tsiarls79 0 Report post Posted February 1, 2008 Just got a new laptop and it had Windows Vista OS on it, im having trouble with it cause some of the programs i use dont work with it, most of our technicians in school told me to try downgrading my laptop to Windows XP. Is this possible? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D-MaN88 0 Report post Posted February 1, 2008 Yes, uninstall Vista and re-install the choice XP version you want. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fletch 219 Report post Posted February 1, 2008 You should have gotten a Macbook ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gxc999 7 Report post Posted February 1, 2008 You want to make sure you have a recently updated copy of XP with Service Pack 2 built-in or you may find a few temporary driver issues. I've done between 30 and 40 clean and re-installs of XP and W2K. I can guarantee you it will not be painless.The first thing you'll want to do after obtaining the new OS and burning it to disc is making sure the disc works, I know this sounds simple but I've seen it require the most brilliant of computer experts to eat serious crow! Then I recommend a fresh install, which just means wiping out the existing HD. It also is a good idea to contact you laptop manufacturer (at the least, check their website) and inquire about this process, they may be able to help you out with the OS and drivers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hockeydoc 0 Report post Posted February 1, 2008 You should have gotten a Macbook ;)Yes, then you for sure will have no problems working old windows based software... <_< Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Engine37 0 Report post Posted February 1, 2008 Or, you could take your laptop, throw it in the trash, and buy a Mac. OK, maybe that's a little wasteful...but I bet somebody would give you good price for your machine, and then if you got a Mac you wouldn't have to be reinstalling your OS all the time.Just a suggestion....and good luck with the XP install. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hidious 0 Report post Posted February 1, 2008 First of all, do you own Windows XP? If not, you'll need to either buy it, use your old license (you'll still need to find an install CD) or, find an illegal copy... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fletch 219 Report post Posted February 2, 2008 You should have gotten a Macbook ;)Yes, then you for sure will have no problems working old windows based software... <_<Out with the old, in with the new ;)He's in school, so most likely he will be working with Office, which is available for OS X. Also, Apple's productivity suite (iWork '08) can import and export Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hockeydoc 0 Report post Posted February 2, 2008 You should have gotten a Macbook ;)Yes, then you for sure will have no problems working old windows based software... <_<Out with the old, in with the new ;)He's in school, so most likely he will be working with Office, which is available for OS X. Also, Apple's productivity suite (iWork '08) can import and export Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents.Of coarse it will, and Office 2000 will work on Vista too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fletch 219 Report post Posted February 2, 2008 Of coarse it will, and Office 2000 will work on Vista too.Yeah, but then you're still stuck with Vista ;)I'd rather go back to Windows 3.1... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tsiarls79 0 Report post Posted February 2, 2008 Yes, uninstall Vista and re-install the choice XP version you want.whats the procedure in uninstalling vista? i tried formatting the hard drive that has the OS in it and it just wont let me. any instructioins? sorry im not realy confident in my computer skills and dont wanna risk messing up the laptop cause a lot of people here are gonna kill me if i do.You should have gotten a Macbook ;)would have gotten that one but it was just a gift so i couldnt complain :P First of all, do you own Windows XP? If not, you'll need to either buy it, use your old license (you'll still need to find an install CD) or, find an illegal copy...I live in the Philippines, you can get copies of XP installers for $2.50 or even for free... but yeah i still have my old XP installer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gxc999 7 Report post Posted February 2, 2008 If you need help on the install, PM me and we can speak via IM. I've literally done some of them in my sleep, get up, finish install, turn off pc, go back to bed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted February 2, 2008 You should have gotten a Macbook ;) Yes, then you for sure will have no problems working old windows based software... <_< Out with the old, in with the new ;) He's in school, so most likely he will be working with Office, which is available for OS X. Also, Apple's productivity suite (iWork '08) can import and export Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents. Or get open office for free and still work with all of those files. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fletch 219 Report post Posted February 2, 2008 You should have gotten a Macbook ;) Yes, then you for sure will have no problems working old windows based software... Out with the old, in with the new ;) He's in school, so most likely he will be working with Office, which is available for OS X. Also, Apple's productivity suite (iWork '08) can import and export Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents. Or get open office for free and still work with all of those files.Very true. And Open Office is available for OS X as well :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hockeydoc 0 Report post Posted February 2, 2008 You should have gotten a Macbook ;) Yes, then you for sure will have no problems working old windows based software... Out with the old, in with the new ;) He's in school, so most likely he will be working with Office, which is available for OS X. Also, Apple's productivity suite (iWork '08) can import and export Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents. Or get open office for free and still work with all of those files.Very true. And Open Office is available for OS X as well :)I was being very sarcastic. Office 2000 does not work well with Vista (neither does 2003 active sync). But the genius techs said there would be no incapatability problems with Microsoft software when Vista was first out, and surprise!!!OSX has campatabitlity problems as well, was the point... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chk hrd 164 Report post Posted February 2, 2008 I just had to replace my computer at work and got a new system with Vista. My Office 2000 didn't work with it so I ended up getting Office 2007. The biggest frustration was when I was linking the other computers. i could see and acess thier files but they couldn't get into mine. Tok me a while to figure out the problem. I heard alot of bad things about Vista, but so far I'm happy with it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hidious 0 Report post Posted February 2, 2008 Yes, uninstall Vista and re-install the choice XP version you want.whats the procedure in uninstalling vista? i tried formatting the hard drive that has the OS in it and it just wont let me. any instructioins? sorry im not realy confident in my computer skills and dont wanna risk messing up the laptop cause a lot of people here are gonna kill me if i do.All you have to do is insert your installation CD, then boot from the CD drive instead of your hard-drive. To do so, check the boot screen and you should see something like F8 for Boot Menu or DEL to Enter Setup (won't necessarily be F8 and DEL, it can be anything). If you don't have a boot menu, access your bios and set your CD drive to be your boot drive. When done, reboot, press any key when they ask to and the rest is pretty easy, just follow the instructions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TBLfan 25 Report post Posted February 2, 2008 be careful, it is VERY possible that drivers to your laptop components aren't available on XP. Vista is the single reason why I have yet to upgrade. I NEED a new computer very badly and I hate the way the Mac OS is setup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sc37 0 Report post Posted February 2, 2008 Linux, linux!!! I'm happy with my Linux booting laptop =DCareful with trying to format the HD in anyway, I'd say best thing to do is call. My uncle and I went through 3 PCs in one day(thank god for a warranty plan) when we were trying to do some stuff on my other uncles new PC. It'd lock us out every time for some odd reason and you'd just get a blue screen every time no matter what you did. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DBLMINR 0 Report post Posted February 2, 2008 i have also heard good things about the linux, i need a new computer also, i usually build them myself but like all the others doent want vista and i would really prefer a labtop this time around Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gxc999 7 Report post Posted February 3, 2008 be careful, it is VERY possible that drivers to your laptop components aren't available on XP. Vista is the single reason why I have yet to upgrade. I NEED a new computer very badly and I hate the way the Mac OS is setup.You can order a new PC or Laptop with XP from ya know, HP, Dell etc.I got XP on my laptop that I received in August, I'm happy I don't have Vista, it really sucks from everything I've heard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Portlandman 0 Report post Posted February 3, 2008 I just have to comment on the title of this thread.... It should be how do I upgrade from Vista to XP. :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TBLfan 25 Report post Posted February 3, 2008 be careful, it is VERY possible that drivers to your laptop components aren't available on XP. Vista is the single reason why I have yet to upgrade. I NEED a new computer very badly and I hate the way the Mac OS is setup.You can order a new PC or Laptop with XP from ya know, HP, Dell etc.I got XP on my laptop that I received in August, I'm happy I don't have Vista, it really sucks from everything I've heard.Yes but if he has an existing laptop that was made to work with vista... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tsiarls79 0 Report post Posted February 3, 2008 Yes, uninstall Vista and re-install the choice XP version you want.whats the procedure in uninstalling vista? i tried formatting the hard drive that has the OS in it and it just wont let me. any instructioins? sorry im not realy confident in my computer skills and dont wanna risk messing up the laptop cause a lot of people here are gonna kill me if i do.All you have to do is insert your installation CD, then boot from the CD drive instead of your hard-drive. To do so, check the boot screen and you should see something like F8 for Boot Menu or DEL to Enter Setup (won't necessarily be F8 and DEL, it can be anything). If you don't have a boot menu, access your bios and set your CD drive to be your boot drive. When done, reboot, press any key when they ask to and the rest is pretty easy, just follow the instructions.I've actually done that several times, one problem is that when it starts booting from the disc, it says that the harddrive has an operating system that is higher than the one im trying to installso the computer won't allow it. second is that the bios of the computer is so simple that you can hardly modify anything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elwood 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2008 Try Ubuntu - http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/downloadYou download the .iso file and burn a CD from it (directions provided on that site.) Then reboot off of the CD. It will run the OS from the CD leaving your current windows install alone. Then once booted you can install the OS if you want. Fun to play with even if you don't end up installing it.I have Vista (not really liking it) and I use Open Office - http://www.openoffice.org/ instead of the MS Office suite. Couple that with Ubuntu and you're on your way to being Windows free.-Elwood Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
