Ok- so I should be getting my laptop today…

Ordered it with vista and no Microsoft package.

I have my old dell CD’s…
Operating system: reinstallation cd, msoft windows, xp professional including service pack 1 a and
Drivers and utilities: for reinstalling dell inspiron system software.

I assume the second one is specific for my old laptop- but can I use the first cd to a) windows, and b) remove vista for XP?

Thanks

why would you want to remove Vista?

you may get a restore disc with the laptop to return it OTB status

i heard vista wasnt ad good as XP!

Im more concerned about getting windows now- i thought i could use my old disk- but i dont think i can... can i

about your comment on vista, have you used it yet? Im not saying that you cant have your opinions lol but actually i think that vista i better than xp. vista is prettier lol, but there isnt really a big difference. But yea, your really only supposed to use the discs you receive with the computer with which they were received with.

but there isnt really a big difference

I disagree completely!!

It is important to note that Vista is inherently a MUCH more secure operating system than XP, and THAT alone is reason enough to keep Vista.

[rant on]
Before anyone starts pointing fingers, let's but the blame where it belongs - on the badguys! Not Microsoft. XP was release in 2001 - that is ancient technology! And it was before the world realized how vile the badguys would get. And sadly, much of the blame also must go on us, the consumers. We yelled and screamed when Windows 95 made much of our legacy (old) software and hardware obsolete and DEMANDED Microsoft not do that again. This forced MS to weigh legacy support over security when they released XP and the badguys took advantage of that. Certainly, MS deserves some blame, and their "past" sales tactics have been deplorable, if not criminal, but it is the badguys (spammers, scam artists, sexual perverts, cyber-terrorists, etc.) that put us all in this security situation we are in today.

And while I am spreading blame, let's also remember that there is absolutely NO INCENTIVE for the anti-malware software makers (Symantec, McAfee, etc.), to rid the world of malware either! That would drive them out of business. And the big backbone carriers (BT, ATT, Bell Canada, MCI, etc) and the backbone hardware makers (Cisco, Alcatel-Lucent, Juniper, Nortel, etc.) sure don't want to rid the world of malware (especially bandwidth consuming spam) either as that would cut bandwidth demands drastically, cutting deeply into their sales!
[rant off]

I am not suggesting everyone go and UPGRADE their old systems to Vista, but any new computer purchase or build should should be built for and include Vista.

Yes, it is true that many folks have had problems with Vista but that can be expected with such a massive new program. But I note that the vast majority of problems have been with drivers for older hardware - not new computers, such as this one - and that's not necessarily Vista's fault - but the hardware maker's. I also note there have been some problems with favorite legacy programs - again, not Vista's (or Microsoft's) fault - Microsoft released the specs for hardware and software developers long before Vista was released - there has been plenty of time for developers to come up with new drivers and updates. I find it ironic that so many blamed Microsoft for taking so long to replace XP, then when they do, so many developers failed to keep up with the new technology! ZoneLabs/CheckPoint is a perfect example only just recently coming out with a Vista version of their ZoneAlarm firewall.

Do remember that Vista is not intended to be a performance booster. It is designed to make you and your families safer, and to take advantage of all the newer hardware technologies - in particular, graphics processing. And it does that very well, as long as the computer is built with Vista in mind - that is, it has plenty of RAM (I recommend 2Gb) and suitable graphics (which happens to be the same HW requirements for XP, when using dual-core CPUs - I generally recommend 1Gb/core with XP).

@Collinsca - Your old OS disk is licensed to your old computer - it needs to stay with it.