My mother-in-law's laptop died and she replaced it with a new one that came
with VISTA. She has two critical needs that only work with XP (her version
of AutoCad and her IPAQ). She would prefer to not have to replace either at
the moment. She is having a hard time adapting to VISTA and is frustrated
with it.
Can I take her VISTA machine and load XP prof sp2 over it replacing VISTA
with XP ?
If so, will it maintain the file system, programs, config, etc ?
I figure we can always take the machine back to VISTA when she is ready.
I know nothing of VISTA at the moment, and would prefer to leave it that way
for a little while.
So, can I move her backwards, or is there some major problem with that ?
"needyourhelp" <needyourhelp@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:37962746-5236-42C7-9974-F7027E5933ED@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> My mother-in-law's laptop died and she replaced it with a new one that
> came
> with VISTA. She has two critical needs that only work with XP (her
> version
> of AutoCad and her IPAQ). She would prefer to not have to replace either
> at
> the moment. She is having a hard time adapting to VISTA and is frustrated
> with it.
>
> Can I take her VISTA machine and load XP prof sp2 over it replacing VISTA
> with XP ?
>
> If so, will it maintain the file system, programs, config, etc ?
>
> I figure we can always take the machine back to VISTA when she is ready.
>
> I know nothing of VISTA at the moment, and would prefer to leave it that
> way
> for a little while.
>
> So, can I move her backwards, or is there some major problem with that ?
>
> thanks,
>
> tim
You do this the way you do any regression. You perform a clean install of
XP. Before doing so, you really ought to determine if there are XP drivers
for all of the hardware.
As time goes on, it will be less and less likely that one can just perform a
clean install as a result of the lack of XP drivers for current hardware.
needyourhelp wrote:
> Hi,
>
> My mother-in-law's laptop died and she replaced it with a new one
> that came with VISTA. She has two critical needs that only work with
> XP (her version of AutoCad and her IPAQ). She would prefer to not
> have to replace either at the moment. She is having a hard time
> adapting to VISTA and is frustrated with it.
>
> Can I take her VISTA machine and load XP prof sp2 over it replacing
> VISTA with XP ?
Yes. But it may void the warranty. And since Microsoft doesn't support
downgrades, it would have to be a clean install (i.e.,
formatting/starting from scratch).
> If so, will it maintain the file system, programs, config, etc ?
No.
> I figure we can always take the machine back to VISTA when she is
> ready.
>
> I know nothing of VISTA at the moment, and would prefer to leave it
> that way for a little while.
>
> So, can I move her backwards, or is there some major problem with
> that ?
The only problem you may run into is lack of XP drivers (but it would be
a doozy of a problem). What is the make and model of the laptop?
Again, assuming you're able to find the drivers, you will need to do a
clean install. Here's a good resource:
To bad that office depot (sic) didn't make an easy buttom for this.
"Jim" wrote:
>
> "needyourhelp" <needyourhelp@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:37962746-5236-42C7-9974-F7027E5933ED@microsoft.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > My mother-in-law's laptop died and she replaced it with a new one that
> > came
> > with VISTA. She has two critical needs that only work with XP (her
> > version
> > of AutoCad and her IPAQ). She would prefer to not have to replace either
> > at
> > the moment. She is having a hard time adapting to VISTA and is frustrated
> > with it.
> >
> > Can I take her VISTA machine and load XP prof sp2 over it replacing VISTA
> > with XP ?
> >
> > If so, will it maintain the file system, programs, config, etc ?
> >
> > I figure we can always take the machine back to VISTA when she is ready.
> >
> > I know nothing of VISTA at the moment, and would prefer to leave it that
> > way
> > for a little while.
> >
> > So, can I move her backwards, or is there some major problem with that ?
> >
> > thanks,
> >
> > tim
> You do this the way you do any regression. You perform a clean install of
> XP. Before doing so, you really ought to determine if there are XP drivers
> for all of the hardware.
>
> As time goes on, it will be less and less likely that one can just perform a
> clean install as a result of the lack of XP drivers for current hardware.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
needyourhelp wrote:
> Hi,
>
> My mother-in-law's laptop died and she replaced it with a new one that came
> with VISTA. She has two critical needs that only work with XP (her version
> of AutoCad and her IPAQ). She would prefer to not have to replace either at
> the moment. She is having a hard time adapting to VISTA and is frustrated
> with it.
>
Is there any particular reason she didn't purchase a new laptop with
WinXP installed? Several vendors still provide them.
> Can I take her VISTA machine and load XP prof sp2 over it replacing VISTA
> with XP ?
>
No. The only way to transition from Vista to any older OS would be to
format the hard drive and install WinXP onto a clean drive. Before
starting, make sure that the laptop's manufacturer has made available
WinXP-specific device drivers for all of the laptop's hardware
components. If this new laptop was explicitly designed for Vista, there
may well be no WinXP drivers to be had. You should also ask the
manufacturer (and get it in writing if possible) precise how removing
the designed OS will affect warranty and service agreements. Do so
often voids all service agreements, and the laptop would have to be
reinstalled with Vista to get any other support.
> If so, will it maintain the file system, programs, config, etc ?
>
No. All will have to be erased when the hard drive is formatted.
> I figure we can always take the machine back to VISTA when she is ready.
>
Almost certainly, provided you take the manufacturer's chosen recovery
method into account before doing anything like formatting the hard
drive. Microsoft requires its licensed OEM computer manufacturers to
provide a means of returning the computer to its original, ex-factory
state. The particular method of recovery, however, is left entirely to
the discretion of each individual computer manufacturer. The OEM will
have met it's contractual obligation to Microsoft by providing a
Recovery CD or a Recovery Partition. They are not legally obliged to
provide a true installation CD as part of the sale. Reputable,
customer-service aware OEMs do provide a full OEM installation CD, that
does permit custom installations and repairs. However, many uncaring
OEMs, in an effort to save pennies and reduce their support costs by
having to hire support people that need only say "Boot from the Recovery
CD to return your PC to its original condition," provide only a CD
bearing a disk image of the hard drive as it left the factory.
> I know nothing of VISTA at the moment, and would prefer to leave it that way
> for a little while.
>
And you know little of operating systems in general if you thought an
older OS could be installed over a newer OS. Perhaps your mother-in-law
would probably be better served by seeking the assistance of someone who
is familiar operating systems, in general, and with Vista, in
particular. It may be entirely possible to get Vista to support her
applications and hardware, but you won't know, as you've stated that you
don't even want to try to learn anything about the OS.
> So, can I move her backwards, or is there some major problem with that ?
>
The primary issues are, as stated above, the warranty/service contract
implications, and the availability of device drivers. A secondary issue
is that such a move might not even be necessary, were a more experienced
technician to be consulted.
Can you take VISTA back to XP ??? 
Linear Mode
