B
Brian W
No
G
Guest
Is there any way I can get back to XP without reinstalling my PC? (Assuming
I have valid licenses for both)
I have valid licenses for both)
R
Rick Rogers
Hi,
No, there is no downgrade path. NT-based systems have never supported
retrograding to another NT system once upgraded, only upgrades from a 9x
system and then only under certain conditions.
--
Best of Luck,
Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
No, there is no downgrade path. NT-based systems have never supported
retrograding to another NT system once upgraded, only upgrades from a 9x
system and then only under certain conditions.
--
Best of Luck,
Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
G
Guest
Didn't think so.... just praying for a "yes"
Rick Rogers said:
H
Henry Jones
YES....YES....YES..... You now have a yes.....
Just reformat your PC and you can downgrade to XP !!!!
Couldn't resist -------
Henry
Just reformat your PC and you can downgrade to XP !!!!
Couldn't resist -------
Henry
M
Mike
Henry Jones said:
Yes, my prayers were anwered when I reformatted and installed Vista.
Mike
B
Barry Watzman
No, but there's nothing to keep you from making an Image (Ghost / Drive
Image / True Image) just before doing the upgrade and then reinstalling
the image. Much faster than starting from scratch. In fact, I think
you would be nuts not to do that.
Image / True Image) just before doing the upgrade and then reinstalling
the image. Much faster than starting from scratch. In fact, I think
you would be nuts not to do that.
G
Guest
is there any possible way to get back to xp from vista if so please reply
thanks.
thanks.
R
R. McCarty
The only "Fall Back" provision is if an upgrade to Vista fails. In
that case the original OS is restored. Can't say absolutely, but I
think Vista is a forward migration only. Don't believe you'll find
an Uninstall in the Add/Remove programs to return to your OS
in use before the upgrade. This is where an Imaging program is
invaluable.
that case the original OS is restored. Can't say absolutely, but I
think Vista is a forward migration only. Don't believe you'll find
an Uninstall in the Add/Remove programs to return to your OS
in use before the upgrade. This is where an Imaging program is
invaluable.
J
John Barnes
And even if the upgrade fails, as mine have, you can end up with a poorly or
non functioning XP, so I would make a complete backup of XP before
upgrading.
non functioning XP, so I would make a complete backup of XP before
upgrading.
C
Colin Barnhorst
Correct. Uninstallation via Add/Remove Programs was never supported in the
NT branch, only the DOS based branch (Win9x/ME). A rollback from an NT
Windows, like Vista, is not supported. The only option is re-installation
of the previous version of Windows.
NT branch, only the DOS based branch (Win9x/ME). A rollback from an NT
Windows, like Vista, is not supported. The only option is re-installation
of the previous version of Windows.
J
joseph2k
Colin said:
Actually ME did not support rollback either, just the same i did it once. I
did not have images, that was financially out of reach for me at the time.
It was so long ago that i doubt i can replicate the feat.
G
Gary G. Little
The best way is before you install. You take an image of your current XP
installation and then restore it when you decide you want to go back to the
good old blankie. More than likely, to restore the XP image, you will
have to kill and re-partition the Vista partition.
installation and then restore it when you decide you want to go back to the
good old blankie.
More than likely, to restore the XP image, you willhave to kill and re-partition the Vista partition.
G
Guest
tired said:
No!! and at the moment I am searching the Microsoft site to find out if it
is true that my XP key will no longer work when I try to return to my old
system ----
Very disappointed, I am not a geek but do understand enough to know that an
OS that has this many networking and programming compatibility issues
shouldn't be sold!!
If I can't return to XP it will cost us about $5000 to upgrade all our
programs to "Vista enabled" and even though we bought 3 new computers just
before the launch(and were entitled to Vista upgrade,) our upgrades are only
32 bit even though the same product in the shop is 64!!!! DONT BUY VISTA__ IT
MAY BE READY BUT NO ONE ELSE INCLUDING MICROSOFT IS YET.
R
Ronnie Vernon MVP
Your XP key is still good. The only time it cannot be 'used' is after you
'upgrade' to Vista on the system where XP was installed this is why the
upgrade version has a lower price. Microsoft has no way of knowing what the
key is on the system that is being upgraded. As long as you uninstall Vista
on that system, you should still be in compliance with the EULA.
If you purchased Vista 32bit retail, either the full version or upgrade, you
should have the 32bit and 64bit disks in the box. The license is for either
version.
If you have a retail version of Vista and it was purchased less than 45 days
ago, you can even get your money back, if you wish. If you are located in
the US, go to the following website for information. If you are in another
country, call the nearest Microsoft office.
Microsoft North American Retail Product Refund Guidelines:
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/productrefund/refund.asp
As for the software compatibility issues, MS has been berating software and
hardware developers for years about the changes that Vista would bring.
There are, literally tens of thousands of different programs, applications,
and utilities written for Windows not to mention all of the hardware
drivers. Just imagine how many different combinations this could involve.
These software developers have the responsibility to make sure their
programs will work with any new OS. Microsoft provides all of the support
these developers could possibly need to stay current.
'upgrade' to Vista on the system where XP was installed this is why the
upgrade version has a lower price. Microsoft has no way of knowing what the
key is on the system that is being upgraded. As long as you uninstall Vista
on that system, you should still be in compliance with the EULA.
If you purchased Vista 32bit retail, either the full version or upgrade, you
should have the 32bit and 64bit disks in the box. The license is for either
version.
If you have a retail version of Vista and it was purchased less than 45 days
ago, you can even get your money back, if you wish. If you are located in
the US, go to the following website for information. If you are in another
country, call the nearest Microsoft office.
Microsoft North American Retail Product Refund Guidelines:
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/productrefund/refund.asp
As for the software compatibility issues, MS has been berating software and
hardware developers for years about the changes that Vista would bring.
There are, literally tens of thousands of different programs, applications,
and utilities written for Windows not to mention all of the hardware
drivers. Just imagine how many different combinations this could involve.
These software developers have the responsibility to make sure their
programs will work with any new OS. Microsoft provides all of the support
these developers could possibly need to stay current.
W
Wrecklass
There is no truth to that statement at all. It is perfecty within the rights
of any hardware/software company to say that they will not support a new OS.
Admittedly that may lose them business, but you are wrong when you say they
have a responsibility, they do not.
For instance, many branches of the DOD and DOI are still running on Windows
2000 because they saw no benefit in upgrading their software to XP, and
probably still won't upgrade to Vista for a long time if at all. Their
vendors aren't compelled to create new software for Vista since their
biggest customers aren't using it.
Microsoft can and has whined heavily to many of these vendors and customers,
but they haven't shown a valid need for their new OS's, so people can and do
ignore them.
of any hardware/software company to say that they will not support a new OS.
Admittedly that may lose them business, but you are wrong when you say they
have a responsibility, they do not.
For instance, many branches of the DOD and DOI are still running on Windows
2000 because they saw no benefit in upgrading their software to XP, and
probably still won't upgrade to Vista for a long time if at all. Their
vendors aren't compelled to create new software for Vista since their
biggest customers aren't using it.
Microsoft can and has whined heavily to many of these vendors and customers,
but they haven't shown a valid need for their new OS's, so people can and do
ignore them.
J
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
I think you misunderstood.
You also may be confusing "responsibility" with "rights", they are
not the same.
It is the software manufacturers responsibility to make their software
compatible with an operating system.
But nothing says they have to.
If the customers want compatibility and ask the manufacturers, it is
then up to the manufacturer to determine if they are going to support
or discard their customers needs.
The manufacturers have had all the information necessary to make the
programs compatible but some do nothing for various reasons.
You also may be confusing "responsibility" with "rights", they are
not the same.
It is the software manufacturers responsibility to make their software
compatible with an operating system.
But nothing says they have to.
If the customers want compatibility and ask the manufacturers, it is
then up to the manufacturer to determine if they are going to support
or discard their customers needs.
The manufacturers have had all the information necessary to make the
programs compatible but some do nothing for various reasons.
R
Ronnie Vernon MVP
I think you either misunderstood my statement or maybe I didn't make it
clear enough.
How about: These software developers have the responsibility to make sure
their programs will work with any new OS that their users may be installing
it on. To not do this will severely restrict the revenue model for that
software company.
One of the problems that always arises is when a software developer uses the
new OS requirements as an excuse to quit supporting the current version of
their product and force users to pay for what should be a simple upgrade.
Especially if a software company does not support a version of their program
that was released after they were already aware of the new Vista
requirements. There are many software programs that fit this scenario.
The examples you cite about the DOD do not apply to this subject, simply
because they are large enough to demand anything from their vendors.
That statement is way too simplistic. Operating systems are hardware driven.
The OS must constantly change to support new hardware standards and
features. In some cases, this is not something that a service pack for an
existing OS can fix. The underlying code just isn't there.
But there are people who could care what new technology is out there. They
have something that works for them and that's all that matters. I know
plenty of people who use Win98 and who do not plan to upgrade until those
system decide to die.
clear enough.
How about: These software developers have the responsibility to make sure
their programs will work with any new OS that their users may be installing
it on. To not do this will severely restrict the revenue model for that
software company.
One of the problems that always arises is when a software developer uses the
new OS requirements as an excuse to quit supporting the current version of
their product and force users to pay for what should be a simple upgrade.
Especially if a software company does not support a version of their program
that was released after they were already aware of the new Vista
requirements. There are many software programs that fit this scenario.
The examples you cite about the DOD do not apply to this subject, simply
because they are large enough to demand anything from their vendors.
That statement is way too simplistic. Operating systems are hardware driven.
The OS must constantly change to support new hardware standards and
features. In some cases, this is not something that a service pack for an
existing OS can fix. The underlying code just isn't there.
But there are people who could care what new technology is out there. They
have something that works for them and that's all that matters. I know
plenty of people who use Win98 and who do not plan to upgrade until those
system decide to die.
J
John Barnes
FWIW
The comment that I received from one vendor, and similar from others
Remember, a Microsoft operating system is not really trustworthy until the
first Service Pack comes out.
The comment that I received from one vendor, and similar from others
Remember, a Microsoft operating system is not really trustworthy until the
first Service Pack comes out.