How to change to XP from Vista?

[Guest]

Hi everyone!

This post is to ask how to switch a brand new PC with Vista Home Premium to
XP Home.

The end of last month, I bought a new PC to replace a very old one. Here's
what I got:
HP Pavilion a1740n
Intel Core 2 Du Processor E6300
Intel Viiv Technology
2GB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM
320GB Serial ATA HD
SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
9-in-1 memory card reader
10/100Base-T network interface

Software includes:
Win Vista Home premium
Roxio Creator
muvee autoProducer
MS Works 8
Norton Internet Security 2007

I have a home network which had 3 PCs on it: 2 were running XP Home and 1
was running XP Pro. The network is just the cables plugged into the ethernet
socket and running thru a Linksys 5 port network hub. Internet is Comcast via
an RCA cable modem. There is also an all-in-one printer/scanner/fax hooked
up. Everything in the network worked just fine.

The new Vista PC replaced one of the 2 XP Home PCs, which was something like
12 years old, so pretty outdated. I didn't replace it specifically for Vista,
but just to get a new, higher performance PC. Vista just sort of came with it.

Anyways, I'm less than thrilled with Vista. It still has issues with
networking, and Win Mail won't do Hotmail. I've also read several other posts
here about other things with Vista. But, this thread isn't a debate on the
virtues of Vista. I've decided that I'd be better off changing the new Vista
machine to XP Home. And this thread is to find out, step-by-step, just HOW to
do that. I don't want to end up loosing any drivers for hardware installed in
the new PC, nor do I want to loose the software for the DVD MultiDrive or
Works 8. Norton, I couldn't care less about. It's only a 60 day run anyways.

Two things which may make this more difficult are that HP doesn't provide an
OS disk, they set up a 'Recovery' partition on the HD. And second, I'll
completely scrap Vista if needed, but since it may improve with a service
pack or 2 sometime in the future, I'd rather keep it. Maybe not with a dual
boot, since I've been told that that can/will cause some probs with the Vista
boot up. So, if there is a way to zip Vista for later reinstallation or copy
it to disk, that would be good. If not, if it comes down to having XP or
Vista, I'll take XP and just chuck Vista.

Now, one last thing. I'm not computer illiterate, but I'm also not a techie.
I can read a book like something from the "Dummies" series such as Windows XP
for Dummies, and usually get things to work the way I want them to. And yeah,
I got a couple of Vista books, but...

Anyways, if anyone can spell out how to do this, I'd really appreciate it.
Thank you ahead of time to everyone who replies On Topic.

Susan

 

[Papa]

Boot from your XP disk.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You'll forfeit the warranty coverage and support of your new HP computer if you
do away with the factory installed Windows Vista operating system and replace it
with Windows XP. Thus, it is not recommended to do so.

To join a computer to an existing workgroup, know the name of the workgroup
you want to join and you must change the workgroup name that is currently assigned
to the computer.

Once you’ve identified the name of the workgroup to join, you can complete the steps listed below.
Click Start and click Control Panel.

1. Double click the System and Maintenance.
2. Click the Change Settings link.
3. Click the Change button.
4. Type in the new workgroup name and click OK.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

Hi everyone!

This post is to ask how to switch a brand new PC with Vista Home Premium to
XP Home.

The end of last month, I bought a new PC to replace a very old one. Here's
what I got:
HP Pavilion a1740n
Intel Core 2 Du Processor E6300
Intel Viiv Technology
2GB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM
320GB Serial ATA HD
SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
9-in-1 memory card reader
10/100Base-T network interface

Software includes:
Win Vista Home premium
Roxio Creator
muvee autoProducer
MS Works 8
Norton Internet Security 2007

I have a home network which had 3 PCs on it: 2 were running XP Home and 1
was running XP Pro. The network is just the cables plugged into the ethernet
socket and running thru a Linksys 5 port network hub. Internet is Comcast via
an RCA cable modem. There is also an all-in-one printer/scanner/fax hooked
up. Everything in the network worked just fine.

The new Vista PC replaced one of the 2 XP Home PCs, which was something like
12 years old, so pretty outdated. I didn't replace it specifically for Vista,
but just to get a new, higher performance PC. Vista just sort of came with it.

Anyways, I'm less than thrilled with Vista. It still has issues with
networking, and Win Mail won't do Hotmail. I've also read several other posts
here about other things with Vista. But, this thread isn't a debate on the
virtues of Vista. I've decided that I'd be better off changing the new Vista
machine to XP Home. And this thread is to find out, step-by-step, just HOW to
do that. I don't want to end up loosing any drivers for hardware installed in
the new PC, nor do I want to loose the software for the DVD MultiDrive or
Works 8. Norton, I couldn't care less about. It's only a 60 day run anyways.

Two things which may make this more difficult are that HP doesn't provide an
OS disk, they set up a 'Recovery' partition on the HD. And second, I'll
completely scrap Vista if needed, but since it may improve with a service
pack or 2 sometime in the future, I'd rather keep it. Maybe not with a dual
boot, since I've been told that that can/will cause some probs with the Vista
boot up. So, if there is a way to zip Vista for later reinstallation or copy
it to disk, that would be good. If not, if it comes down to having XP or
Vista, I'll take XP and just chuck Vista.

Now, one last thing. I'm not computer illiterate, but I'm also not a techie.
I can read a book like something from the "Dummies" series such as Windows XP
for Dummies, and usually get things to work the way I want them to. And yeah,
I got a couple of Vista books, but...

Anyways, if anyone can spell out how to do this, I'd really appreciate it.
Thank you ahead of time to everyone who replies On Topic.

Susan

 

[Michael Jennings]

The first thing to do is to burn recovery DVDs. Should your
adventure wipe out the recovery partition, you'll have disks
you made per HP's instructions from which you can restore.

 

[Richard Urban]

To downgrade you have to wipe and destroy. Everything will be lost.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User

 

[Papa]

Other than the loss of the warranty, why not? Even some of the major
computer retailers are doing it in order to satisfy their customers. And
some of them offer their own warranties. The only operational problem I can
think of is in the case of all new hardware that does not have workable
device drivers.

 

[Papa]

I should have said "...does not have workable device drivers for Windows
XP".

 

[philo]

Hi everyone!

This post is to ask how to switch a brand new PC with Vista Home Premium to
XP Home.

The end of last month, I bought a new PC to replace a very old one. Here's
what I got:
HP Pavilion a1740n
Intel Core 2 Du Processor E6300
Intel Viiv Technology
2GB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM
320GB Serial ATA HD
SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
9-in-1 memory card reader
10/100Base-T network interface

Software includes:
Win Vista Home premium
Roxio Creator
muvee autoProducer
MS Works 8
Norton Internet Security 2007

I have a home network which had 3 PCs on it: 2 were running XP Home and 1
was running XP Pro. The network is just the cables plugged into the ethernet
socket and running thru a Linksys 5 port network hub. Internet is Comcast via
an RCA cable modem. There is also an all-in-one printer/scanner/fax hooked
up. Everything in the network worked just fine.

The new Vista PC replaced one of the 2 XP Home PCs, which was something like
12 years old, so pretty outdated. I didn't replace it specifically for Vista,
but just to get a new, higher performance PC. Vista just sort of came with it.

Anyways, I'm less than thrilled with Vista. It still has issues with
networking, and Win Mail won't do Hotmail. I've also read several other posts
here about other things with Vista. But, this thread isn't a debate on the
virtues of Vista. I've decided that I'd be better off changing the new Vista
machine to XP Home. And this thread is to find out, step-by-step, just HOW to
do that. I don't want to end up loosing any drivers for hardware installed in
the new PC, nor do I want to loose the software for the DVD MultiDrive or
Works 8. Norton, I couldn't care less about. It's only a 60 day run anyways.

<snip>

The problem is ...to install XP you'd have to boot from your XP cd and
format the drive...
you'd loose everything...including your apps.

Also...to install XP you may need to first get the SATA drivers and load
them from a floppy
during the first part of setup...

Might as well just keep Vista and move onward...
though I have not been super impressed with Vista...I sure did not notice
any networking problems with it .

 

[Stephan Rose]

You'll forfeit the warranty coverage and support of your new HP computer
if you do away with the factory installed Windows Vista operating system
and replace it
with Windows XP. Thus, it is not recommended to do so.

To join a computer to an existing workgroup, know the name of the
workgroup you want to join and you must change the workgroup name that is
currently assigned to the computer.

Once you’ve identified the name of the workgroup to join, you can complete
the steps listed below. Click Start and click Control Panel.

1. Double click the System and Maintenance.
2. Click the Change Settings link.
3. Click the Change button.
4. Type in the new workgroup name and click OK.

Huh? Changing operating system voids warranty??

Isn't warranty for things like...hardware??

Since when is hardware affected by the operating system...

--
Stephan Rose
2003 Yamaha R6

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å›ã®ã“ã¨å¿˜ã‚ŒãŸæ™‚ãŒãªã„ã‹ã‚‰

 

[Stephan Rose]

philo wrote:

Also...to install XP you may need to first get the SATA drivers and load
them from a floppy
during the first part of setup...

Hmmm, I've never had to do that and I use SATA in every single one of my
computers. XP Setup has always correctly detected the drives...

--
Stephan Rose
2003 Yamaha R6

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å›ã®ã“ã¨å¿˜ã‚ŒãŸæ™‚ãŒãªã„ã‹ã‚‰

 

[Dan]

You should have an option in your start menu to make backup CD's or DVD's of
the software that came with your computer including the Vista OS. Once you
make those disks than you will be able to restore the system at a later date
once Vista matures.

Dan

 

[Dan]

philo wrote:



Hmmm, I've never had to do that and I use SATA in every single one of my
computers. XP Setup has always correctly detected the drives...

That depends on your hardware, nvidia SATA drivers usually work on a fresh
install with XP, with no need to use a floppy. Intel chipsets among others
usually require the drivers for XP to even see the drives, and if you are
using RAID you will also need to install the drivers.

Dan

 

[John Barnes]

If you don't need the recovery partition space, just leave it. You will
either need a full version of XP or a Win98/ME install disk as Vista won't
work as an upgrade qualifier. You will need the SATA drivers to use early
on when it says to hit F6 at the bottom of the screen to install drivers.
You will have to make sure the CD player is first in your boot priority for
the install CD to boot. You may have to do a fixmbr in recovery console.
You will need to find the drivers for your hardware after the install. The
software either has to be available on separate disks for installation or
you will have to purchase copies. Works8 is widely available and Roxio
Creator you can probably pick up pretty cheap on one of the oem sites or
Froogle.

 

[Justin]

I read a case where the installed operating system controlled a specific
fan. The user switched OSs and that fan was no longer in use and eventually
heated up the system.

Granted this was arguably the shortsightedness of the hardware vendor but
none the less, the warranty was not upheld.

 

[philo]

That depends on your hardware, nvidia SATA drivers usually work on a fresh
install with XP, with no need to use a floppy. Intel chipsets among others
usually require the drivers for XP to even see the drives, and if you are
using RAID you will also need to install the drivers.

Maybe I was being over-cautious in my advice...
I guess if the OP wanted XP...he could get the apps he needs elsewhere

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Void until the computer is in original configuration.
Many manufacturers will not support the computer with a different
operating system even if the same model ships with that operating
system.
For warranty service the customer may have to install the original
operating system at customers time and expense before warranty work
can proceed.
Check the specifics of your warranty for details.

 

[Papa]

I've never heard, or read, of a single instance where the operation of a
cooling fan for any device was OS dependent. If that were the case, then the
device would be at risk of overheating when the OS is offline, such as
during pre-boot tasks in the BIOS.

Anyone with average computer knowledge can easily revert their system back
to its original OS configuration and thus prevent any voiding of their
warranty. Further, if someone argues that one loses all of their current
data during a reversion, the answer is - backup first.

 

[Richard Urban]

There have been a few reports that laptop computers have cooling problems
when once Vista has been installed (upgrade). If the computer comes from the
manufacturer with Vista already in place this problem doesn't exist.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User

 

[Papa]

Wow! That alone is enough reason to NOT install Vista on a system previously
running another operating system. Looks like Vista is really for new systems
only.

 

[Justin]

I'm sure it was an app that was installed. Either way, the user installing
an optional OS himself and rendered the unit out of spec.

I'm sure there are many ways a vendor can justify themselves.