Name brand PCs

[Brian]

I need to get a couple new PCs for at home. One is going to be a home server, and the other will be a general use PC by family members. The name brand PCs are pretty attractive due to the package contents and price.

But, I have heard mixed reviews about installing your own OS on a name brand PC.

I want to get this one:
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro... 089631&catid=

And install Windows 2003 R2 server on it... some say I should be able to do it, and some say that since it is pre-loaded with Vista, the BIOS will not allow me to install anything but the OS that ships with the computer.

Does anyone here know if the system (or one like it) would take an OS other than Vista?

[Brangwyn]

I've never heard of a machine being BIOS restricted to a particular OS as that would likely breech fair trading acts in any country I would suspect. I would not personally think you'd have any issue installing Server 2003, but your best bet would be to contact the manufacturer directly I think. I've never had a problem installing other OS's on name brand boxes.

[dpyers]

I'd ask the manufacturer if there are any components (board level) that are not supported by the OS if it was questionable.

[dtay73]

Only issue with going "backward" that I have run into is that some of the new hardwares has NO XP or previous drivers. It is a simple matter that there were no drivers except for Vista drivers. Only found this to be true on one laptop. I forget the brand a friend was trying to go back to XP and the video card wouldn't work. The maker of the card said they had nothing but Vista drivers.