Uninstalling Vista

I recently purchased a new Dell with Vista pre-installed. I like Vista fine,
but some of my programs & peripherals do not yet support it. I need to use
these programs now & can't wait for the manufacturers to catch up, so I need
to install XP Pro. Not sure how to do this, as I have used this computer for
a couple of weeks and have created many files I don't want to lose. If I
install XP will it give me an option of running that or Vista, or will I then
have to uninstall Vista? How does this work? And will I have to move my files
before changing my OS?
--
Valerie

"Valerie" <Valerie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1B068DBE-9EA3-4D65-80B2-EC85A2738984@microsoft.com...
>I recently purchased a new Dell with Vista pre-installed. I like Vista
>fine,
> but some of my programs & peripherals do not yet support it. I need to use
> these programs now & can't wait for the manufacturers to catch up, so I
> need
> to install XP Pro. Not sure how to do this, as I have used this computer
> for
> a couple of weeks and have created many files I don't want to lose. If I
> install XP will it give me an option of running that or Vista, or will I
> then
> have to uninstall Vista? How does this work? And will I have to move my
> files
> before changing my OS?
> --
> Valerie


Backup your files & install XP from scratch, then restore your files.
As this is a new PC, remember to get all XP drivers for it before you start.
You may also need to get your disk drivers on a floppy if you have SATA
disks.

Is your XP Pro version an OEM version ?
Is it also a Dell provided XP Pro version ?
If the XP Pro in question was installed on the last OEM pc that this new Vista replaced it is not transferable to the new.

Do you have all the drivers for programs and peripherals for XP ?

The normal route for a dual boot operating system is to install the newer o/s second.
Do you have sufficient unallocated space or an empty partition on the newer pc to install a second o/s.

Programs need to be installed in each o/s since each uses its own registry. Data files for common software installed on each o/s can be shared.

Some application software requires an additional license to be installed under a different o/s in a dual boot application.

..winston

"Valerie" <Valerie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:1B068DBE-9EA3-4D65-80B2-EC85A2738984@microsoft.com...
:I recently purchased a new Dell with Vista pre-installed. I like Vista fine,
: but some of my programs & peripherals do not yet support it. I need to use
: these programs now & can't wait for the manufacturers to catch up, so I need
: to install XP Pro. Not sure how to do this, as I have used this computer for
: a couple of weeks and have created many files I don't want to lose. If I
: install XP will it give me an option of running that or Vista, or will I then
: have to uninstall Vista? How does this work? And will I have to move my files
: before changing my OS?
: --
: Valerie