Windows XP upgrade

[pauld]

I have a laptop with Windows Vista Home Edition - is it possible to do an
"upgrade" to Windows XP Pro over the Vista install? I want to know before I
purchase the OS and MS will not allow questions prior to purchase.

 

[JS]

No you can not upgrade Vista to XP, you must do a clean install of XP Pro.
This means you must find out if the make and model of laptop has XP drivers
available and not just Vista drivers.

JS

 

[Tony Meloche]

I have a laptop with Windows Vista Home Edition - is it possible to do an
"upgrade" to Windows XP Pro over the Vista install? I want to know before I
purchase the OS and MS will not allow questions prior to purchase.

Put XP *over* Vista as you say? No. You cannot "downgrade" from one OS
to an earlier OS generally speaking. If you are using a retail CD of XP
(not an OEM version, unless it's specific to the computer you are
buying), then you can format (wipe Vista) and install XP, but so far as
I know, that's your only alternative. It may also be possible to
install XP on a separate partition of the hard drive, giving you dual
boot capability, but I defer the fine points of that to those who know
more about that specifically than I do.

Tony

 

[Gordon]

If you are using a retail CD of XP (not an OEM version, unless it's
specific to the computer you are buying),

You can certainly do a Clean install with an OEM copy - in fact AFAIK that's
the ONLY option you have with an OEM copy....

 

[Alias]

Tony Meloche wrote:
If you are using a retail CD of XP

(not an OEM version, unless it's specific to the computer you are
buying),

A generic OEM copy of XP can be used to clean install XP, no problem. I
have done it dozens of times. Where do you get your information?

Alias

 

[HeyBub]

I have a laptop with Windows Vista Home Edition - is it possible to
do an "upgrade" to Windows XP Pro over the Vista install? I want to
know before I purchase the OS and MS will not allow questions prior
to purchase.

It's possible if you jump through enough hoops. Be sure, however, that XP
will run on your laptop - some drivers may not exist.

Have you tried asking the manufacturer or place where you bought it. Often
there is an exchange possibility.

 

[Malke]

I have a laptop with Windows Vista Home Edition - is it possible to do an
"upgrade" to Windows XP Pro over the Vista install? I want to know before I
purchase the OS and MS will not allow questions prior to purchase.

You've gotten some good answers (no, you can't upgrade from Vista to
XP). Here's a "guidelet" I wrote about going from Vista to XP that may
be helpful to you:

General information about replacing Vista with XP on an OEM (HP, Sony,
etc.) computer:

You need to do some things first:

1. Go to the OEM's website and look for XP drivers for your specific
model computer. If there are no XP drivers, then you can't install XP.
End of story.

2. Check with the OEM - either from their tech support website or by
calling them - to see if you will void your warranty if you do this. If
you will void the warranty, you make the decision.

3. If the OEM does support XP on the machine, call them and see if you
can have downgrade rights and have them send you an XP restore disk.
This will be far the easiest and best way of getting XP on the machine.

4. If XP is supported on the machine but the OEM doesn't have an XP
restore disk for you, understand that you'll need to purchase a retail
copy of XP from your favorite online or brick/mortar store.

5. Also understand that you will need to do a clean install of XP so if
you have any data you want, back it up first.

6. If none of the above is applicable to you because you can't run XP on
that machine (see Item #1 above), return the computer and purchase one
running XP instead.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows -
What you will need on-hand

Malke

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have a laptop with Windows Vista Home Edition - is it possible to do an
"upgrade" to Windows XP Pro over the Vista install?

No. That's a downgrade, not an upgrade. Downgrades are never
supported.

You will have to clean install XP, if you want it.

Also be aware that you will need XP drivers for all the hardware in
your laptop. If it's a new laptop, you may not be able to find all the
drivers you need.

And be aware that depending on what laptop you have, your vendor may
consider that doing this voids your warranty.

I also recommend that before you take the drastic step of going back
to the operating system you think you prefer, give yourself some
reasonable time--a month or two--to get accustomed to the new one and
learn how to use it effectively. Most people don't like new things,
because they present extra difficulties until you learn what you need
to know.

 

[Tony Meloche]

You can certainly do a Clean install with an OEM copy - in fact AFAIK that's
the ONLY option you have with an OEM copy....

Possibly one or both of us is misunderstanding terminology - I'm happy
to accept the correction if I'm wrong, but my understanding is:

A "retail" copy of XP is what you buy in the software store directly
from Microsoft. Assuming a computer - any computer - is hardware ready
for XP, you can install it on any computer.

An "OEM" copy of XP is the one that comes from Dell or Gateway or Acer
with your computer. It is matched to that particular computer or family
of computers. If your computer is an Acer, for example, and you try to
install XP using a Dell OEM copy of XP, it won't work - or that has been
my understanding.

As I say, if that's wrong, I stand corrected.

Tony

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Possibly one or both of us is misunderstanding terminology - I'm happy
to accept the correction if I'm wrong, but my understanding is:

A "retail" copy of XP is what you buy in the software store directly
from Microsoft. Assuming a computer - any computer - is hardware ready
for XP, you can install it on any computer.

An "OEM" copy of XP is the one that comes from Dell or Gateway or Acer
with your computer. It is matched to that particular computer or family
of computers. If your computer is an Acer, for example, and you try to
install XP using a Dell OEM copy of XP, it won't work - or that has been
my understanding.

As I say, if that's wrong, I stand corrected.

Sorry to say that that's wrong. There are two types of OEM CDs. One of
them is as you describe. But the other is a generic (not from a
specific OEM) copy that can be bought on the retail market. Such a
generic OEM copy used to be legally available only if bought with a
new computer, a new motherboard, or a new hard drive. However they are
now widely available without any hardware purchase.

A generic OEM copy can be installed on any machine. It is identical to
a retail copy except that it has the following disadvantages:

1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's
installed on. It can never legally be moved to another computer, sold,
or given away.

2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.

3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You can't call them
with a problem, but instead have to get any needed support from your
OEM; that support may range anywhere between good and non-existent. Or
you can get support elsewhere, such as in these newsgroups.

That first disadvantage is the deal-breaker as far as I'm concerned. I
always recommend a retail Upgrade copy instead, since it comes without
these disadvantages and usually costs only slightly more than an OEM
copy. And, despite what many people think, an Upgrade version *can* do
a clean installation, as long as you have a CD of a previous
qualifying version to show it when prompted to do so.

 

[Tony Meloche]

Sorry to say that that's wrong. There are two types of OEM CDs. One of
them is as you describe. But the other is a generic (not from a
specific OEM) copy that can be bought on the retail market. Such a
generic OEM copy used to be legally available only if bought with a
new computer, a new motherboard, or a new hard drive. However they are
now widely available without any hardware purchase.

A generic OEM copy can be installed on any machine. It is identical to
a retail copy except that it has the following disadvantages:

1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's
installed on. It can never legally be moved to another computer, sold,
or given away.

2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.

3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You can't call them
with a problem, but instead have to get any needed support from your
OEM; that support may range anywhere between good and non-existent. Or
you can get support elsewhere, such as in these newsgroups.

That first disadvantage is the deal-breaker as far as I'm concerned. I
always recommend a retail Upgrade copy instead, since it comes without
these disadvantages and usually costs only slightly more than an OEM
copy. And, despite what many people think, an Upgrade version *can* do
a clean installation, as long as you have a CD of a previous
qualifying version to show it when prompted to do so.

Thanks, Mr. B Not realizing there were two different types of "OEM" CD
was the problem. Glad to have it straight now.

Tony

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks, Mr. B

Please, no formality is needed. Just "Ken" is fine." You're welcome.

Not realizing there were two different types of "OEM" CD
was the problem. Glad to have it straight now.

And I'm glad to have helped.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a laptop with Windows Vista Home Edition - is it possible to do an
"upgrade" to Windows XP Pro over the Vista install?

No, of course not. Transitioning from a current OS to an older OS is a
*downgrade*, and, to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever come up
with a way to do that, short of formatting the partition and starting
from scratch. You'll need to obtain a full version of WinXP.

I want to know before I
purchase the OS and MS will not allow questions prior to purchase.

It's your computer, so the choice is, ultimately, yours.

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. (An OEM CD and license from some previous computer will not
do, for legal and usually technical reasons.)

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 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

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[cornedbeef007-groups]

I have a laptop with Windows Vista Home Edition - is it possible to do an
"upgrade" to Windows XP Pro over the Vista install?  I want to know before I
purchase the OS and MS will not allow questions prior to purchase.

I've seen a "Vista" laptop, which when booted with a generic XP Pro
OEM cd, couldn't see the hard disk, as there was no SATA driver in the
XP disk for the new motherboard.
Had to obtain the XP SATA driver, and slipstream it into the XP OEM
disk before it could be loaded. There was no floppy disk drive to load
the SATA driver at the F6 prompt.

If you had Vista Office, the better option is to load MS Virtual PC,
and install XP as a virtual machine. Sadly, though, Virtual PC is only
supported on Vista Office, not Vista Home.

Good luck.