047&lang=en <-- HP and Compaq Desktop PCs - Obtaining a Recovery CD or DVD set

 

Check your warranty as you may void it. Also, I'd rather dual boot rather than wiping anything off of your disk that you may need.