Slightly different Vista to XP problem

Hi, I recently bought a new HP dv6500 laptop installed with the most revolting nightmare I have been subjected to in a long time......VISTA.
You know when someone sells me a faulty car with no brakes I can return it and have rights, why do such consumer protection acts fail miserably in the computing world.

Anyway, needless to say I am reformatting to XP and understand drivers are needed for sound, video and BIOS. (info. acquired from reading posts of thousands of other misfortunate souls like me)

But my question is this; my laptop came bundled with a fingerprint scanner, small remote you can pull out of the side, a webcam and microphone built- in. Will these essential things which I use daily be compatible with XP or will they be casualties of the Microsoft struggle for world dominance?

Any information would be greatly appreciated, and thank you in advance

 

Sorry, I have no answers to your technical question, but just to let you and others like you know...

Actually there is a form of protection but now it's too late for you.
If you read the EULA that pops up and needs to be agreed with the first time you turn the laptop on, you can find an interesting clause that states that if you do not accept the terms of said license you have the right to a refund from the manufacturer of the laptop.

Hence, if you simply do not accept it, wipe your disk an install another OS of your choice (even aanother MS one) you can ask HP for refunding you the OEM copy of Vista.
If it's in the EULA (please check it out, because there could be different versions of it) then HP *must* refund you. The Eula is a contract that can stand in a court room. Problem is that manufacturers pretend not to see that small clause that binds them and try to be elusive, saying that "the OS is free" "the OS is part of a bundle", "Ok, it's not free and can be disbundled but it's worth only 10 dollars". So you must be prepared to fight for your right to receive a refund. Certain people got some 50-75-100-150 buck for their Vista OEM licenses by simply calling customer dep and being clear that they knew the had the right to a refund (try a search for "Vista refund" on this very forum). Others had to go to a small cases court to have a commesurate refund. Also, the manufacturer will try to make it look like they are doing you a favor. It is not: they are complying to a contract they signed with MS.

The manufacturer tries to make it hard for the customer to exert this right. It's up to the customer fight to get it.
It will cost some time, though, but it's worth a try.

(It should be clear that this is legit only if you did not accept the terms of the Eula and never used vista).