My wife recently bought me an Acer Extensa 5620 for Christmas. It's a great little unit with a lot of potential, but the one big flaw was the operating system: it came with Windows Vista. The fast hardware was crippled by the bloated, clumsy OS. I was therefore forced to figure out exactly how to get XP on it, so wrote up a guide to help others. It should apply to different Acer notebooks, and likely has info useful to other brands as well.
It's not as simple at it used to be. Today's laptops are 'meant' for Vista, so trying to install XP often isn't easy. In the case of my 5620, the hard drive wasn't even detected until I researched and changed Bios settings (known as the AHCI issue). I'm SO much happier after ditching Vista, though- when I first got it, a 1GHz Pentium III with XP could have run circles around it!
It's not as simple at it used to be. Today's laptops are 'meant' for Vista, so trying to install XP often isn't easy. In the case of my 5620, the hard drive wasn't even detected until I researched and changed Bios settings (known as the AHCI issue). I'm SO much happier after ditching Vista, though- when I first got it, a 1GHz Pentium III with XP could have run circles around it!
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Signing UpStep 1: Preparation
Don't immediately wipe Vista! It's actually useful for another hour or so. Use Acer's backup software (mine had an Acer floating toolbar with this) to do two things-
First, a Full Backup of your system. Trust me, if you ever have to send your Acer in for servicing, it better have Vista on it or your warranty could be voided. Plus, someday when you sell it, uninformed people think it's a plus point ;)
Secondly, why bother downloading random drivers you hope are the right ones? Acer makes it easy with its Driver and Application backup CD creator. A little known fact is that these drivers appear to be both the complete Vista AND XP set. Once you're done, you'll have burned three DVD's, and be ready for some XP goodness! If you've already wiped it, or just want the latest available, grab them from [ftp://ftp.support.acer-euro.com/notebook/ here]. I did both, just in case, throwing the newest onto a 256MB USB drive. Thirdly, look in Device Manager to see what AHCI Disk Controller you have! Write this down. On the Best Buy Acer Extensa 5620-6830, it's the 'Intel 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI.' Other models may be slightly different. This info is important later, and it can be difficult to find out without some annoying trial and error.
First, a Full Backup of your system. Trust me, if you ever have to send your Acer in for servicing, it better have Vista on it or your warranty could be voided. Plus, someday when you sell it, uninformed people think it's a plus point ;)
Secondly, why bother downloading random drivers you hope are the right ones? Acer makes it easy with its Driver and Application backup CD creator. A little known fact is that these drivers appear to be both the complete Vista AND XP set. Once you're done, you'll have burned three DVD's, and be ready for some XP goodness! If you've already wiped it, or just want the latest available, grab them from [ftp://ftp.support.acer-euro.com/notebook/ here]. I did both, just in case, throwing the newest onto a 256MB USB drive. Thirdly, look in Device Manager to see what AHCI Disk Controller you have! Write this down. On the Best Buy Acer Extensa 5620-6830, it's the 'Intel 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI.' Other models may be slightly different. This info is important later, and it can be difficult to find out without some annoying trial and error.
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I have done the same thing as the author has done here (though, I was not as prepared...good job CharredPC!) and everyone I have done this for has enjoyed XP much more than the Vista with which their computers originally came.
For the haters I say, why are you in here to begin with? If you like Vista, fine. CharredPC is not proselytizing here, just offereing a good Instructable.
...anyway I will be here waiting to give you guys a hand with Vista when MS eventually pulls the plug on XP ;)
Oh well, back to to my BMW, while you are tinkering in your shop! ;)
Just to show you there are no hard feelings go here and d/l your BMW M3:
http://www.m3-challenge.com/index.php?id=3&L=0
(see you on the track :)
Unless they do some major changes, all 32-bit operating systems are limited to around 3GB of RAM. Upgrading to 4GB is pointless, and the OS can't use it. The addressing up that high overlaps with the PCI bus, IIRC. Last I heard they were working on a patch for Vista that let it report 4GB- though it could still only use the first 3GB. 64-bit operating systems don't have this problem, and PAE doesn't solve this problem. Do some reading.
The dozen people who ever tried hooking MCE to a domain based network are very excited right now. The several million home users understandably don't care.
What are we up to, six games that use DX10? I can count it on both hands, anyway. Another twelve people are happy to have Vista for that reason. Maybe even sixteen! Oh, and DX10 is being (unofficially) worked on for XP as well.
Flip3D, the Start search tool, even Aero Glass and the sidebar/widgets have all been copied and are available for free on XP. Check out my other Instructable for more info.
Xp's memory management is fine, especially with some tweaking. Especially as it uses half or less than Vista when just sitting at the desktop :)
...I forget, why is Vista so great again?
In my opinion, correct.
Technically, no.
ps: I think there is a little typing error in step 5 , there is a "DRIVER" word missing in this command : Open the command line (Start -> Run -> cmd), and enter "c:\AHCI\setup.exe -a -pc:\" should be like that Open the command line (Start -> Run -> cmd), and enter "c:\AHCI\setup.exe -a -pc:\DRIVER" otherwise some people who are not familiar with dos and file systems will not find the .inf needed..