Windows Vista Laptop came with Vista Home Basic [want to install XP but no Vista DVD for reinstall]

I have a question. My laptop came with Vista home basic installed, and i have a product key on the bottom, so I bought the program. But, my laptop didnt come with an installation CD. So, is there a way of getting my hands on one? The reason I ask is, for now, I'd like to install Windows XP to my laptop, at least till Vista gets better/more stable (I have a legal copy from school). but, I dont want to format and lose vista completely & permanently. How can I install XP for the time being without losing the Vista that I bought, while I dont have an installation CD for Vista?

HELP!

 

Its an Acer Aspire.

I dont want to dual boot & leave vista on though, I just want to plain get rid of vista for the time being. Thats why I'd like the CD, in case Vista gets better within the next year or so & I feel like putting it back on. Right now its just so SLOW.

If I bought the program though (Vista) why would I have to pay for it again?

 

You could buy a retail version of XP and wipe out your current Vista install. Of course, you paid for Vista and may not want to lose the option of upgrading again. In that case, ask the manufacturer if they will provide the necessary dvds to restore your computer to "factory default ". If you don't care about the Vista install you currently have, all you will need is a legit XP cd.
Johanna

 

i think my brother said 512MB, im pretty sure.

 

i just wanted to update that we have since installed XP onto my laptop. Im thinking of contacting Acer (who made the laptop) and seeing if they will send me an installation disk, since I still did buy the product. Im sure vista will get better just like XP did, but for now the vista was just too slow, especially since I need the laptop for school and kind of need to count on speed.

does anyone have any tips on the best way of getting my hands on the installation CD (preferably for free or close to it) though?

 

Just to be clear, Vista comes on a DVD and XP is on a CD. I would be surprised if the laptop only has a half a gig of RAM with Vista pre installed. I wouldn't think that was adequate. You can press the Win Key and "Pausebreak" and get a "System Properties" dialog in XP. It should tell you how much RAM you have.
Johanna

 

just now, when i did that, it said 1.60 GHz, 504 MB Ram - whatever that means, lol.

i can say for sure that i know now, this system was the absolute bare minimum that vista would work on, because the XP is SOOOOOOOOOOOO much faster! The start menu doesnt need 5 seconds to load anymore. Sure, some things arent quite as pretty, but at least they run without lagging.

still leaves the puzzle of the possible future reinstall though. Is there a way to go into any retail store and pick it up (the DVD), if say I brought my laptop for proof of purchase? or my laptop box just to be safe? Or would that need to come directly from Acer itself? I still have my reciept from Wal Mart too.

my laptop did come with this "Windows Anytime Upgrade" DVD, but it doesnt actually say vista on it. i think thats just if i wanted to upgrade my vista that would tell me what to buy.

come to think of it, its kinda sad that Vista is so incredibly huge that it needs a DVD instead of a CD. lol

 

It means the hardware you have isn't sufficient for Vista, and is barely enough for XP. Perhaps you could contact Acer for a dvd, but I don't know if you will be successful. Good luck.
Johanna

 

well, it seems to be good enough, its running smoothly & quickly now.

I sent acer an email thing, if i dont hear back by like, this week, maybe ill give them a call

 

The Vista Anytime Upgrade disk you have is a full Vista DVD. It appears to be identical to the retail disk. I’ve experimented with it and you can install, repair install, and do all the boot repairs etc with it. I can’t tell the difference to a full DVD.

During setup you get the option of which version of Vista you want to install. Go with the one you had and you should be able to use the key you have. If you want to upgrade from Basic then choose the version you want and pay the difference once online.