How would you go about taking Vista off a new computer and installing a different operating system?

New computer, never been switched on. Has come with Vista installed which I would like to take off and replace with XP. What would be the procedure? Is there any way to do it without registering the copy of Vista? I'm not computer illiterate - I've just never done this before! Thanks!How would you go about taking Vista off a new computer and installing a different operating system?
Buy a full version of the previous OS (NOT an upgrade). Format the hard drive. I think you can still do this in vista from Disk management. Install as you would normally. Note: make sure you can boot from the CD first!



OR buy a new hard drive and take out the vista one. That'll give you the option of installing vista for free in the future. That's what I'd do.How would you go about taking Vista off a new computer and installing a different operating system?
hi yeah i agree with above answer. you can really cheap external hard drives these days, so if i were u i would copy all the vista hard drive info on to an external hard drive (in case you want to install vista ever in the future) and then i would reformat the computer hard drive. after that install the windows xp. try ebay for legal copies or bit torrents for illegal ones (if you want to risk it)
I agree with Meg W - buy and install another Hard Drive putting your favoured OS onto it %26amp; take out the Vista Drive