Downgrade from Vista to XP

burnrubber · Joined: May 06, 2009 Posts: 1

I am fairly pc illiterate. Smile

I bought a new pc with windows Vista. I "heard" that my files in XP might not work right when transferred to the new pc with Vista. Is this true and if so is it that much trouble to downgrade to xp?

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2636

Quote:

is it that much trouble to downgrade to xp?

Yes, and more so for someone who states that he/she is computer illiterate.
1. You need to see if drivers exist for every bit of hardware on your new computer, otherwise you get no sound, video may not be good, etc. Manufacturers do not waste time writing drivers for new hardware. They prefer to look ahead.
2. You need to purchase another copy of XP and that in itself can be a problem. Presently you can purchase OEM versions of XP from places like Newegg. You can not have XP activated on more than one computer unless you have a license. Depending on the XP computer you currently have, that copy might not even be installable on your new computer. It all goes back to the type of license.
3. If you decide to dual boot, that is keep Vista but create a partition for XP on your hard drive to see how well it works, the "boot loader" may need to be repaired to give you an option to boot another OS. Since Vista doesn't use the same type boot loader as XP, you will need to learn the difference between the two. Usually it is better to install the oldest OS first so XP should be installed before Vista. It is not impossible to have Vista installed then install XP but it is harder.
4. If you decide you do not want to partition the hd, you can run XP in a virtual machine. This also entails doing a bit of reading to see what a virtual machine is.

My advice, use the XP computer with the programs you are used to and use the Vista computer with programs designed for XP and Vista. By the end of this year Windows 7 will be out and you can upgrade from Vista to Windows 7. From early reports I'm reading it appears to be better than Vista. (I have not tried the release candidate1 yet so I have no first hand experience).

I'm not sure what you mean by "files". If you mean programs, each program needs a clean install not a move over to another operating system.

Explain what types of files you have in mind and we can tell you if it works or doesn't.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

All the tweaks that make Vista run and look like XP have been posted all over the internet for over two years now.

I never even consider downgrading any computer from Vista to XP.

It takes no longer to set up vista than it did for XP.
It does help if you know what you're doing. Wink

Vista to XP.....forgetaboutit.

You'll need either Vista or Win-7 to run the newest software coming out, anyway.
Don't even buy a PC with 32 bit Windows on it. You're just shooting yourself in the foot if you do. The future of computing is all 64 bit.

Doc Cool

system001 · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 12:30 pm Post subject:

vista post sp1 works great. i also would never downgrade to xp. you should be able to find versions of and or replacements for your xp programs that do not work in vista. as for win 7 i have been running the rc and there is not enough new in it to warrant buying it. in reality it is nothing more than a vista sp.