OS install gone awry

[Lilly]

My dad has a Compaq SR5010NX pre-installed with Vista that runs so slow---I have actually witnessed pond water moving faster. He purchased brand new just over a year ago. My dell came pre-installed with Vista also but thanks to you all here, I was able to purchase a reinstall XP Pro and install it with no product key, no activation..etc. So---HP/Compaq is NOT like that at all. I purchased a reinstall XP pro for Compaq and it will not boot. I assume that's because it's not an OS but just the image? So. What to do? I reinstalled his Vista that I fought HP to send cause they sell their computers without the disks and expect you to make your own copy...etc. So--basically what I am asking is this- what is my best approach to getting XP on there? Go to Walmart and buy a retail copy? Go online and buy a Key? Does the retail version boot on a blank HD? So many questions. Sorry.

[shadowpr]

Is this a laptop? If so, first you will have to make sure you can find xp drivers.

What are the specs?

[Lilly]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Is this a laptop? If so, first you will have to make sure you can find xp drivers. What are the specs?

Desktop. Got all the drivers for XP for HIS computer on a disk along with the VistaBootPRO cause I fully intended on just doing a dual boot.
Trouble is that a reinstall HP/Compaq disk does not come with COA----and since I do not have one........AND---the reinstall disk I purchased does NOT boot........
So, I installed my disk (dell) and it successfully installed and booted and wanted activated. I then tried to use his HP disk I purchased and it wanted to install but I do not have a COA. So---I ended up reinstalling the disks I received from HP to reinstall his Vista. I don't understand why things have to be so difficult with HP. I went through this not more than 2 weeks ago with my moms HP. Seems I can put whatever OS I want onto my dell with NO COA, no product key and NO problem. So---why can't a HP reinstall and then BOOT? Am I missing something? HALP. Thanks!
Oh---specs. Celeron 360 Processor. Intel 945GC chipset. Chipset driver is GeForce 6150Se nforce 430. High Def 5.1 Audio ALC 888. Integrated 10/100 Base-T networking interface. 120 GB hd (hd itself says 160 though). What else?
Thinking of purchasing an XP PRO SP 3 from a retailer but now worried if it would install OVER Vista and if not--would it install on a hd that I use killdisk on? I am trying here people. LOL

[Lilly]

Got it solved. Thanks.