Computer newbies forum: New Laptop with no Operating System

You can do just about anything. What do you mean by "I would like for someone to sort of custom build one if it's possible."
If you mean custom build the laptop, then it really depends on what you want. If you go to the Dell web site or HP site, for example, you more or less custom build a laptop by the selections you make as to what you want included. If you mean custom build the OS, now that is a different story. You would need a programmer for that.

I would think that the manufacturer will not use XP as they are into Vista but you can ask. You may have to go to a local shop to get XP installed as the OS for a new laptop. You possible could find a new old stock laptop that has XP installed but that would limit your choices. Doing the switch yourself is a possibility but you can check the forums as people are doing the switch and having problems finding drivers for the new hardware that will work with XP instead of Vista. Also, that would probably void the warranty.

Thank you. I will read up on these suggestions. So far I haven't found anyone offering XP.
CDA

It should be clear to you by now that getting any current OS is easy. Installing and running an OS of your choice will not void your warranty. The problem is the remedy available to you under your warranty.

The ability of your supplier to support your system may be a function of the OS that you have installed. Many depend upon the presence of a particular OS to offer you support. There is clearly an upper bound to the number of operating systems that a supplier can know about, much less be skilled in. Some, but not all, suppliers will only support your system if you have the operating system with which the device was shipped.

Most suppliers can support "current" versions of Windows (e.g. XP, Vista) but almost none can support a system with Linux unless they sold it with Linux, some not even then.

My sense is that if one has to ask your question, one can expect to want support and is better off with a "standard" build.

Dell WILL NOT SUPPORT anything other than the as ordered OS - since many issues can be driver oriented - changing OS VOIDS the technical support. to receive support system MUST be returned to FACTORY SHIPPED condition ( easy to re-image CTRL+F11 on reboot (XP) or select 'Dell Factory Image Restore' on Vista

I just double checked the HP site and saw no custom builds. They might have them but I didn't see any.

Here's the link:

http://www.dell.com/

I am not tracking this thread.

I agree, for me, Vista is "not ready for prime time"
so my choice/preference would be XP-Pro, hands down.

As mentioned in some of the other post, you will
have more OS options if you look at Dell or HP's
enterprise/business offerings rather than the
Small Office/Home Office/consumer products.

While researching new laptops for a client recently,
I discovered a few things...

1) Both Dell & HP still offer XP as an option but, you
will most certainly end up paying a premium price for it.

2) There are not as many different models and/or hardware
options to choose from.

On the positive side, purchasing an enterprise level computer
will almost guarantee the exclusion of most of the "crapware"
that these mass-market computer sellers load onto the units
aimed at the consumer market.

From my experience you can get some vendors who sell such hardware, giving the user the choice of the OS they want to use. it is entirely up to you to chose and load the OS of your choice.

Another option, if you're already got a copy of XP that you want to install, would be to buy one of the Ubuntu laptops that Dell offers. You could either keep Ubuntu on it and install Windows XP into a virtualiser like Virtualbox (don't worry, Linux preinstalled is easy to use and quite a lot of fun!); or you could wipe the hard drive completely and install Windows XP directly on the hardware.

Go to the Dell website (www.dell.com) and choose "Open-source PCs" from the left side. Then select Ubuntu.