Need to install XP on Vista hardware?

Judging from the petition to save Windows XP and the lack of Vista uptake in my region, a good many organizations are taking advantage of the downgrade licensing option. This option allows companies to buy Vista licenses but actually use XP instead. HP and Dell are offering to support these customers by continuing to pre-install Windows XP when customers request it. But there are plenty of systems being manufactured out there with the expectation that they will only see Vista.

Many companies haven't developed Windows XP drivers to support their hardware. In fact, you may not even be able to run the XP install on such hardware because basic things like SATA drivers are missing. If you are considering the downgrade option, you should obviously avoid companies that don't provide XP support. However, if you are stuck in the unenviable position of already owning hardware like this, I may have found a solution for you. Edmonton Geek published a great article: The easiest way to downgrade a Windows Vista machine to Windows XP. In this article they describe how to create a custom XP install disk with integrated SATA support from other sources. This hack probably isn't for everyone, but if you're in a bind, this may just be the solution you've been looking for!