VISTA with downgrade option to XP

I have to buy a new computer and am very reluctant to use VISTA (I
personally like XP Home). However, there aren't a whole lot of options out
there in the stores.

One option I did hear about is buying a computer with VISTA installed and
with the option of downgrading (free) to Windows XP Pro.

Has anyone had experience with this downgrade? Can a novice do it or does
it have to be done by a technician?

Any advice much appreciated.

If there is a package that includes a "downgrade" the vendor (computer
seller) would have to provide the media and instructions. It's not
something that a casual user should expect to do, especially if there are
files or settings or documents to be transferred between the two systems.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/


"Bugsy" <> wrote in message
news:...
>I have to buy a new computer and am very reluctant to use VISTA (I
>personally like XP Home). However, there aren't a whole lot of options out
>there in the stores.
>
> One option I did hear about is buying a computer with VISTA installed and
> with the option of downgrading (free) to Windows XP Pro.
>
> Has anyone had experience with this downgrade? Can a novice do it or does
> it have to be done by a technician?
>
> Any advice much appreciated.
>

"Bugsy" <> wrote in message
news:...
>I have to buy a new computer and am very reluctant to use VISTA (I
>personally like XP Home). However, there aren't a whole lot of options out
>there in the stores.
>
> One option I did hear about is buying a computer with VISTA installed and
> with the option of downgrading (free) to Windows XP Pro.
>
> Has anyone had experience with this downgrade? Can a novice do it or does
> it have to be done by a technician?
>
> Any advice much appreciated.
>


After using Vista, you may find that you like it more than XP. Instead of
listening to the FUD of others, most of whom are just out to discredit
Microsoft any way they can, try it out first..



--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default...help&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

I agree with Mike: try Vista first to see what you think. Remember, the
people who post here are NOT REMOTELY representative of the 100+ million
Vista users out there.

A "downgrade" from Vista to XP isn't really practical, EXCEPT in the sense
that you would have to reformat the hard disk and install XP from scratch.
In itself not a problem, of course, so long as you've got all the disks,
drivers, etc.

SteveT

Usually Home Basic and Premium do not have downgrade rights, only Business
and Ultimate. And the downgrade usually has to be to XP Pro, not Home.
Keep that in mind. As Richard says, it depends on the vendor as to whether
downgrade rights are offered. As of June 30 vendors may not be offering it
anymore anyway. Otherwise, the user would simply provide XP at his own
expense and reinstall. That, however, would usually void vendor support for
the computer. It also depends on whether the vendor is even providing XP
drivers for the computer. More and more are not. Investigate with your
vendor first.

"Bugsy" <> wrote in message
news:...
>I have to buy a new computer and am very reluctant to use VISTA (I
>personally like XP Home). However, there aren't a whole lot of options out
>there in the stores.
>
> One option I did hear about is buying a computer with VISTA installed and
> with the option of downgrading (free) to Windows XP Pro.
>
> Has anyone had experience with this downgrade? Can a novice do it or does
> it have to be done by a technician?
>
> Any advice much appreciated.
>

Downgrade rights exist for all OEM versions of Vista Business and Ultimate.
Home versions do not have downgrade rights. It is much easier for you if you
deal with an OEM who will help you with this. If they won't you would have
to obtain a copy of XP Pro, install it, then phone for authorization and
convince the tech you were legitimate. The hard part may be finding XP
drivers. The activation is relatively straightforward. I've done it a couple
of times.

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rencesheet.pdf

Like the other answers you received I recommend you give Vista a try. I
would not want to go back to XP personally.

--
Kerry Brown
MS-MVP - Windows Desktop Experience: Systems Administration
http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/



"Bugsy" <> wrote in message
news:...
>I have to buy a new computer and am very reluctant to use VISTA (I
>personally like XP Home). However, there aren't a whole lot of options out
>there in the stores.
>
> One option I did hear about is buying a computer with VISTA installed and
> with the option of downgrading (free) to Windows XP Pro.
>
> Has anyone had experience with this downgrade? Can a novice do it or does
> it have to be done by a technician?
>
> Any advice much appreciated.
>

If you really want XP, you CAN buy it from OEMs like Dell, HP(if you ASK),
until the end of this month, June 30th, 2008.
--
Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia


"Bugsy" wrote:

> I have to buy a new computer and am very reluctant to use VISTA (I
> personally like XP Home). However, there aren't a whole lot of options out
> there in the stores.
>
> One option I did hear about is buying a computer with VISTA installed and
> with the option of downgrading (free) to Windows XP Pro.
>
> Has anyone had experience with this downgrade? Can a novice do it or does
> it have to be done by a technician?
>
> Any advice much appreciated.
>
>
>

Mike Hall - MVP wrote:
> "Bugsy" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> I have to buy a new computer and am very reluctant to use VISTA (I
>> personally like XP Home). However, there aren't a whole lot of
>> options out there in the stores.
>>
>> One option I did hear about is buying a computer with VISTA installed
>> and with the option of downgrading (free) to Windows XP Pro.
>>
>> Has anyone had experience with this downgrade? Can a novice do it or
>> does it have to be done by a technician?
>>
>> Any advice much appreciated.
>>
>
>
> After using Vista, you may find that you like it more than XP. Instead
> of listening to the FUD of others, most of whom are just out to
> discredit Microsoft any way they can, try it out first..
>
>
>

You can spend all that money to try it out first and then have to pay
for another license to switch OSes just to find out that another OS
won't work on your machine because of drivers or something else as Mike
Hall MVP suggests or you can just stay with what you know just works for
you. Doesn't sound like much of a choice to me.

--
"Fair use is not merely a nice concept--it is a federal law based on
free speech rights under the First Amendment and is a cornerstone of the
creativity and innovation that is a hallmark of this country. Consumer
rights in the digital age are not frivolous."
- Maura Corbett

"The poster formerly known as 'The Poster Formerly Known as Nina DiBoy'"
<> wrote in message news:g46iun$6pt$...
> Mike Hall - MVP wrote:
>> "Bugsy" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> I have to buy a new computer and am very reluctant to use VISTA (I
>>> personally like XP Home). However, there aren't a whole lot of options
>>> out there in the stores.
>>>
>>> One option I did hear about is buying a computer with VISTA installed
>>> and with the option of downgrading (free) to Windows XP Pro.
>>>
>>> Has anyone had experience with this downgrade? Can a novice do it or
>>> does it have to be done by a technician?
>>>
>>> Any advice much appreciated.
>>>
>>
>>
>> After using Vista, you may find that you like it more than XP. Instead of
>> listening to the FUD of others, most of whom are just out to discredit
>> Microsoft any way they can, try it out first..
>>
>>
>>
>
> You can spend all that money to try it out first and then have to pay for
> another license to switch OSes just to find out that another OS won't work
> on your machine because of drivers or something else as Mike Hall MVP
> suggests or you can just stay with what you know just works for you.
> Doesn't sound like much of a choice to me.
>
> --
> "Fair use is not merely a nice concept--it is a federal law based on free
> speech rights under the First Amendment and is a cornerstone of the
> creativity and innovation that is a hallmark of this country. Consumer
> rights in the digital age are not frivolous."
> - Maura Corbett


There is more choice, though. The OP could decide to use a Linux variant
which may not run any of the third party programming already owned..


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default...help&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

Umm, It is very easy to reinstall XP. Going from Vista to xp doesnt voi
warranty- its just not supported. If you have to send computer back fo
warranty issues, just reinstall vista

XP home $89.9
'Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3 English for Syste
Builders 1 Pack CD - Operating Systems
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116511
XP Pro $139.9
'Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 English for Syste
Builders 1 Pack CD - Operating Systems
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116515

--
rive010

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