uninstalling windows vista to go back to XP

I gave vista a shot but I dont like it. I picked up a copy of XP and I want to remove vista entirely. Ive formatted computers before but was never sure if I was doing it the right way. Do I format the HD then install the drivers then install XP?

well the problem is the Windows XP CD doesn't recognize the Hard drive and i cant format the HDD using the XP CD it cant find any HDDs. Ive tried formatting it using the Vista DVD but after i try to install Windows XP it says there is not HDD and i have to restart the computer. The thing is i can reinstall Vista but not XP Is there a professional Formatting program that will completely Wipe out all files so that XP can recognize my HDD?

The computer is an HP laptop that came with Vista, i want to XP because you know....its Vista!

Also, German, you're going to have to find drivers for your HD controller that XP can load. It's most likely a SATA controller that the XP CD doesn't have drivers for... which means you'll need a floppy disk with the drivers or you'll have to find a way to slipstream them into the XP CD.

So, even if you format the hard drive, you still won't be able to install XP, because it still won't be able to see the hard drive.

hmm your backwards there murp

it should allways be set to Native Sata or IDE Sata (some call it one or the other) if its set to RAID sata XP will not see the disks and chageing it from native or IDE Sata will make XP not boot any more

make sure you pluged the Sata hdds into the Black Sata Sockets on the motherboard as the Red Sata sockets are norm RAID ones (MSI use orange i think for norm sata)