Downgrading from Vista to XP

[Crbarber22695]

PLEASE HELP! I want to downgrade from Windows Vista to Windows XP. I know its possible because my school did it on laptops bought in 07. Here are my PC stats:


HP Pavilion a819n
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (running on an computer with XP pre-installed)
2.8 Ghz Pentium 4 Processor
200GB Harddrive
1.5 GB RAM
nVidia GeFore FX 5200

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP! I want to get Vista off by the weekend's end!

 

[warpus]

back up your stuff, uninstall vista, install xp.

what's the problem?

 

[emzie]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=downgrading+vista+to+xp

 

[negZero]

Okay, whats the problem then?

 

[Formaldehyde]

I wouldn't do it. Buy more memory instead. Vista is clearly superior to XP, especially the 64-bit version if you run 8 GB. If not, just upgrade to 3GB.

 

[emzie]

I wouldn't do it. Buy more memory instead. Vista is clearly superior to XP, especially the 64-bit version if you run 8 GB. If not, just upgrade to 3GB.

I'd upgrade my entire computer in his case. Vista can have issues with older hardware.

 

[Onionsoilder]

Unless you have a really dirt-cheap computer with only 1 GB RAM, Vista is superior to XP in nearly every way. I don't get why you would want to downgrade. If you have a legitimate reason, go ahead and do it using the links already listed, but if you're only doing it because of the "Vista is horrible because my friend's friend told him so" mentality, then don't do it. When Vista was first released it was buggy as hell, but now it works really well.

 

[Cutlass]

XP 32 bit can handle 2 gigs of RAM.

 

[jessiecat]

I'd upgrade my entire computer in his case. Vista can have issues with older hardware.

If XP works well with your current hardware, why change? Do you really expect people to upgrade or even buy new computers because Gates wants to sell you a new OS? My engineer buddy was a beta tester for Vista before it was launched. His and other recommendations were totally ignored. They launched anyway, despite all the bugs. He wouldn't use it if they gave it away with cornflakes. Be warned.

EDIT My Athlon Dual Core 2x64bit running XP can handle 4 gigs of Ram. Who needs Vista?

 

[Ginger_Ale]

Moderator Action: Moved to the Computer Talk forum.

 

[Zelig]

Unless you have a really dirt-cheap computer with only 1 GB RAM, Vista is superior to XP in nearly every way.

I'm one of the biggest supporters of Vista around, but that's pretty much the computer he has, the 2.8 GHz P4 was released back in 2002.

If XP works well with your current hardware, why change?

Because Vista is a much better OS than XP.

 

[Formaldehyde]

I'd upgrade my entire computer in his case. Vista can have issues with older hardware.

I don't see how unless you are running something really ancient.

XP 32 bit can handle 2 gigs of RAM.

Nope:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx

The maximum amount of memory that can be supported on Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003 is also 4 GB.

Even NT can support 4GB:

With Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Workstation and Server operating systems, the maximum amount of physical memory supported is 4 GB.

EDIT My Athlon Dual Core 2x64bit running XP can handle 4 gigs of Ram. Who needs Vista?

Vista 64 can handle 8GB and is far superior to XP. My PC can finally walk and chew gum at the same time.

 

[taper]

Vista is the better OS? By what measure? Really, what way would Vista be better than XP on this system? It is an absolute certainty that XP will run faster. The OP doesn't need support for more than 3GB RAM, so all those arguments are useless. From the rest of the specs, high end gaming doesn't seem likely, so that niche of Vista isn't needed. Vista's biggest claim to fame is the eye candy, which really isn't that important to some people. Besides, if you think Aero looks cool, check out youtube videos of Compiz Fusion on Linux.

 

[Aramazd]

Vista is the better OS? By what measure? Really, what way would Vista be better than XP on this system? It is an absolute certainty that XP will run faster. The OP doesn't need support for more than 3GB RAM, so all those arguments are useless. From the rest of the specs, high end gaming doesn't seem likely, so that niche of Vista isn't needed. Vista's biggest claim to fame is the eye candy, which really isn't that important to some people. Besides, if you think Aero looks cool, check out youtube videos of Compiz Fusion on Linux.

Vista is much more than gaming and eye candy. For example, security is much improved, intergrated indexed search, out of the box dvd support, etc. Although I wouldn't run it on the OP's computer.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Some people prefer XP, and some prefer Vista. And some prefer Linux. And some prefer Macs.

 

[Aramazd]

Some people prefer XP, and some prefer Vista. And some prefer Linux. And some prefer Macs.

Thank you for that absolutely pointless and painfully obvious comment.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

It's not one size fits all!

 

[Aramazd]

It's not one size fits all!

Everyone already knows!

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Genocidicbunny]

I wouldnt run Vista on that. Xp would do plenty well. Pair it with a good antivirus and some safe usage habits and you're golden.

And seriously, aimee and Abgar, sort it out already. Its annoying watching you two going at it.