Downgrade from Vista to XP

[Willdue]

How hard is it, and how do I do it?

[TGilb2007]

1. Put the windows XP cd into the drive, and reboot the computer. Get into the BIOS (should be either F1 or DEL normally)

2. Go into the Boot Options, and place CD/DVD-ROM as the first option

3. Save and Exit BIOS

4. Wait for computer to reboot, press any button when the computer tells you

5. Follow instructions from there

if you need help, you got my s/n

[Willdue]

thanks, shouldve juss AIMED you.

[TGilb2007]

haha....its cool man

[doug]

good move, i heard vista is teh suck.

[Willdue]

Its not that vista sucks, I'm fine with it. But a lot of my music equipment aint liking it.

[SexyDSM95]

Originally Posted by TGilb2007

1. Put the windows XP cd into the drive, and reboot the computer. Get into the BIOS (should be either F1 or DEL normally)

2. Go into the Boot Options, and place CD/DVD-ROM as the first option

3. Save and Exit BIOS

4. Wait for computer to reboot, press any button when the computer tells you

5. Follow instructions from there

if you need help, you got my s/n

Ummmmm I don't think that will work. Vista does not have an uninstall or revert to previous OS option. Meaning, it doesn't like to get installed over. You usually have to do a parallel installation of Windows XP or do a completely clean installation meaning wipe out/format the HDD and then install it.

http://www.istartedsomething.com/200...-boot-with-xp/
and
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...027c01033.mspx

Also realize that if you brought a brand new machine, meaning your partition or "Systems Restore Space" will be erased too. You can't undo this step if you decide to reformat so if you erase Vista and all it's components, you lose the partition meaning you lose Vista and can't revert back to "factory settings" when Vista does come out with drivers for your equipment.

[TGilb2007]

Well what I was having him do is format during the XP installation, so that it wipes out Vista, then installs XP. Done it with other OS's, just never really had the chance to try it with XP. I think that my roommate did it with his laptop (Toshiba), and it worked fine though

[SexyDSM95]

Originally Posted by TGilb2007

Well what I was having him do is format during the XP installation, so that it wipes out Vista, then installs XP. Done it with other OS's, just never really had the chance to try it with XP. I think that my roommate did it with his laptop (Toshiba), and it worked fine though

Again that will work, the only downfall is that if the machine is NEWER and came with Vista on it from the factory, he loses that restore partition. So if he wants to upgrade to Vista in the future he will have to pay for the software.

[grimm]

also after re-verting back to vista it might not be eligible for any support from the manufacturer.

[S4toSTI]

I would say best bet is partition and install xp on a operate partition.

[ScoobyNubieToo!]

Or pickup another hard drive, install it and just disconnect the drive with Ista on it. Then if you need to get service done on Teh Computer, remove new drive and reconnect old hard drive.

[05GT]

You guys have some good ideas...but are slightly off. Sexy...your kinda right in warning him about the system restore part, but "most" (keyword most) new computers have a seperate hidden partition that holds the image for the original OS (operating system).

So if he does use the XP cd, it actually might show him 2 paritions, one being quite small, which would be the restore partition.

In either event, you are going to need to format the drive because its a known fact that installing an older OS over a newer one causes plenty of issues.

If your machine came with Vista, I suggest you leave it.

On a side note...Vista is far from the suck....its just like XP when it 1st came out. You have people with 2,3,4+ year old computers thinking they can just throw on the latest OS and not have any issues.

Vista is made to run on beefy machines, and its no joke that it will slllloooow down a system quite obviously if the system isn't fast enough.

The biggest issue right now with Vista is its compatibilty problems with older programs...even some programs that are only a few months older the Vista itself.

Yes, I'm a geek, I'm a systems admin, and I have to deal with this stuff everyday lol.