Reverting to XP when vista is pre installed

C_Ronaldo

If i were to buy a laptop with vista installed on it is it easy to install XP on it if i wasnt happy with vista

Red_Rose_Exile

Yes as long as you have an XP disk and license key.

Simply ensure that the laptop is set to boot from the cd rom drive and insert the cd

Follow the instructions. You will lose ALL data

C_Ronaldo

If and when i do get a laptop it would most likely come with vista, i wont install anything on the laptop but i might have a look as to what its like, people i know have reverted back to xp after trying vista and prefered XP, just means ill have to get a copy of XP which isnt a problem, thanks exile

irnbru_2

C_Ronaldo wrote: »

If and when i do get a laptop it would most likely come with vista

Are you entitled to a rebate if you remove Vista?

Paying for an OS you won't use seems unfair.

Sobraon

Or run XP inside Vista - see http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live--run-windows-xp-inside-vista-with-virtual-pc-238071.php

C_Ronaldo

irnbru wrote: »

Are you entitled to a rebate if you remove Vista?

Paying for an OS you won't use seems unfair.

not sure how id get a rebate

planemad

You may want to see if you can obtain XP drivers for your laptop first before you start wiping vista off.

My Acer laptop does not have XP drivers available for some of the components even from the hardware manufacturer.

I would stick with Vista as SP1 is due out soon which should clear up quite a few issues (we hope).

C_Ronaldo

Sobraon wrote: »

Or run XP inside Vista - see http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live--run-windows-xp-inside-vista-with-virtual-pc-238071.php

thats nt a bad idea

Little_John

OK its been a day about licencing posts today.

If you install windows xp on to your vista laptop you need to have a licence for it, it isn't as simple as just getting a disk and installing xp.

Now the bit that can make it legal without buying a licence, Microsoft accept that people have software that won't work on vista but could in the future so people will "want" to put vista back on (I know its unlikely the would put vista back on). So they give downgrade rights when you buy the higher end versions of vista, business and ultimate versions you can legally use the license from those 2 versions and install Windows XP Professional without having to buy a licence for windows XP. You just need a cd to use to install and a key that will work. Automatic online activation my work it may not, if it doesnt you just phone microsoft during the telephone activtion and tell them you have installed XP under the downgrade rights. and they will activate it for you.

So make sure you buy a version of vista with your new laptop that has downgrade rights, business or ultimate allows downgrade to Windows XP Professional. there is no downgrade rights to XP home.

planemad

Unfortunately not many laptops come with Vista business or ultimate they all seem to be basic or premium.

Conor_3

And why bother? Laptops seem to be the one group of PC's that have the least issues with Vista because of the nature of the hardware in them.