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New computer - can it be switched to XP (from vista)?

16 years ago

Old Lappy died an ugly death and I have a new laptop which came with Vista pre-installed. However, I really loathe vista. Is it possible to have XP put on a new computer? I've been using vista for seven days and I still hate it.

Rose

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Comments (8)

gardenspice
16 years ago
Yes. You can change Operating Systems to XP.
sayhellonow
16 years ago
Yes you can. It is called Downgrade Rights from Microsoft. You may want to be careful though, because MS says it will quit selling Win XP later this year. They will continue to provide support for a time (my best guess is at least a year), but after that who knows.
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I just went thru this exact (almost) procedure, getting my new Vista desktop to network with our Win xp computer with printer. Not so easy, but here are the instructions which work: 1. To set up the house network, on the Vista computer: Start-Control Panel-System and Maintaint.- system-computer name,domain,workgroup settings area on the screen, hit the "change settings" button, then system properties-computer name tab-change computer name/domain changes-in Workgroup type your home network's name-OK. Then to set up the printer, a huge pain, but doable: On the Vista computer: Start-Control Panel-add printer-add Local Printer (I know it's on a network, but this is the way to do it)-create a new port-default is "local port",leave it-next you have to enter a port name, this is the tricky part, you have to type in the path to the printer manually, the path should look like: \\your exact host computer name\your exact printer's sharing name. That's it. To check for the exact host computer name, go to the host computer, my computer, and a screen will come up with it's official name, use it, case sensitive. For printer name, go to host computer, printers area thru the control panel, rt. click the printer and properties. A sharing tab will show, click it, the exact name for the shared printer will show, again use it case sensitive. The above took me all day when I got my new Vista, hope it helps.
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PM2 - I just want to clarify that the reason my husband may not be able to get XP drivers for his laptop is not because Microsoft is not supporting XP. They continue to support XP and constantly issue new updates. The issue is that there might not be XP drivers that are compatible with other things in his laptop. Now I don't know enough to know what those things are - is it hardware on the laptop, other software they've installed that doesn't have XP drivers. I don't fully comprehend the problem, but it's not that Microsoft isn't supporting XP. I hope somebody more knowledgeable will correct me if I'm wrong. I don't want to give prairiemoon2 incorrect information. I share your frustration that Microsoft would issue software that is so problematic that they even write documentation on ways to deal with the problems. I'm also frustrated when I have to get software fixes from other companies to deal with Microsoft problems. (I just had lots of trouble updating XP on an old computer of my daughters. The updates would not install - and nothing on Microsoft site - or from my computer tech guy's discussions with Microsoft turned up a solution. The solution came from third-party software - recommended to me here on this forum.) Lynn.
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uxorial
16 years ago
I hated Vista for a long time, too. I especially hated having to download new drivers for my printer and scanner, which weren't available right away (I've had Vista for over a year, so it was very new when I got it.).

I had some problems at first, one of which was related to a free version of McAfee that came on my Dell computer. Once I deleted that and started using AVG, that problem went away.

Another thing that helped me make the transition is changing the appearance of Vista to look like XP.

Now that I'm used to Vista, I'm OK with it. But I'm still bummed that some of the games I used to play on Yahoo haven't been upgraded to Vista, so I can't play them.

What exactly do you hate about Vista? Is it the annoying pop-ups about "allow" or "cancel"? Is it the appearance? (You can change that, like I did.)
sandy_in_ia
16 years ago
I was going to state that you can make it appear almost like XP, so it is much easier.

My sister that is VERY computer illiterate went from ME to Vista!! After about an hour on the phone, we got it set up to just about the way it looked before. I didn't have her take off the authorization pop ups tho...I wanted her to make sure she knew what she was doing! If she can get through that, I believe ANYONE can!!

My first Vista was at the office and that was a year ago last month. I go between my office puter, and laptop both on Vista to my main desktop that is XP. I honestly don't understand what all the griping is about! There isn't really that much different! Except for that pop up...and you can take that off. The biggest difference on it is My Pictures...there are some wonderful bonus' in that tho! I guess I have been very lucky too, as I have had no problems with any drivers! And at the office I have ALL ages of printers/scanners.
rosemaryt
Original Author
16 years ago
OH MY GOSH - how do you change the appearance to XP? Tell me more. Maybe I should try that first?

I'd be grateful if you tell me how - and spare no detail. I feel like a nincompoop with this new computer.

Rose
uxorial
16 years ago
To change the appearance, click Start, then Control Panel. Then Personalization. Then Theme. Choose the theme you want, then click OK.
kris_zone6
16 years ago
I also hated Vista, but after a couple of weeks, it is fine, wouldn't want to go back to XP.
wanda_va
16 years ago
I got Vista when it first came out--and I love it. Would like to upgrade my other computers from XP to Vista. You might want to give it a chance before you get rid of it.

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