best way to go from Vista to XP?

What is the best way to go from Vista back to XP? Can I use an upgrade disk
or must I purchase the full version for $270?

The super-secret DRM file indiv02_64.key once again is crashing Media Center
and everything else. I cannot watch TV, watch a DVD, or even watch Netflix
online. I know from a previous encounter with MS support that I must wipe
out the computer and reinstall. The only DRM content I watch is cable TV,
Netflix online and DVDs from Netflix. How can this OS possibly be this
fragile? I won't go into what an adventure it was to get Bluetooth to work.

The last time DRM crashed (4 months ago) I had to call MS support, pay $60
and spend 6 hours on the phone just to get a CD key for Vista Ultimate since
a total reinstall apparently is the only option. I had done Upgrade Anytime
and hence had no key - I instead had a license file which could not be
accessed since the desktop was deactivated since I had no CD key. Said my
support call charge would be refunded but of course that was a lie.

Between the original purchase, upgrade purchase, support call to MS, and now
possibly a full-version purchase of XP this will cost me close to $1,000. If
MS products fail to function properly, I must pay more money to MS. That's
getting old fast.

What is 'Indiv02.key' it is constantly crashing Media Center:
http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=880889

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

---------------------------------------------------------------

"PB" <> wrote in message news:4D62A224-EB86-42BF-A6FF-...
What is the best way to go from Vista back to XP? Can I use an upgrade disk
or must I purchase the full version for $270?

The super-secret DRM file indiv02_64.key once again is crashing Media Center
and everything else. I cannot watch TV, watch a DVD, or even watch Netflix
online. I know from a previous encounter with MS support that I must wipe
out the computer and reinstall. The only DRM content I watch is cable TV,
Netflix online and DVDs from Netflix. How can this OS possibly be this
fragile? I won't go into what an adventure it was to get Bluetooth to work.

The last time DRM crashed (4 months ago) I had to call MS support, pay $60
and spend 6 hours on the phone just to get a CD key for Vista Ultimate since
a total reinstall apparently is the only option. I had done Upgrade Anytime
and hence had no key - I instead had a license file which could not be
accessed since the desktop was deactivated since I had no CD key. Said my
support call charge would be refunded but of course that was a lie.

Between the original purchase, upgrade purchase, support call to MS, and now
possibly a full-version purchase of XP this will cost me close to $1,000. If
MS products fail to function properly, I must pay more money to MS. That's
getting old fast.

PB wrote:
> What is the best way to go from Vista back to XP?


It's your computer, so the choice is, ultimately, yours. (Although
it would have been a lot simpler to have just purchased the computer
with WinXP installed, to start with.)

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.

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...B;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Then, assuming you were successful in obtaining WinXP-specific
device drivers so 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.



> Can I use an upgrade disk
> or must I purchase the full version for $270?
>


I don't even understand how you could ask such a question? When has
any Upgrade software been able to perform a downgrade?





--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

Thanks, but the link you're replying with is a link to my post to a MS
discussion board when this thing last broke in this manner. The answers in
that thread (restore cache from previous version) unfortunately do not solve
the issue.

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:

> What is 'Indiv02.key' it is constantly crashing Media Center:
> http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=880889
>
> --
> Carey Frisch
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Desktop Experience -
> Windows Vista Enthusiast
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "PB" <> wrote in message news:4D62A224-EB86-42BF-A6FF-...
> What is the best way to go from Vista back to XP? Can I use an upgrade disk
> or must I purchase the full version for $270?
>
> The super-secret DRM file indiv02_64.key once again is crashing Media Center
> and everything else. I cannot watch TV, watch a DVD, or even watch Netflix
> online. I know from a previous encounter with MS support that I must wipe
> out the computer and reinstall. The only DRM content I watch is cable TV,
> Netflix online and DVDs from Netflix. How can this OS possibly be this
> fragile? I won't go into what an adventure it was to get Bluetooth to work.
>
> The last time DRM crashed (4 months ago) I had to call MS support, pay $60
> and spend 6 hours on the phone just to get a CD key for Vista Ultimate since
> a total reinstall apparently is the only option. I had done Upgrade Anytime
> and hence had no key - I instead had a license file which could not be
> accessed since the desktop was deactivated since I had no CD key. Said my
> support call charge would be refunded but of course that was a lie.
>
> Between the original purchase, upgrade purchase, support call to MS, and now
> possibly a full-version purchase of XP this will cost me close to $1,000. If
> MS products fail to function properly, I must pay more money to MS. That's
> getting old fast.
>
>
>

"PB" <> wrote in message
news:4D62A224-EB86-42BF-A6FF-...
> What is the best way to go from Vista back to XP? Can I use an upgrade
> disk
> or must I purchase the full version for $270?
>
> The super-secret DRM file indiv02_64.key once again is crashing Media
> Center
> and everything else. I cannot watch TV, watch a DVD, or even watch
> Netflix
> online. I know from a previous encounter with MS support that I must wipe
> out the computer and reinstall. The only DRM content I watch is cable TV,
> Netflix online and DVDs from Netflix. How can this OS possibly be this
> fragile? I won't go into what an adventure it was to get Bluetooth to
> work.
>
> The last time DRM crashed (4 months ago) I had to call MS support, pay $60
> and spend 6 hours on the phone just to get a CD key for Vista Ultimate
> since
> a total reinstall apparently is the only option. I had done Upgrade
> Anytime
> and hence had no key - I instead had a license file which could not be
> accessed since the desktop was deactivated since I had no CD key. Said my
> support call charge would be refunded but of course that was a lie.
>
> Between the original purchase, upgrade purchase, support call to MS, and
> now
> possibly a full-version purchase of XP this will cost me close to $1,000.
> If
> MS products fail to function properly, I must pay more money to MS.
> That's
> getting old fast.

Read the other posts as well. But the steps I would take, and almost did
but I didn't want to be double dipped would have been:

0) Backup all your data to UDB drives, CDs or DVDs. Always a good idea when
making major changes. And below will not preserve data. This step will.
Plus you have some good backups left over. Make recovery disks of Vista per
OEMs instructions, just in case MS ever fixes vist in SP4 or something and
you want to go back.

1 ) Go to your PC manufacturers web site, look up the drivers for your PC.
If you are lucky, they will be there and most PCs I looked at did have them.
If you don't find them, do step 2. If you find the drivers for items in
step 2, you can skip step 2.

2 ) If you didn't find the drivers in 1, just means more work. This step is
then needed. Find out the following items:
- chipset, eg Intel 865
- network device type, eg 1000BT Intel 8xxxxx
- video card, eg Intel x3100 or GeForce 8xxx
- audio device, eg Realtek
- if you have a video capture device or wireless, look for drivers too

3) Then for each of above, go to the vendors web site. And download the
drivers you have identified. Burn them to a CD or put them on a USB drive.

4) Obtain a copy of XP (double dip) that you will need from a local PC parts
shop. Parts shops usually carry XP Home OEM or XP Pro OEM, in Canada this
will run you about $100 for XP Home OEM and $140 for XP Pro OEM.

5) Install it. If you have problems here, see below.

6) Then install the remaining drivers.

7) Copy back in your data and enjoy XP.

It is possible you could have problems with disk drivers in step 5. Say
your PC uses some modern SATA 150 RAID 6 port chipset. While nice disk I/O,
XP might not have the drivers on its OEM disks. You may need to rewrite the
OEM CD and add the drivers to it so the resulting CD to install it.
Directions for this can be found at:

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/How...P-installation

You do not generally need to worry about sound and other drivers until
installed. Stuff like sound will work once the sound drivers are installed.
It is also possible XP already has the drivers, in which case it is a toss
up. If they work on the OEM disk, might consider just using them. If not,
load them.

If you have Vista on the PC, it might be a good idea to use a Ubuntu Live CD
and unallocate the disk before starting. XP might not like allocating a
disk with a newer MS OS on it. There are a variety of other ways to do this
also.

The best part is you will have a clean basic install, without AOL, trial
crapware and other junk going forward. And while XP too has DRM, as I
understand it; the DRM in XP is much less pervasive than Vista.

The above is more or less an outline to convert any Vista PC to XP.

You cannot upgrade the o/s from a later edition o/s, this is a downgrade.
If you purchased a Vista PC and are having these problems, what does the
supplier say? or is that you puchased a winxp PC and upgraded to Vista, with
the resulting problemas?


"PB" <> wrote in message
news:4D62A224-EB86-42BF-A6FF-...
> What is the best way to go from Vista back to XP? Can I use an upgrade
> disk
> or must I purchase the full version for $270?
>
> The super-secret DRM file indiv02_64.key once again is crashing Media
> Center
> and everything else. I cannot watch TV, watch a DVD, or even watch
> Netflix
> online. I know from a previous encounter with MS support that I must wipe
> out the computer and reinstall. The only DRM content I watch is cable TV,
> Netflix online and DVDs from Netflix. How can this OS possibly be this
> fragile? I won't go into what an adventure it was to get Bluetooth to
> work.
>
> The last time DRM crashed (4 months ago) I had to call MS support, pay $60
> and spend 6 hours on the phone just to get a CD key for Vista Ultimate
> since
> a total reinstall apparently is the only option. I had done Upgrade
> Anytime
> and hence had no key - I instead had a license file which could not be
> accessed since the desktop was deactivated since I had no CD key. Said my
> support call charge would be refunded but of course that was a lie.
>
> Between the original purchase, upgrade purchase, support call to MS, and
> now
> possibly a full-version purchase of XP this will cost me close to $1,000.
> If
> MS products fail to function properly, I must pay more money to MS.
> That's
> getting old fast.
>
>

Well, you can use an upgrade disk, IF you have the qualifying media for a
previous version of Windows.
I have several dozen old W98/ME/NT/W2K CDs, so that is never a problem.
Not everyone agrees, but I consider installing XP in place of Vista an
upgrade.
It is a mature OS and with the right tools, security is adequate.
I have several machines with Vista that I am forced to use regularly, but I
still dislike it.
I didn't like the design from day 1 of Beta and was never shy about saying
so.
But MS put out what they wanted, no matter what anyone said about the poor
design & functionality.
Rearranging the furniture will only trip YOU, a burglar won't care where the
couch is.


"DL" <address@invalid> wrote in message
news:#...
> You cannot upgrade the o/s from a later edition o/s, this is a downgrade.
> If you purchased a Vista PC and are having these problems, what does the
> supplier say? or is that you puchased a winxp PC and upgraded to Vista,
> with the resulting problemas?
>
>
> "PB" <> wrote in message
> news:4D62A224-EB86-42BF-A6FF-...
>> What is the best way to go from Vista back to XP? Can I use an upgrade
>> disk
>> or must I purchase the full version for $270?
>>
>> The super-secret DRM file indiv02_64.key once again is crashing Media
>> Center
>> and everything else. I cannot watch TV, watch a DVD, or even watch
>> Netflix
>> online. I know from a previous encounter with MS support that I must
>> wipe
>> out the computer and reinstall. The only DRM content I watch is cable
>> TV,
>> Netflix online and DVDs from Netflix. How can this OS possibly be this
>> fragile? I won't go into what an adventure it was to get Bluetooth to
>> work.
>>
>> The last time DRM crashed (4 months ago) I had to call MS support, pay
>> $60
>> and spend 6 hours on the phone just to get a CD key for Vista Ultimate
>> since
>> a total reinstall apparently is the only option. I had done Upgrade
>> Anytime
>> and hence had no key - I instead had a license file which could not be
>> accessed since the desktop was deactivated since I had no CD key. Said
>> my
>> support call charge would be refunded but of course that was a lie.
>>
>> Between the original purchase, upgrade purchase, support call to MS, and
>> now
>> possibly a full-version purchase of XP this will cost me close to $1,000.
>> If
>> MS products fail to function properly, I must pay more money to MS.
>> That's
>> getting old fast.
>>
>>
>
>

"Not Me" <> wrote in message
news:AB6FF597-8629-4D2C-8CB6-...
> Well, you can use an upgrade disk, IF you have the qualifying media for a
> previous version of Windows.
> I have several dozen old W98/ME/NT/W2K CDs, so that is never a problem.
> Not everyone agrees, but I consider installing XP in place of Vista an
> upgrade.
> It is a mature OS and with the right tools, security is adequate.
> I have several machines with Vista that I am forced to use regularly, but
> I still dislike it.
> I didn't like the design from day 1 of Beta and was never shy about saying
> so.
> But MS put out what they wanted, no matter what anyone said about the poor
> design & functionality.

Is that why you are upset?
M$ decided to ignore you rather than the other beta testers?
That's life.. many beta testers don't get what they ask for.
Even some good ideas from beta testers have to wait for some future release.
You weren't ignored BTW, just not acted upon.
Its the usual argument from a demented few.. they never listen because they
didn't do what I wanted. You get it everywhere in protest groups around the
world. The protesters think they are the center of the world and get upset
when they find out they aren't.