Vista vs XP Machine Purchase

  • Thread starter Thread starter Watty
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Watty

I'm told that some mfgers will sell quad core PCs with Vista, but
provide a way to replace it with XP (Pro, I hope). If so, which mfgers
provide machines that are able to get back to XP?

In general, I've heard that most (maybe) new PCs with Vista probably
cannot be reset to XP--possible hardware-driver conflicts. Further, MS
is putting together a new OS that will supersede Vista in a few years.
Comments?
 
I'm told that some mfgers will sell quad core PCs with Vista, but
provide a way to replace it with XP (Pro, I hope). If so, which mfgers
provide machines that are able to get back to XP?

In general, I've heard that most (maybe) new PCs with Vista probably
cannot be reset to XP--possible hardware-driver conflicts. Further, MS
is putting together a new OS that will supersede Vista in a few years.
Comments?
Click to expand...

Manufacturer's can only "really" provide XP "downgrade" possibility
(officially) on Vista Business or Ultimate based PCs. For the other
versions, you are on your own.

Yes, several PC can be delivered with components that do not have any
XP drivers.

Yes, Microsoft is working on the next version of Windows. It is known
as Windows 7 (for now.)
 
smlunatick said:
Manufacturer's can only "really" provide XP "downgrade" possibility
(officially) on Vista Business or Ultimate based PCs. For the other
versions, you are on your own.

Yes, several PC can be delivered with components that do not have any
XP drivers.

Yes, Microsoft is working on the next version of Windows. It is known
as Windows 7 (for now.)
Click to expand...
I would gather then that I need to search for something like:
...?

I just talked to hp and they know nothing about it. Not surprising
though. I have a pretty expensive and fairly popular piece of software
that I'm told will not run on Vista, Vegas, a video movie editor program.
 
Yet to be defeated in getting XP to work, though have often found that the
drivers provided by the OEM are incomplete or incorrect, necessitating some
scouring-around. Point of fact, Server 2003 uses much the same drivers, and I
can't see manufacturers turning-out hardware which will not run that.
 
Watty said:
I would gather then that I need to search for something like:
...?

I just talked to hp and they know nothing about it. Not surprising though.
I have a pretty expensive and fairly popular piece of software that I'm
told will not run on Vista, Vegas, a video movie editor program.
Click to expand...


Have you contacted the Vegas Movie Editor software authors yet?


--
Mike Hall - MVP
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Mike said:
Have you contacted the Vegas Movie Editor software authors yet?
Click to expand...
Actually not, but a very savvy friend on it says no; however, I'm sure
it won't hurt to ask. It may be that v7.0 does but 6.0 does not. I have
6.0.
 
Anteaus said:
Yet to be defeated in getting XP to work, though have often found that the
drivers provided by the OEM are incomplete or incorrect, necessitating some
scouring-around. Point of fact, Server 2003 uses much the same drivers, and I
can't see manufacturers turning-out hardware which will not run that.
Click to expand...
I'm going to try to avoid the whole issue by finding a quad core
machine, used or otherwise, that had XP on it.
 
I'm told that some mfgers will sell quad core PCs with Vista, but
provide a way to replace it with XP (Pro, I hope). If so, which mfgers
provide machines that are able to get back to XP?

In general, I've heard that most (maybe) new PCs with Vista probably
cannot be reset to XP--possible hardware-driver conflicts.
Click to expand...


I'm not sure that it's *most*, but there are certainly some computers
that don't have XP drivers for all their hardware. That's more likely
with a laptop than a desktop, though.

Personally, I'm happy with Vista, and that's my choice. I wouldn't be
looking for XP on a machine I bought.

Further, MS
is putting together a new OS that will supersede Vista in a few years.
Click to expand...


True, but regardless of what the current version of Windows is, and
regardless of what year it is, that's *always* true. Whatever the
current version of Windows is, Microsoft is always working on the next
version and it's likely to be released within the next few years. If
that keeps you from buying the current version, you can never buy the
current version of anything, whether it's Windows, a car, or anything
else.
 
I'm not sure that it's *most*, but there are certainly some computers
that don't have XP drivers for all their hardware. That's more likely
with a laptop than a desktop, though.

Personally, I'm happy with Vista, and that's my choice. I wouldn't be
looking for XP on a machine I bought.




True, but regardless of what the current version of Windows is, and
regardless of what year it is, that's *always* true. Whatever the
current version of Windows is, Microsoft is always working on the next
version and it's likely to be released within the next few years. If
that keeps you from buying the current version, you can never buy the
current version of anything, whether it's Windows, a car, or anything
else.
Click to expand...

I haven't. I'm still drivin' a 1988 Nissan, and quite happy with that,
thank you very much. :-)
 
Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

I haven't. I'm still drivin' a 1988 Nissan, and quite happy with that,
thank you very much. :-)
Click to expand...


You're welcome. Is the reason you haven't bought a current version
that Nissan is always working on a newer model? ;-)

I'm driving a car several years old too. The reason *I* don't buy a
newer model is simply to save the money that doing so entails.
 
You're welcome. Is the reason you haven't bought a current version
that Nissan is always working on a newer model? ;-)

I'm driving a car several years old too. The reason *I* don't buy a
newer model is simply to save the money that doing so entails.
Click to expand...

Same here, plus I have no need of it. And I'm still on dial-up, too.
Old school values; I grew up in the Depression Era (well ok, not quite,
but.... :-)
 
Watty said:
I'm told that some mfgers will sell quad core PCs with Vista, but provide
a way to replace it with XP (Pro, I hope). If so, which mfgers provide
machines that are able to get back to XP?

In general, I've heard that most (maybe) new PCs with Vista probably
cannot be reset to XP--possible hardware-driver conflicts. Further, MS is
putting together a new OS that will supersede Vista in a few years.
Comments?
Click to expand...

The Dell Inspiron 530 series (of which a Core 2 Quad is available) were
available until very recently with Windows XP Pro as an option. It
therefore follows that drivers should be available.

And indeed the Dell website lists them at:

http://support.euro.dell.com/suppor...NSP_DSKTP_D530&hidos=WLH&hidlang=en&TabIndex=
 
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