Need help with downgrading my laptop!

I am having an Asus G50VT-X5.
It is supported with the Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit, which is too hard for me to play games with that (The Sims 2, something like that) so I want to downgrade it to Windows XP. So can anyone help me to get the file to re-setup my HDD (I dont know clearly about this problem, I just hear from the forum). They said that something called RAID needs to be resetup. I tried for the link given but it didn't work.
So anyone please help me!
Thank you very much!
(Sorry English is just my foreign language)

 

Do you want a dual boot system? Both Vista and XP?

or just xp?

 

I'm intending to have a solo boot system, but I'm in big trouble. IF you can help me, please spend time.
And I want to ask your opinion that running a dual boot system (Vista + XP) is better or just XP is better?
Thank you very much!

 

dual boot is a little complicated if your new at it. Been doing it for some professionals in my area that use proprietary software geared to their business. Meaning their business software is NOT Vista compatiable.

I would setup their machine with XP Pro so they can do business. Gotta keep making money to pay the bills. And keep the Vista so they can become familar with the Operating System. Afterall, vista is the OS to beat all dont you think? LOL

Now Windows 7 has come in 2.5years. Hopefully its better.

Anyways, for the dual boot, it is wise to have a second machine that has extra SATA connections to get the partitions correct. If you dont have access to a 2nd machine it can become a nightmare.

To just downgrade to XP, I suggest these steps.
Create the Recovery Disks for Vista if you have not already.
If the Asus came with install disks, thats even better.
Go to asus site and get the XP drivers. UnCompress & Move them to a USB drive.
If there are none, then go thru your device manager and gather all the info.
A simpler method is to get belarc and run that and print it out.
Then look for the XP drivers for those components.
Check the BIOs that the machine will boot to the optical drive(DVD-RAM)
Also, turn off the SATA performance setting.(The name varies, so look around for it.)
Disconnect network. Dont want the machine compromised by a network intrusion during setup)
Put in the XP disk and reboot.
Go thru the prompts and and delete the vista partition
Do a full format and install XP
Check device manager for what did not install & add drivers from USB.
Anything else may be downloaded thru windows update.

Hope that helps. I just ran this off the top of my head. There may be a topic for this. Use the search for the site, plus there are a few other sites that have more detailed instructions with pictures.

Best wishes
N