Community Newsletter: Q&A: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how?
- 5/3/07 3:36 PM
Want your Windows XP back?
by greenbmwrider - 4/20/07 9:21 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Franklin,
If you still have your old computer you may just want to close the clone the harddrive using Norton Ghost onto a new harddrive. That way you still have the old drive for the old computer and the drive from the new computer with Vista installed in case you change your mind later. At the worst you will end up with a new drive to use for photos, music, etc. You may have a few issues with the hardware in your new computer but at least you will know that it will not work. I had the same issue with a scanner when I switched from Win 98 to XP. I kept the old computer just so I could use my scanner. Hope this helps.
Tom
back to xp
by chicoharv - 4/20/07 9:25 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Just install Ubuntu or another Linux distro and forget windows. You can even dual boot with your vista.
How to reinstall Windows XP
by chugger1992 - 4/20/07 9:26 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi, Franklin S.!
There's an easy way to reinstall Windows XP, unfortunately it involved erasing your whole Hard Drive. Make sure to back up all important files to CD or the like before you set off. If you forget anything, there's no going back, so be careful!
After you have backed up your data, insert your Windows XP CD OEM CD that came with your PC, and restart it. When asked to boot from the CD, let it. Now, we need to Install a Fresh copy of XP, so go ahead and follow the directions. When asked, reformat your C: drive. This is the step that erases all of your data. This may take several minutes depending on the size of your C: drive.
After that, Windows will install XP, and it should be smooth sailing from there! Also, if you aren't fond of erasing your Hard Drive, you may choose "leave my File System intact", which installs XP over Vista. You may experience problems and slow downs, so the best option would be to reformat.
About that problem on Vista, have you tried using Compatibility Mode? Right-click your application and select the compatibility tab. On the drop-down menu, select Windows XP (Service Pack 2). On the driver side of things, check with the manufacturer for updates. Make sure you keep Windows up-to-date, too via Windows Update.
Back to the Future with Franklin
by Michael J Kelly - 4/20/07 9:35 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Franklin, I feel your pain since my own brand-new computer came with Vista and had an incompatibility with my printer. For about two months, I was unable to print until Dell updated the drivers for Vista. And there is a key point - unless the manufacturer of the peripherals you have is no longer in business, or has announced they are NOT supporting Vista, it may be just a matter of time before they release Vista driver updates which will make those devices work fine on Vista. Look at it from their point of view: if they don't support Vista, their new business is quickly drying up since most new PCs are shipping with Vista now.
I'd think long and hard before going back to XP on a computer which came pre-installed with Vista, and I would certainly check withe the computer's tech support website or telephone line before doing that.
You also mentioned that some applications you have aren't running with Vista. There are two things to try here:
1. Check the application's web site to see if a patch or updated version is available for Vista. Like hardware manufacturers, most application providers are going to have to get with the Vista program if they're going to have new business. You may have to update (and even pay for) a new version, though, to run with Vista, but many will make available a Vista update for their program.
2. If you're stuck with the old version, all hope is not lost. Vista has "application compatibility" settings you may be able to use to solve this problem. You don't say if the old applications which worked with XP won't install or install OK but don't run. Assuming you were able to get them installed but they don't run right or crash when running, find the "shortcut" you use to launch the program - usually this is in the Start menu - and right click on it with the mouse. Select "Properties" from the menu that pops up, and when the Properties dialog opens, click on the "Compatibility" tab. Check the box for "Run this program in compatibility mode for" and select "Windows XP Service Pack 2" from the dropdown list. This will make Vista treat the program as if it is running in XP Service Pack 2 - which often resolves compatiblity concerns.
I would try these steps first to get your devices and programs working with Vista. In the long run, I think you're going to be happier with Vista than going back to XP. You might also try the technical support line or website for the computer manufacturer - many offer 60 days or 90 days of free technical support around installation issues - and see if they can help you work around these issues, especially if the programs and peripherals you have are not obscure.
Going back to XP on your computer is not impossible, but it will be a bit tricky and is not to be undertaken lightly. The best way is to reformat your hard drive and install XP from a CD. You may be able to use the XP recovery disk from your old computer, but you may be violating the license agreement by doing that, and the version of XP on those disks may well have been customized for the configuration of your old computer by the manufacturer, causing problems when you try to install it on your new computer. Your best bet is again to contact the new computer's tech support line and see if they can provide you with an XP installation disk, or buy a full package of XP online or at a computer store and install XP that way. You should be able to get drivers and the latest security updates from Windows Update after you've installed. But expect this whole process to take anywhere from two to eight hours, and once you start, you will be pretty much on your own. If you call your new computer manufacturer's tech support line after having problems, they will likely wash their hands of any responsibility to help once they learn that you have wiped their pre-installed Vista image from the computer.
Good luck. Many of the driver and software changes in Vista are to improve reliability and security, and hardware and software manufacturers are scambling to update for Vista. The situation is much more likely to get better over the next few months than worse. I wish you luck wih Vista!
Vista replacement with XP
by johnruelle - 4/20/07 9:39 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
1) Assuming you have a SATA HD, switch the cable to make the Vista HD a slave drive. This way you can keep the Vista OS intact for future use.
2) install a new SATA drive as primary drive
3) Using your original XP disk, install XP to the master HD. You may find it easier if you disconect the power cable to the Vista drive when you install XP (the system thinks there is only one HD).
Yes, install one of the OSs on a SATA drive.
by Golem_one - 4/27/07 8:17 PM In reply to: Vista replacement with XP by johnruelleI temporarily disconnected the internal IDE drive and installed another copy of Windows XP on an external SATA drive in an enclosure which has SATA and USB 2 connectivity.
I connected the external drive as an external SATA drive to the computer's external ATA connector and installed a copy of Windows XP on that drive. I tested the new Windows XP installation and the computer booted from the external SATA drive connected as an ATA drive to the computer's external ATA connector. Then I disconnected the external ATA drive from the computer's external ATA connector and connected it to the computer with it's USB 2 connection and reconnected the internal IDE drive with the original install of Windows XP on it. The computer booted via the original Windows XP installation on the internal IDE hard drive and the computer is able to use the external hard drive as a slave drive for storage. When I want to boot from the external drive, I just disconnect its USB 2 connection to the computer and reconnect it to the computer's external SATA connector. and reboot from it. I have Windows XP on the internal IDE drive and the external SATA drive so that I have a clean copy of Windows XP on the external SATA drive in case anything screws up with the Windows XP installed on the internal IDE drive.
My explanation is clear as mud but I hope it helps.
To XP or Not XP.....Vista is distracting.
by Unycorn - 4/20/07 9:55 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Franklin,
In the short and long of it, yes, you will need another copy of Windows XP, or you could also simply contact microsoft and purchase another license for your current copy of XP which will allow you to use it on a second machine. It will have it's own code, but will be similar to having a duplicate copy of the software available for your own personal use. Unfortunately, that's the way of the world, at least in the world of William "G.G." Gates (don't ask what the initials mean, but use your imagination). If you are MOST comfortable with WinXP, then by all means, contact Microsoft about the additional license, or if you are slightly more adventurous, you might consider giving one of the alternatives a test drive. Linux is now becoming more and more adaptive and the Plug & play community is becoming more adroit at working with odds and ends. I am uncertain of the XP additional license price, but I believe it to be around $99 (the average price of the "upgrade" version or OEM version of windows) The FULL Install version usually runs closer to $149. But, as I said, those are not facts, but simple guesses as I usually purchase and use the WinXP OEM disk when I purchase the hardware for my projects. I have little to no use for Windows business software and I find better software for database and word/note pad replacements.
But, there you have it. According to the rules, you do indeed need to have a fresh license of the O/S.
I had a similar problem and here'e what I did...
by Screaminlizard - 4/20/07 10:45 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I run several systems here and have found a simple and effective solution that allows you to grow into Vista slowly as it develops and as drivers become available.
Before we get into that, here are a couple things you can try to see if Vista will run your older software. After installing the software, right click on the software icon and select "run as administrator". If this solves the problem then the issue is simply in the security protocol and can usually be fixed very easily. You can also tell this software to run in compatibility mode by right clicking on the software icon, select properties, click the compatibility tab, put a check mark in the box adjacent to the "run this program in compatibility mode for Windows XP SP2".
If this does not provide an adequate solution for you, the best solution is to buy a second hard drive (they are pretty cheap now)and install Windows XP on it. You probably won't be able to use your restore CD from your previous computer because even if it installs XP properly, as soon as it tries to download the security updates from Microsoft, it will attempt to activate the OS at which point it will notice that the serial linked to your disk has already been activated to you previous system and the unique system ID associated with it. OEM software is non transferable to other systems and there is really no safe way to live without the security updates. At this point you're really faced with having to buy a new license for XP and weigh the cost of that against replacing your peripherals.
I would suggest keeping vista on the preinstalled drive and switch it to a secondary drive so that when you start your computer it boots to Windows XP on your primary drive. There are many advantages to doing it this way plus you'll be able to use the secondary drive to back up your files when you use XP and vice versa when you use Vista. Eventually, you're going to want to make the switch to Vista once the software and hardware companies catch up with their drivers etc. and this will allow you to run both platforms on separate drives. In the long term, new software made for Vista may not be backwards compatible due to the fact that Vista is not a true update to the XP platform. It's actually based on the Windows Server platform and as a result is a much more complicated switch than you may have experienced in the past. That is also why your old hardware drivers don't work on Vista. I really liked XP but let’s face it, a year from now everything is going to be programmed for Vista.
By doing it this way you have two completely independent platforms that are also linked in a safe way because you can still drag and drop your files from the primary (C: drive) to your secondary (D: drive) making it easy to make the slow progression into Vista when the time comes... and it will. If you check in every once in a while for the required updates you need for your hardware and various software, you'll eventually find everything you need to make the switch. In the meantime, you'll have the stability of the more mature XP platform to work on.
I hope this helps.
Don't be so quick to blame Vista!
by trevman71 - 4/20/07 10:46 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Your programs and devices won't run not because Vista won't let them but rather the software developers and hardware manufacturers haven't taken care of you, their customer by not keeping up with the change in times. Microsoft didn't just spring Vista on the world February of 2007. Microsoft provided industry with numerous beta releases to try to prevent what you and so many other people are experiencing. Vista has been totally "code ready" since before it was released to enterprise in November 2006. There is really no excuse why the people who make your software and hardware haven't produced the necessary patches and drivers to work properly with the best, most secure and stable operating system that the world has ever known. I applaud Microsoft for their efforts to give these vendors plenty of time to avoid this situation. Let's please put the blame where it belongs. If you want to complain please call HP, Intuit, Symantec, Autodesk, and any other vendors whose products are only capable of working with a 5 year old operating system. Shame on them.
Trevor Dierdorff
President, Amnet
Proud Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
The best most stable and secure operating system ?
by Byteornibble - 4/21/07 11:41 AM In reply to: Don't be so quick to blame Vista! by trevman71Trevor,
I can see why you might try to make excuses for Microsoft and so on.
The truth is their system is obsolete as soon as it hits the public, and causes average users nothing but pain. Computing should be a far more pleasurable experience by now. I started with a Vic20 Commodore, and have moved through every MS/OS since DOS. I have suffered many lost weekends trying to deal with buggy software or Updates Gone Wild. I look back now, and realize that I have spent more time fixing Windows problems, than most any other activity. There are good alternatives to MS Windows--Ubuntu for example, has been running on my computer since last year without a single problem/virus/update. Compared to what I was dealing with before its a miracle. Microsoft needs to rethink their entire system quickly, and there are answers. I see them taking a big fall soon...they will probably wonder why, too.
Vista
by WirelessDog - 4/27/07 6:42 PM In reply to: Don't be so quick to blame Vista! by trevman71Wow an answer pointing at other companies, go figure. What else would you expect to hear from a MS Gold partner. Duh they are all about selling you the next OS. And the patches. When MS comes out with and OS that is near bug free then you can talk about others.
Who's at fault for vista compatability problems
by john3347 - 4/27/07 8:49 PM In reply to: Don't be so quick to blame Vista! by trevman71Mr. Dierdorff obviously is not aware of a term that we used to hear from software developers - "backward compatability". Microsoft has even been heard to utter this phrase back in Windows 3.11 and Windows 95 days. Nowdays Microsoft seems to be leading the charge to "planned obsolesence" and is deliberately phasing out compatabilities and the rest of the industry is following suit. They could have much better spent the engineering time and money to fixing the old system rather that obsoleting it.
Some problems may arise
by Shabbadang - 4/20/07 11:04 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Using your recovery disks might give you some problems. Windows XP won't recognize you new computer's configuration and either it won't run at all or it will ask you to register your copy of Windows once more. The latter will also probably happen with some of your programs, typically MS Office.
Vista Sux
by death_trooper30 - 4/20/07 11:09 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I'm having the same issues. I'm probably going to load XP back up sometime next week. I've already noticed so many bugs and that UAC thing or whatever it is, is a joke! I have to turn it off just to connect to the internet, because it won't give me an option of letting IE run, it just says there was an error in C++ programming or whatever, but it works fine when I turn it off!(which I have to do about once a day due to Vista turning it on without me telling it to) I absolutly hate Windows Vista, what a flop Microsoft! Whats the saying....."if it isn't broken, don't fix it!!" Like u said, I had no trouble with XP!
Multiple Options
by Jason83 - 4/20/07 11:17 PM In reply to: I want Vista out of my PC and XP back in, but how? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The way I see it, there are a few options, depending on your system configuration.
I doubt you can install XP over Vista, since Microsoft OS's only usually allow an upgrade path (even though XP is like an upgrade to Vista for now, as it runs better!).
Using the restore discs from your old PC will most undoubtedly cause XP to require authorisation from Microsoft to activate, since you are changing a lot of hardware variables. In theory, the license is for one machine, and although I have not read through it for all the fine details, it should be transferrable so long as you are no longer using it on the old machine. However, if restore discs work how I believe them to (I have no personal experiance with them; only ever used MS OEM discs) they will install all the system drivers etc that were relevant to your old machine. If this is the case, you will have to remove a lot of redundant drivers after the installation.
Theres no harm in trying with the recovery discs, but if Microsoft can't/ won't autorise, or you run into other issues, you may be as well buying XP. You can get OEM copies quite cheaply. The only downside is that you won't be eligible for Tech Support direct from Microsoft, but you can still use their forums and knowledge base for self help, and requesting advice from users. The massive saving, I find is well worth it.
You may even be able to request a Genuine XP disc from the manufacturer of your old system. I hear some companies will supply you with a copy of XP and not just recovery discs for a little extra. You may or may not be elible for this, as some companies only offer it at time of purchase, but I recommend that you try. Just don't let on that you will be using it for a different system, or they will most likely refuse anyway.
You have the following options:
* If only one hard drive in your system:
+ Backup your data (ESSENTIAL), format your hard drive, then revert to Windows XP from your recovery discs.
or
+ Partition the hard drive and attempt to creat a dual boot system with Vista and XP (not ideal, but will give you the best of both worlds and ask you which OS to load on boot). Some people have had issues doing this on 1 HDD though, so I wouldn't personally recommend it.
* If you have a second hard drive:
+ Try installing XP onto the HDD that does not have Vista installed on it. I have actually done this through the Vista Beta and RC1. I still have RC1 installed on my second HDD, and my rig boots into XP by default. If you go for this option, and want XP as the default OS, you will need to boot into Vista and you can change the default OS there. You will need to go into system properties (Windows Key + Break, or right click My Computer the click properties). From there go to the advanced tab. There should be a Startup and recovery button. This opens a new tab. Top box is default operating system. Just select the XP option here click OK, then apply. When you reboot, your PC will display a list for you to choose between XP (displayed as "Older Version of Windows" or something similar), and Windows Vista. The older version should be highlighted in white, and will auto start after a few seconds (this timing can be changed in Vista where you change the default operating system, if you want to speed up the boot time. I would not recommend any shorter than 5 seconds though, since the selection screeen take 2 seconds to appear, by which time you will only have 3 seconds to select the OS).
I would personally go for the dual boot option if you have the second HDD. That way, you can boot Vista every now and then, and check for the drivers you so desperately need. When the time comes, and Vista is right for you there will be no need to reinstall it, you can simply boot Vista and change it to the default OS once you are happy. You can then easily remove the XP install when the time comes.
The catch with dual booting PCs is that your primary HDD with Vista on will be Drive "C" in Vista and the second HDD appears as Drive "D". When you boot XP from the second HDD, the second HDD is seen as Drive "C" and the primary HDD with Vista on become Drive "D". As long as you can get your head around this, it is a fine arrangement. Just thought I'd mention it in case you boot XP form a second HDD and think you have lost a folder or file; it will simply be on the other HDD.
Hope this helps you in some way, and good luck.
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