Dumb Vista and dowgrade to XP?

[mrcapi937]

After trying for several months and not being able to print and haveing
numerous other errors I am ready to go back to XP. I purchased this laptop
new and it came with Vista Home Basic. I am tired of finding new
compatibility issues every week and I still can't print properly. Is it
possible to downgrade to XP without re-formatting so I don't have to reload
everything? I have a licensed XP upgrade cd will it work? What know issues
are there?

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

After trying for several months and not being able to print and haveing
numerous other errors I am ready to go back to XP. I purchased this laptop
new and it came with Vista Home Basic. I am tired of finding new
compatibility issues every week and I still can't print properly. Is it
possible to downgrade to XP without re-formatting so I don't have to
reload
everything? I have a licensed XP upgrade cd will it work? What know issues
are there?

Downgrade = clean install..

 

[Shenan Stanley]

After trying for several months and not being able to print and
haveing numerous other errors I am ready to go back to XP. I
purchased this laptop new and it came with Vista Home Basic. I am
tired of finding new compatibility issues every week and I still
can't print properly. Is it possible to downgrade to XP without
re-formatting so I don't have to reload everything? I have a
licensed XP upgrade cd will it work? What know issues are there?

You do have to format.

If this is a new laptop - everything on it should work - although your old
external hardware may be unusable - depending on what the manufacturer of
those products decided to do (in other words - your problem is not with
Vista - but with the makers of the external products that you have not
upgraded.)

If you are going to format and install Windows XP - you need to know a few
things.

- You need a licensed copy of Windows XP.
A copy that came with your last computer is not technically valid - as it
is an OEM copy and it is - in accordance with the End-User License
Agreement - permanently tied to the computer it was first installed upon, no
matter what - you cannot transfer the license. If you happen to have an
unused OEM copy or an unused retail copy - those can be used. If you do
not - prepare to purchase one. No - you having Windows Vista does not allow
you to just use Windows XP.

- You need a copy of the software installation media for any software you
have installed on the current machine. Office products, graphics products,
antivirus/antispyware, etc. You will also need the product keys/serial
numbers. You will be clean installing those products.

- You will need to check that the manufacturer of each of your hardware
components (internal to the computer and external to it as well) provide
drivers for the operating system you will be going to (Windows XP in this
case.) You should likely get all of those before you begin your clean
installation.

- This will likely void the warranty on the machine as well.

Good luck!

 

[Patrick Keenan]

After trying for several months and not being able to print and haveing
numerous other errors I am ready to go back to XP. I purchased this laptop
new and it came with Vista Home Basic. I am tired of finding new
compatibility issues every week and I still can't print properly. Is it
possible to downgrade to XP

There's a specific meaning to "downgrade" that you should be aware does not
apply to you. Microsoft allows Vista-to XP "downgrade rights", meaning
that you can install XP and they will activate it, but *only if your version
of Vista is Business or Ultimate*. If it's got the word "Home" in the
name, it doesn't qualify.

wiithout re-formatting

The answer to that is simply no. You have to start from a clean formatted
disk to do this downgrade. It's a fresh install to a freshly formatted
disk.

so I don't have to reload everything?

You will have to reload everything, AND, you MUST be sure that XP drivers
ARE available BEFORE you start. You need them on hand as you install.

If you can't get XP drivers from the manufacturer, you won't get them
anywhere, and you will only have succeeded in disabling your system.

I have a licensed XP upgrade cd will it work?

Not without a qualifying CD, meaning a Windows 2000 or ME or 98 CD, and not
if its license is already in use.

What know issues
are there?

The key issue is that XP drivers for systems that come with vista are
sometimes just not available.

Perhaps you might just have someone qualified have a look at your Vista
system, or sell it and get an XP system that works with the things you need
it to.

HTH
-pk

 

[Mick Murphy]

The only thing dumb around here is YOU!

You posted this in Vista.installation, and rec'd a lot of answers.
All you are doing is wasting people's time.

 

[Jim]

After trying for several months and not being able to print and haveing
numerous other errors I am ready to go back to XP. I purchased this laptop
new and it came with Vista Home Basic. I am tired of finding new
compatibility issues every week and I still can't print properly. Is it
possible to downgrade to XP without re-formatting so I don't have to reload
everything? I have a licensed XP upgrade cd will it work? What know issues
are there?

Did you see if the printers site has upgraded drivers for vista ?