Computer geeks, can you please help me?

[A Cooper]

Can you tell me if there is a way to delete Vista from your system and install XP. I have an opportunity to work at home but I have to either have XP or 7 on my computer. Buying a new computer would take a few months and I need to start working right away or they will give the job to someone else. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[travelingtypist]

1. You can run XP inside Vista.

If you have a valid XP license...

http://lifehacker.com/238071/geek-to-live--run-windows-xp-inside-vista-with-virtual-pc

[A Cooper]

2. I don't have a license

My computer came with Vista.

[travelingtypist]

3. This is pre-7, but you might want to try it.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9040318/FAQ_Giving_up_on_Vista_Here_s_how_to_downgrade_to_XP

[DainBramaged]

8. I did find the download link on Microsoft

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/virtual-pc-2007.aspx

[csziggy]

17. You can get copies of XP with license

The cheap way is to check at a local computer shop to see if they have any unused licenses and a copy of the CD you can use. When I was building my own computers, I bought OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) copies from BuyCheapSoftware.com but right now, XP is selling for $139.95 and Windows 7 for $99.95. I recently rebuilt a couple of older computers for some kids and the local shop sold me a license to go with a copy of XP I already had for $15.

I've been fairly happy with Win 7 except for the updating or whatever the hell it keeps running at 5 PM every day that I can't find to stop or change the schedule for. The difference in interface between XP, Vista and 7 is just about nil. Every program I have loaded has run on all three, even my ancient games I've run since Win 98 - one even ran on Win 3.1. I did have to upgrade WordPerfect, but it crawls inside the registry and gums things up at the best of times so that is not surprising.

[Lance_Boyle]

4. Get a copy of XP or Win7 and install it - voila!

You will have to pay for a license along with the OS, unless you procure it by less-than-legal means. If you are a student, you may be able to get either OS at greatly reduced cost from your University.

Ubuntu with OpenOffice is a reasonable alternative to Windows/Office for most people, but most people fear the penguin.

[DainBramaged]

5. Why only XP or 7, Vista is the butter between those two flavors of bread?

Staples sells a Windows 7 three license upgrade pack for $150. That is FAR easier than downgrading to XP. But I just don't see what you could be using that isn't Vista compatible?

[hobbit709]

7. Vista is the rancid butter between the bread.

[HopeHoops]

15. Well phrased, hobbit!

[hobbit709]

6. First make sure that there are XP drivers available for your hardware.

Then get a XP disk and install.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

14. So true... My laptop came with Vista and for me to install XP, I had to find some SATA Drives

and create a custom XP CD.

I was running XP in two days after I open the box. B-)

[struggle4progress]

9. MS isn't supporting XP anymore, so installing XP is a bit risky

I'd go Windows 7

[AlabamaLibrul]

10. MS support is shifty at best. Install XP, which is the best Windows they've ever released

and if something comes up, either look it up or come here for help.

[struggle4progress]

11. "Not supporting anymore" probably means much more than "You won't

get help from MS if you call." It may affect, as hobbit indicated above, what drivers are available; it may affect what new software works on XP, &c &c

[AlabamaLibrul]

12. I'm assuming that our friend doesn't have any brand new equipment, like printers

if not, I say go for XP.

I have it on a dual-boot setup with Ubuntu. Nothing I use has issues with XP drivers, and especially not with Ubuntu stuff.

[DainBramaged]

16. They are supporting XP service pack 3 until 2015

because 62% (SIXTY TWO PERCENT) of corporate America still uses XP. And I've posted this over and over and over till my eyes bleed.

[struggle4progress]

18. Apologies. I perhaps misunderstood results of my search of the Microsoft Product Lifecycle tables

which are not terribly clear on this point

[DainBramaged]

20. True, very true, unless you are soopergeeker like moi

would have been nice for the OP to have responded, but, hit and run is the norm around here.

[struggle4progress]

21. So, what is the straight story? It seems to me Microsoft has cooked up some bizarre

scheme where those who buy an expensive enough version of Windows 7 before 2014 or 2015 can downgrade to XP SP3, if they like :crazy:

[DainBramaged]

22. Corporate America told Microsoft to shove it when Blister came out

Like Windows 2000 and Millennium, it wasn't ready for prime time. There are so so many older pieces of hardware and programs corporations use that are proven with XP and unusable with 7 because so many manufacturers refuse to update drivers for Win 7 that corporations refuse to upgrade. Out of 60 computers in my buildings, THREE are Win7 Pro, and those are basically internet tools only, they don't work with older printers, impact printers we use for multiple copy documents, service tools, scan tools, and a LOT of software that companies refuse to make Win 7 compatible because there are so few in use in industry.

You go with what works.


But it's a GREAT operating system for home use!!!

[hobbit709]

19. what's there to support.

It works.

[Betty88]

13. Did your vista computer come with a free upgrade to win7?

It would depend on how old your computer is and if the manufacturer offered it. I remember my friend got one with vista a few months before 7 came out and was offered a free upgrade once it was available. If you can then you might just be able to do an upgrade, backup everything first. A new install is better if you can do it.

[Redstone]

23. 1) Buy a used Mac. 2) Buy Virtual PC, which you can get a version that

includes XP.

Install VPC and XP Pro, and you're off to the races.

Runnig XP through VPC on the Mac has wokred a charm for me. It's even faster running under emulation on a Mac than on a Windows computer.

Redstone