Community Newsletter: Q&A: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how?
- 5/3/07 3:36 PM
Going to Windows XP from Vista
by bluemist9999 - 4/21/07 6:53 AM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Legally, you have the right to exchange a Vista license for an XP license at no charge. However, after my sister's recent experience with this, (where Microsoft said the computer manufacturer had to do it, and the computer manufacturer said the opposite), that isn't a good practical option.
You definitely cannot use the XP System Recovery disk from your old computer. System Recovery disks are almost always tied to the specific PC they were meant for---and will fail to install on a different PC.
Because of this, the best path is to purchase a new XP Home CD.
However, you can still purchase OEM versions of XP as long as you purchase some other piece of hardware (i.e. a hard drive, motherboard or sometimes as small as a mouse). OEM versions of XP are just like the retail version of XP, except you can only run them on a single PC. That means the license can't be moved. An OEM version of XP Home costs less than $100.
Ansewrs for Franklin S.
by TheJr1 - 4/21/07 7:00 AM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
well most likly if you try your old systems recovery disc they wont work...something with the bios i guess...also ya you probablly need to by a new copy of XP......befor you install it make sure you know your drivers of your internet connection card....either an Ethernet or a 56k modem....because if windows doesnt indstall them LIKE my pc then youll have issues....once you know that you can find any driver on ther net fairly easyly....once you got that you can install windows...make sure if you have any important documents either save them on a disc or upload them to a XDRIVE its fairly secure and it can stroe like 5 gb
I recently purchased a new desktop preloaded with Windows
by Jimmy The Lip - 4/21/07 7:06 AM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I hope that you bought it from Future Shop or Best Buy, they have a not Satisfied Program (30 days FS & 14 days BB), once returned buy an Apple product, the quality is way better, no internet hassles.
Once you go Mac it’s hard going back,
Jimmy The Lip
Vista problems
by essess - 4/21/07 7:15 AM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Before changing to Vista, I was warned to backup my important files and to make a system recovery disk for the XP Pro currently in use. Now I wonder, with all the stories I hear, if I will ever convert. SS.
Putting XP in place of Vista on your new machine.
by bjgrem - 4/21/07 7:20 AM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Get information on all of your hardware (sound card, video card, display adapter, etc.) and download XP drivers for them. (I suggest using AIDA32 to get the information). Burn these to a CD. Buy a new copy of Windows XP (SP2). Format the hard drive and install Windows XP. Install the drivers you burned to a CD.
Dual Boot
by cmblair - 4/21/07 8:03 AM In reply to: Putting XP in place of Vista on your new machine. by bjgremDual Booting is not that difficult and will allow you all of the conveniences of Vista coupled with those of XP.
First you need to find out what version of windows you have on your old machine. Go to start, then control panel then system, then look and it will say
System:
Microsoft Windows
(Version)
There are two ways you can go about it once you know the version. The easiest way is to find a friend who has the same version. You are authorized to run that same copy of XP on another computer. Providing you are not going to be running it on your old computer. If you are using your old computer, go buy a copy of Windows XP professional OEM. You should be able to buy them for fairly cheap.
Once you get done with that you need to make a disk with drivers for XP. It is highly unlikely that all of the drivers from vista will work in XP. Instead either contact the manufacturer (their website usually has drivers for multiple operating systems). Gather all of the drivers and put them into a separate folders on a CD (video card, sound card etc.) If you are unable to find drivers for all of them try going to http://www.driversguide.com or http://driverszone.com and searching for the equipment. (You can get more information about your hardware under control panel- systems-hardware-device manager.)
The drivers you will most likely need to get are those for your sound card, video card, network card, etc. You can worry about your printer etc later.
Next, backup anything you need in Vista. A safe bet is backing up "My documents" folder if you haven't changed any of the default locations.
Next install windows xp. Be sure when you chose the partiton to install it on you delete the current partition. I'm assuming your hard drive is over 2000 GB. I would say partition your drive with 40B available to windows xp. That should be sufficient for most things you're doing.
Once you have completed the windows xp install... go through and install windows vista. It will detect windows xp and allow you to partition the rest of the space on your hard drive.
Once you are done with that... you will be given the choice to run either vista or XP. When you feel comfortable with moving to Vista exclusively - you can simplay repartition the drive and remove windows xp. Hope this helps.
Mike
Vista versus XP
by dobsonr1 - 4/21/07 8:02 AM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Before you go through the trouble of replacing an OS. Did you check with the manufacturer's website to see if there was an upgrade for your driver(s)? If not, and you really want to go back to XP, legally you will need to purchase another copy of XP. Good Luck with everything!
Replacing Vista with Windows XP
by patch27 - 4/21/07 8:55 AM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
What I would do is format the hard drive and install Windows XP. It is not that hard to do using the 6 installation floppies for Windows XP first.
Bill
replace vista with xp from your old computer
by bill999 - 4/21/07 9:31 AM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Franklin,
I hope you have your old hard drive. Open the new computer and swap hard drives. That's the easy fix. No, I don't think you can use your restore disks to install xp on a new hard drive which is what you have.
Uninstall Vista?
by bc9202 - 4/21/07 9:51 AM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I tried to reinstall Windows 98 after having continued problems with Windows ME, a few years ago & I got an error message that it couldn't continue since it had a newer version. I had to totally uninstall ME before I could reinstall 98. It was a pain, so if you're not clear on how to do this, go to someone that can help, or do it for you, so you don't have to deal with the headaches of it! I'm not even sure how to work with Vista, I decided not to upgrade to it, as I've heard about so many problems with it, I've decided to stick with XP, as I know it works! I've had only minor problems with XP(I decided to upgrade from 98 to XP, because I couldn't get my internet connection to work right), & wont use anything else. Good luck with this!
Vista now , but back to "XP" Easy switch!!
by stevevongass - 4/21/07 9:57 AM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
So now I see that CNET is a valuable source for tips and sugestions. The helpful one I like is this Answer to your Inquiry ..
A subscriber to CNET wrote: "If you are having probs with Vista and
want to go back to XP after buying a New 'Puter with Vista Installed , just remove the hard drive from the new machine and Replace it with the Old hard drive from your old 'Puter !! WhyLa!! Yer fixed ?? I like that one !!"
windows XP VERSUS WINDOWS VISTA.
by moi et moi - 4/21/07 11:47 AM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
bEFORE YOU SWITCH BACK TO WINDOWS XP, YOU WILL HAVE TO SAVE ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAD TRIED TO PUT IN WINDOWS VISTA. tHEN YOU CAN RE- FORMAT YOUR HARD DISC. oNCE THIS HAS BEEN COMPLETED, YOU CAN RE-LOAD WINDOWS XP, AND ALL YOUR NORMAL PROGRAMS THAT WILL WORK IN XP. aFTER A WHILE YOU CAN UPDATE THE XP TO YOUR LIKING. i HOPE THAT THIS WILL HELP YOU AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
older programs not working with Vista
by normak7105 - 4/21/07 1:37 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Before you give up on Vista install your older program and make sure that the icon is on the desktop. Then right click on the icon and click on run as administrator. The programs should open and run. If not then it is definitely not compatible with Vista. You can then start looking for ways to go back to XP.
Very Simple Proceedure, little more money though
by jimboscomp_com - 4/21/07 2:28 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You just need to make sure your files are all backed up, if you have transferred any of your old files to the new computer, make sure you get those if they have been modified. You will need to purchase a Retail version of Windows XP Full installation, unless your old computer had Windows XP Home and you are going with Pro, then you can get the upgrade. Once you do that, you can just stick the Windows Install CD in the new computer, boot to the CD, and then format and install Windows XP. After the installation has completed (which takes about an hour from start to finish), you can then transfer your old files to the new computer running Windows XP.
XP is the Pro; Vista is the rookie
by Multiverse - 4/21/07 3:00 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have purchased multiple new computers that were not available with XP Pro, only Vista. I never even boot into Vista, and instead immediately install XP Pro from CDROM. Yes, I have actually bought a few copies of Windows, of which I am terribly ashamed. We also had some cheap XP licenses lying around from our subscription to the Microsoft Partner program, so that helped the pocketbook.
If you have a Windows XP installation disk that you have already used on one computer, you can install that copy onto another computer if the original computer perishes. You must call Microsoft (India) and ask them for a new activation code. They will argue that you are only licensed for one copy, to which you then reply, "The original copy is no longer installed because my computer fell into an incinerator." They must give you the new activation code. Remember that you bought a license to HAVE one installation of Windows -- not simply to INSTALL Windows once.
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