How to downgrad from XP PRO to XP Home ed

[Abel]

Hello there,

I purhased Win XP home ed for my computer. Then at work
they were giving out free trails for Win XP Pro. So I
installed it. But now that the trial period expired I
can't go back to XP Home. Does anyone have any
suggestions on how to go back without erasing everything.
I already try to install the XP Home ed disk by turning
the computer on safe mode. But once the XP home starts it
tells that I already have it, and shuts off.

Thanks.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You can't simply delete XP Pro. You need to backup your files,
reformat your drive and reinstall XP Home "clean".

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

1. It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except for you mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

2. Open your BIOS and set your CD Drive as the first bootable device.

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

3. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
4. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
5. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

6. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

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


| Hello there,
|
| I purhased Win XP home ed for my computer. Then at work
| they were giving out free trails for Win XP Pro. So I
| installed it. But now that the trial period expired I
| can't go back to XP Home. Does anyone have any
| suggestions on how to go back without erasing everything.
| I already try to install the XP Home ed disk by turning
| the computer on safe mode. But once the XP home starts it
| tells that I already have it, and shuts off.
|
| Thanks.

 

[Honjo]

There is no way to do what you want to do: You have to clean install
Windows XP Home Edition.

Kaz

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The only way to change from WinXP Pro to WinXP Home is to format
the drive and start over. There is no supported downgrade path or
technique.

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the
order of boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

Of course, you'll want to back up any important data before
starting.


Bruce Chambers

--
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[Alex Nichol]

I purhased Win XP home ed for my computer. Then at work
they were giving out free trails for Win XP Pro. So I
installed it. But now that the trial period expired I
can't go back to XP Home. Does anyone have any
suggestions on how to go back without erasing everything.
I already try to install the XP Home ed disk by turning
the computer on safe mode. But once the XP home starts it
tells that I already have it, and shuts off.

Once you have installed Pro, the only way back to Home is by cleaning
off and starting over. Back up data, and read Gary Woodruff's article
on Files and settings Transfer at http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm