Changing OS on laptop

Im a noob I dont know how to format my HD. What does Formatting do?-sharp-shooter-

It should be fairly automated once you put the install disc in, formatting will destroy whatever data is the on the hard drive and give you a basically fresh hard drive to install XP on..or something else entirely. Your choice.

Ok, is there any way I can keep all of my files because I dont want to lose anything. Alls I want is Win XP on my laptop.-sharp-shooter-

Can I connect my Laptop to my PC then move the files on my Laptop to my PC then install XP then move the files back onto my laptop?-sharp-shooter-

That is entirely possible. Though i recommend that you double check to see that u have all drivers that came with your laptop on a cd or something before Formatting or installing anything

1) Back up any important files / documents / music / pictures onto CDs on Memory sticks.

2) Make sure that you can find XP drivers for the laptops components. e.g Graphics card, Wireless internet, sound card, ethernet, motherboard. Download these drivers and save them to a CD-R etc...

3) Make a recovery disk. There should be something in the manual that came with the laptop telling you how to do this.

4) Once you have everything backed up you are ready to install XP.

5) Say goodbye to Vista... you won't be seeing that again.

6) Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM

7) Now you need to format the Hard Drive - in other words, wipe it totally clean... as if it was brand new.

8) To do this restart Windows (with the CD still in the drive)

9) The laptop will ask you to boot from the disk. Say 'yes'

10) Follow the onscreen instructions.

11) The actual formatting and installation process could take 1-2 hours depending on the size of the Hard Drive.

12) Once the process is complete, the computer will start with XP. But you will find that it looks very blank.

13) There will be no software installed. ie Word, publisher, photoshop. You will only have basic things like paint or notepad.

14) You will also find that various things don't work properly. There may be no sound, or you mights not be able to conect to the internet.

15) If you followed step 2 you should have downloaded the correct drivers which you will now need to install.

Ok thanks Dbowman. The only question I have is Where can I find all of the installation drivers? The Cd's that my laptop came with are 2 Dell support cds dealing with power dvd 7 and cyberlink , and a dvd for reinstalling dell portable computer software and a copy of Vista home basic and a copy of microsoft works 8.5 which I dotn know what that is. Aslo if I recall, Werent you supposed to eat a hat? you left many people waiting lol-sharp-shooter-

Ok thanks Dbowman. The only question I have is Where can I find all of the installation drivers? The Cd's that my laptop came with are 2 Dell support cds dealing with power dvd 7 and cyberlink , and a dvd for reinstalling dell portable computer software and a copy of Vista home basic and a copy of microsoft works 8.5 which I dotn know what that is. -sharp-shooter-

The drivers you need can be found on the internet. Just download them from the manufacturers website.

So (to give an example) if you have an ATI graphics card you would be able to download the driver from the ATI website.