Vista to XP

[Ace]

I am buying my parents a new computer which inevitably will have the Vista OS
on it. I want to upload XP on to the new computer, as I prefer they use that
OS. Could someone please give me the exact procedure on how I would do that?

Thank you very much!

 

[Bob I]

Buy a copy of Windows XP, find all the nessessary XP drivers from the
hardware vendors for everything, stick the CD in the drive,
.......................................

 

[Ace]

I don't understand what you mean by "find all the necessary XP drivers from
the hardware vendors for everything." I am not real savvy when it comes to
computers. So, please bear with me.

This is an acceptable thing to do, right?

Thanks.

 

[HeyBub]

I am buying my parents a new computer which inevitably will have the
Vista OS on it. I want to upload XP on to the new computer, as I
prefer they use that OS. Could someone please give me the exact
procedure on how I would do that?

Thank you very much!

It may not be possible. Often newer computers have devices that won't work
with XP and can't be made to work.

Get a machine with XP installed. They exist.

 

[sgopus]

Since you do not have the expertise to do this, I suggest you leave them with
Vista and call it good. it's much too involved for a novice to try and do
this on their own.

 

[Ace]

Wow, it seems like the opinions are quite varied here. I take it that trying
to "change" an OS isn't as easy as I thought it would be. I guess it's not
like uninstalling a program and installing a new one. Operating systems are
obvious much more complex I see.

I was surprised to learn I can buy a computer with XP installed. Is this
through a retail store such as Best Buy or Circuit City or whatever or do I
need to go online to a website such as Dell or Gateway to find one with the
older OS?

Thanks for the replies!

 

[ColTom2]

If you cannot find a computer with XP alone then look for one that has Vista
with a "downgrade" to XP, which has all the necessary software to switch to
XP. They are also out there.

However, my first choice would be just XP.


I am buying my parents a new computer which inevitably will have the Vista
OS
on it. I want to upload XP on to the new computer, as I prefer they use
that
OS. Could someone please give me the exact procedure on how I would do
that?

Thank you very much!

 

[Alias]

Wow, it seems like the opinions are quite varied here. I take it that trying
to "change" an OS isn't as easy as I thought it would be. I guess it's not
like uninstalling a program and installing a new one. Operating systems are
obvious much more complex I see.

I was surprised to learn I can buy a computer with XP installed. Is this
through a retail store such as Best Buy or Circuit City or whatever or do I
need to go online to a website such as Dell or Gateway to find one with the
older OS?

Thanks for the replies!

You can get one with XP from Dell. Just make sure that it doesn't come
with an endless supply of trial software from the likes of McAfee or
Norton and that you're given a restore CD, not a restore partition on
your hard drive. IOW, call them, don't just order it on line.

Alias

 

[Big_Al]

Wow, it seems like the opinions are quite varied here. I take it that trying
to "change" an OS isn't as easy as I thought it would be. I guess it's not
like uninstalling a program and installing a new one. Operating systems are
obvious much more complex I see.

I was surprised to learn I can buy a computer with XP installed. Is this
through a retail store such as Best Buy or Circuit City or whatever or do I
need to go online to a website such as Dell or Gateway to find one with the
older OS?

Thanks for the replies!

Opinions always vary here as experience varies here too. For me, its
not hard to load an OS, but I have been doing it for.... okay too many
years. If you are not savey, then its too easy to take a working
machine and make it useless. Vista can work.

As has been said, (I repeat since it satisfies your wants), if you get a
PC with Vista but can be downgraded to XP, then the system should come
with sufficient instructions for the user to do this. And as also has
been noted, the hardware will work with XP since it was designed to run
with both. The latter is a very important feature. Any PC built
lately might have hardware that just won't work in XP. So even a great
tech will not get XP to work on it. Lets face it, this is the evolution
of PC's. Or at least what others think they should evolve to.

Good luck.
Al.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Your best bet would be to purchase a new Vista computer with downgrade
rights to WinXP, if you can find one. Otherwise, what sgopus said.

 

[Daave]

I was surprised to learn I can buy a computer with XP installed. Is
this
through a retail store such as Best Buy or Circuit City or whatever or
do I
need to go online to a website such as Dell or Gateway to find one
with the
older OS?

Some of the big royalty OEMs are still selling PCs with XP on them.
Dell, for instance, is selling these with the ability and license to
upgrade to Vista. The trick is to go to the Small & Medium Business
portion of the Dell site:

http://www.dell.com/business/desktops?~ck=mn

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I am buying my parents a new computer which inevitably will have the Vista OS
on it. I want to upload XP on to the new computer, as I prefer they use that
OS. Could someone please give me the exact procedure on how I would do that?

Thank you very much!

As the computer is for your parents, why not ask them which OS they'd
prefer?

However, there could be a couple possible adverse repercussions of
which you should be aware. First and foremost, if the specific computer
model in question was designed specifically for Vista, there may well be
no WinXP-specific device drivers available to make the computer's
diverse components work properly. Consult the computer's manufacturer
about the availability of device drivers. Secondly, removing an
OEM-installed operating system and replacing it with another will almost
invariably void any and all support agreements and, sometimes, even the
warranty. You would, at the very least, have to re-install Vista before
getting any support from the manufacturer. Again, consult the
computer's manufacturer for specifics. Thirdly, there may be the
additional cost involved in purchasing a WinXP license for this new
computer.

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS
installation, 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

Then, assuming you were successful in obtaining WinXP-specific
device drivers so that the computer can be made to work with WinXP, the
backed up data can be restored and applications (those that are
WinXP-compatible, that is) re-installed.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[3c273]

But a computer with downgrade ability. Go to dell.com and put the word
downgrade into the search box. In the results, click on browse products. It
looks like they have about 40 machines that can arrive at your door with XP
already installed.
Louis

 

[3c273]

Oops! But = Buy.
Louis

But a computer with downgrade ability. Go to dell.com and put the word
downgrade into the search box. In the results, click on browse products. It
looks like they have about 40 machines that can arrive at your door with XP
already installed.
Louis

 

[Ace]

To everyone that replied, I greatly appreciate it. I will definitely check
out Dell and Gateway, especially since being at Circuit City tonight and not
having a whole lot of luck getting answers from the "kid" on duty. And, by
the way, as you as told me, every computer had Windows Vista Premium and, I
might add, nothing more. Heck, all computers I guess these days just come
with an OS.

But, with that said, I am going to change my train of thought. So, let's
say I think my parents will be able to adjust to Vista, even though they have
a hard time with change, especially when it comes to technology. (That is
one of the reasons I wanted to stay with XP. Plus I thought there were a lot
of "issues" with Vista.)

If I do, in fact, buy a computer with Vista Premium, can they continue to
run with dial-up service, which they insist they are fine using as to keep
expenses down? And, will the transition be fairly transparent? Of course, I
guess you have figured that I currently do not have a system with Vista, so
that is why I don't know the first thing about it myself.

Any help is truly appreciated!

 

[3c273]

Yes, you can use it on a dialup connection. I have a Vista test machine at
work and it's not that bad. The worst part is if you get a "consumer"
machine from your local big box store, it will come with 100 pieces of
trialware that all want to connect to the internet to update themselves so
they can start nagging you to upgrade to the full (paid) version. I would
suggest taking it home and going intto add/remove programs and uninstalling
any trialware so they don't get duped into buying something they don't need.
I usually get my machines through the Dell small business section and they
don't come loaded with all of that nonsense.
Louis