If I was to install windows xp on my laptop would it recognize my graphics card? This might be a dumb question

Maybe. Search for XP drivers for all your laptop's hardware before taking the plunge to XP.

generally most mobile cards are easy for xp (intel 945m?). I switched my acer over a wile ago and then switched back to discover how much worse windows 7s performance was. I'm dual booting right now and the comparison every time I go back is funny. and yeah look up manufacturing drivers, allot of HP drivers aren't out for xp any more. the divers exist but take longer to find because Hp is off selling up windows7 to rid the land of vista.

I will say that using just windows 7 for it's dual boot is nice, I've got three kinds of windows on the same lame ass computer.

Best thing to do is let us know what the make is. I can tell you that most Dell laptops and computers come with XP drivers. And to be blunt, if you have a Toshiba, forget it.

-Sparkfist

Yes, most likely. We've done it on all of our school laptops that had windows 7 pro.