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The Kitchen Table

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

18 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
18 years ago
Yes. You can change Operating Systems to XP.
sayhellonow
18 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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Just a word of advice for all y'all folks being conned by the MS "Vista" PR onslaught. I would not even think about installing "Vista" or buying a "Vista" loaded PC until the OS is out "in the wild" for at the least, 2 full business quarters. best/smartest As for the "Vista" ready stuff..... LOL, y'all better make sure that you are buying hardware that will run a version higher up the dollar chain than the "bargain" basic at $199.99. Something like the full pro version. You are not going to be able to do much using "Vista" otherwise. And what you casn do, you'll be doing pretty slowly. Now, for those of you who always have lots of wonderful MS words to share.... How many of you ran the beta's or the RC's? What did you run it on? Oh, you didn't.............. Better plan on at least 2gb's RAM, and you are gonna need a 256mb video card too, (a 128mb card will do if you do NOTHING anywhere even remotely considered "graphics intensive") unless you want to see all your applications start "downgrading" w/o your doing. And the promises of a secure system are all already full of holes and there will (and are already!!) lots of security bypasses and hacks that are awaiting your installation. And then there are the driver and software compatibilty issues, and there are LOTS of them! Oh yeah, and all you gamer types who regularly mistake and confuse gaming knowledge for IT/CS savvy,(and NOT the CS/IT savvy types who game1) you are aware that "Vista" on the same hardware vs.XP offers you a 15% - 20% performance reduction over XP, aren't you? Even MS has had to admit to this.... I personally wouldn't even consider an OS that requires more horsepower to run than ANY of the software you use. What for? 'Cause Dell and MS tell you that's what you need? You would do much better to do a few simple and minor upgrades, especially RAM, and run a modern and competently maintained OS like a Linux, or, a BSD distribution. Sorry but you won't be needing any of that >"Vista" requires it but it may not work no matter who it comes fromEither that, or do what most PC users would best be and have been advised to do for years....that would be that the smartest/best thing for non-geek just a user type could ever do, is to get a Mac.
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uxorial
18 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
18 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
18 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
18 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
18 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
18 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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