Going Back To XP...

[Guest]

I am deciding wether or not I should install Vista RC1. My biggest concern
is not to loose all my data but to keep a stable OS. I have read around and
heard many good things about Vista RC1, but also some negatives. So I was
wondering, I made a backup dvd of my data a while ago, will booting from this
dvd in the future allow me to go back to XP after I upgrade to Vista? or did
it only back up data to boot in case XP clashed? I backed up my data using
the feature built in with my new HP computer, not a third party program. I
cannot partition my harddrive so i will most likely upgrade.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Upgrading to Vista is a one way trip.
If you decide to go back to a previous OS, that will require a Clean
Installation.

 

[Guest]

dont know why you cant partition your drive, but maybe look at partition
magic. also DO NOT upgrade do a clean install. Vista will make a new folder
[windows.old] which will save your documents and most important stuff. if for
some reason you need to go back to XP you will be able to. most likely. but
it will not be easy. i would partition the drive and install vista to the new
partition, and then you will have XP and Vista and you will be able to use
both.

 

[John Barnes]

Jupiter is correct, it is a one way trip. Also you may be in trouble
getting to your HP backup as Vista will replace your MBR, probably making
it inaccessable.

 

[Guest]

What is "MBR" is this needed for my back up to work? My back up is in a
partition and a DVD.

 

[John Barnes]

Master Boot Record (MBR) When Vista re writes the record you will probably
not be able to access the partition. It depends on the way the DVD is
structured whether it replaces the MBR during the restore process. It may
take a call to technical service to get the proper file.