Ok

Here we have a laptop. An ACER Aspire 3694WLMI to be precise.

I wish to remove vista from it, as it's eating the laptops resources alive.

I then would like to install XP.

However I can't get to the BIOS screen. I've tried all sorts of different commands found on google, DEL, ESC, F1, F2, F8, F10, F12, CTRL+ALT+S, CTRL+ALT+F10... alsorts.

Any ideas how I can get this thing to BIOS? I need to change the boot sequence to the disc drive so I can do a fresh XP install.

Cheers!

haha, sorry dude. If you can't find it on google I doubt I could.

On another note, it's possible to run the XP setup from a command prompt. Just boot off a floppy or something (if you have a floppy) and run the dos version of the setup.

lol, I'd love to. Distinct lack of a floppy drive causes a problem though. Also, I hate this tiny tiny laptop keyboard. I WILL SOLVE THIS.

Maybe, just maybe, read the manual?

Not my laptop so I don't have one Besides, the ACER website was massive suck.

Anyway, I've done it - I was pressing the right buttons, but apparently if you press it too late it goes to a different screen. I just had to press it pretty much exactly as it booted. Now I've got XP installed, but of course - no drivers = no network drivers

So just downloading them all and burning them to a CD so I can get this thing on the net and updated.

EDIT: Cool, I got this bastard online through ethernet now. However, I've installed ACER's wonderful wireless drivers and it's telling me there's no devices detected. Hopefully windows update will automatically obtain the required drivers, but then I'm pretty certain this won't pass certain validity checks.

MWUAHAHAHAHA.

lol...there are alternatives to THAT as well.

Gratz on getting it working. Good luck with the wireless, but I think the hard part is behind you.

Yeah I got it all running - and sweet as a nut too. Smooth, fast and efficient. Lovely.