How do i downgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows XP?

petroslitt

New Member
Messages
12
Location
Chester, UK
Hi,

My Packard Bell Dot s2 originally came with Windows 7 Starter, this year I updated all of my PCs to Windows 8.1 Industry Enterprise. Now I have a new netbook I wanted to know how to downgrade the Dot s2 to Windows XP.


I Have the ISO for XP Professional and have copied them to USB with Rufus but when I boot from the USB it just shows a black screen for 2-3 seconds and then boots to 8.1.

Is there any other way of doing this?

Much appreciated if you could help me fix this,


PetrosLitt
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Industry Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Dimention 9150
    CPU
    Intel i3
    Memory
    6.00 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x1024
    Hard Drives
    SSD: 500GB
    HDD:1TB
    Keyboard
    UK Extended
    Mouse
    Wired, USB
    Internet Speed
    up to 24MBs
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    AVG 2015
Welcome to the forum.

Installing XP on a computer designed for Windows 7 can be a serious challenge, and one that may eventually prove futile. One problem, among others, is that XP compatible drivers may not be available. The XP CD will not have drivers foir hardware that did not exist when it was created. And many hardware manufacturers stopped supporting XP years ago. Check this before proceeding.

You need a compelling reason to install XP on more modern hardware. If you really must run XP it is usually better done by installing it on a virtual machine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Drivers Available for XP

The Packard bell website said the model of netbook I have came with XP before Seven was released. they also provide XP drivers for my netbook on the download center on their website.

Thank you for the welcome by the way :) .
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Industry Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Dimention 9150
    CPU
    Intel i3
    Memory
    6.00 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x1024
    Hard Drives
    SSD: 500GB
    HDD:1TB
    Keyboard
    UK Extended
    Mouse
    Wired, USB
    Internet Speed
    up to 24MBs
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    AVG 2015
Considering SSD in that system, it may be most serious challenge. Not much of support for it in XP.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
The computer I am hoping to install on has a 250GB HDD
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Industry Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Dimention 9150
    CPU
    Intel i3
    Memory
    6.00 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x1024
    Hard Drives
    SSD: 500GB
    HDD:1TB
    Keyboard
    UK Extended
    Mouse
    Wired, USB
    Internet Speed
    up to 24MBs
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    AVG 2015
You may want to check with that computer's manufacturer for an XP, there my be some drivers that have to be incorporated with XP to work on it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
My earlier post States that the netbook is comparable with windows XP
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Industry Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Dimention 9150
    CPU
    Intel i3
    Memory
    6.00 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x1024
    Hard Drives
    SSD: 500GB
    HDD:1TB
    Keyboard
    UK Extended
    Mouse
    Wired, USB
    Internet Speed
    up to 24MBs
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    AVG 2015
My earlier post States that the netbook is comparable with windows XP
That does not mean it has all the necessary drivers for particular model built in a "virgin" XP as it comes from MS. It would not be first time it's like that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
I've just Been on the manufacturers website and all the necessary XP drivers are available for my netbook. Does that mean I can go ahead and install
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Industry Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Dimention 9150
    CPU
    Intel i3
    Memory
    6.00 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x1024
    Hard Drives
    SSD: 500GB
    HDD:1TB
    Keyboard
    UK Extended
    Mouse
    Wired, USB
    Internet Speed
    up to 24MBs
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    AVG 2015
I've just Been on the manufacturers website and all the necessary XP drivers are available for my netbook. Does that mean I can go ahead and install
Yes, sure if it will install at all, you can install proper drivers later on. But, you said that it would not install and I surmised that it may be because those or some of those drivers are not incorporated on ordinary XP ISO.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
Yes. I've been told that is is very difficult to install XP from a USB
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Industry Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Dimention 9150
    CPU
    Intel i3
    Memory
    6.00 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x1024
    Hard Drives
    SSD: 500GB
    HDD:1TB
    Keyboard
    UK Extended
    Mouse
    Wired, USB
    Internet Speed
    up to 24MBs
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    AVG 2015
Yes. I've been told that is is very difficult to install XP from a USB

Almost impossible actually. AFAIK NTLDR doesn't support booting from USB. It'll consider the USB storage that you're using as an installation media to be a partition.

EDIT: OP, why would you downgrade to XP anyway? Most PC manufacturers have already left XP since like, 2009, and now MS no longer supports it. There's a big risk in using XP now, especially if you're on a laptop (with the assumption you're mobile).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Y520
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 7300HQ
    Motherboard
    OEM Lenovo
    Memory
    4GB DDR4-2400
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 (2)
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 5400 RPM
    Keyboard
    OEM Lenovo
    Mouse
    Logitech G502 Proteus Core
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Other Info
    PC:

    AMD Athlon X4 760K
    8GB DDR3-1866
    AMD Radeon RX 460
    Seagate 500 GB 7200 RPM
CDrom with USB interface can do that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
Personally would just install it on a VM.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
Could I burn to CD and use a external disc drive?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Industry Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Dimention 9150
    CPU
    Intel i3
    Memory
    6.00 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x1024
    Hard Drives
    SSD: 500GB
    HDD:1TB
    Keyboard
    UK Extended
    Mouse
    Wired, USB
    Internet Speed
    up to 24MBs
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    AVG 2015
Could I burn to CD and use a external disc drive?
Geta a hand on an SATA to USB interface. connect CD/DVD machine to it and you'll be able to install.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Y520
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 7300HQ
    Motherboard
    OEM Lenovo
    Memory
    4GB DDR4-2400
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 (2)
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 5400 RPM
    Keyboard
    OEM Lenovo
    Mouse
    Logitech G502 Proteus Core
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Other Info
    PC:

    AMD Athlon X4 760K
    8GB DDR3-1866
    AMD Radeon RX 460
    Seagate 500 GB 7200 RPM
You may need to modify the BIOS settings, and change the boot order so that CD/DVD drive is checked before the hard disk.
It could accessed by pressing F2 during POST checks on bootup.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    CCL
    CPU
    Intel i5
    Motherboard
    Gigbabyte H61MA
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD
Back
Top