formatting drive in vista home premium

[estew33]

hi,
I picked up a notebook with vista home premium, already installed. I did not get the cd's .
I'm now trying to format the drive so I can install xp pro. Vista won't let me, states there's a new version of windows already installed.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to accomplish this.
It's starting to drive me up a wall
thanks in advance!!!!!
ed

 

[Drsignguy]

Looks like your trying to install within windows. Is this true?

 

[estew33]

I'm trying to install from the cd

 

[Drsignguy]

Ok, but are you trying from Bios or within windows?


Edit: just need more info of where you are trying to do this from?

 

[estew33]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by am I in the bios. I shut down reboot with my xp disk in the drive

 

[Drsignguy]

I am sure you can boot from the cd and make sure you hit "any" key to start the process. There is an area to reformat the HDD within XP setup and after doing so, install Xp. I know you can do this from a desktop but as for a (brand named) notebook, I am not to sure.


Edit: BTW, I wonder why you did'nt get the cd's with your notebook? Normally you should. Sometimes they are called "recovery" disks or cd's.