phxwings

hi buddy , you needn't to use another XP machine . what you need is just to install a virtual machine under vista , for instance VMware. then install xp system under virtual machine. at last install your software under this virtual xp environment .

hi buddy i got an idea : I once saw a article . you can change the XP ISO's install files and make it install into the path c:\xp\ then install Vista into partition C: please search the detail , I hope this can do something helped .

what i suggest : copy your system partition with ghost , after all the ghost image is smaller than dell's original recovery files . then delet the recovery partition and do whatever you what .

Usually most of us use the pirate system . That's not what we like to do , but because the price is too high to us .

Hello everybody ! I am a chinese boy My English is not very good . Do you mean how to back up your original system ? If you do, you just need to back up your system partition with ghost before you install the new system,and then do whatever you want. Please do not laugh at me if I misunderstand your words . thanks !