biznaga
Active Member
New computer on way to my house. But it will have VISTA on it. Anybody of you tech types know if I can format hard drive and install XP for awhile?
OT Computer Question
- Thread starter biznaga
- Start date
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Justin L
Member
sure you could but sum of the stuff might not work quite right or not at all but why would you want to? plus it would void all warrantys you might have on the computer
TomT
Well-Known Member
If you feel you just have to run XP then you could partition the hard drive and boot to either Vista or XP.
Jacob Dryer
Well-Known Member
Make sure you have a complete set of recovery disks made (or came with the computer) prior to installing XP. There is no reason you can't do it. It won't void any warranties, just like an xcal make sure you flash it back to stock before you take it in for warrany work (read put vista back on)
I've been running beta vista on one of my machines with no issues, so I wouldn't worry about running vista, of course that is entirely up to you.
I've been running beta vista on one of my machines with no issues, so I wouldn't worry about running vista, of course that is entirely up to you.
Thomas Rogers
Well-Known Member
I would vote for considering dual boot as well. Vista has a new re-partition capability and dual boot capability that makes it all possible. See the link.
With dual boot you can use the latest and greatest, and if you find any legacy software that doesn't work (yet), you can install it and run it on the XP partition.
See the link for more info:
And these links too:
http://lifehacker.com/software/top/windows-vista-beta-how-to-dual-boot-windows-xp-and-windows-vista-179906.php
http://www.vistabootpro.org/
TJR
With dual boot you can use the latest and greatest, and if you find any legacy software that doesn't work (yet), you can install it and run it on the XP partition.
See the link for more info:
And these links too:
http://lifehacker.com/software/top/windows-vista-beta-how-to-dual-boot-windows-xp-and-windows-vista-179906.php
http://www.vistabootpro.org/
TJR
Dale Carlson
Active Member
biz,
You didn't say, but why do you want to go back to XP?
If you don't like the Vista user interface, Aero, you can set the UI to use "classic" mode, so that it looks and feels like XP.
And here's a concept that might boggle your brain, in kind of reverse-legacy situation, you might have a problem finding XP drivers for your machine. See, the component manufacturers had to build drivers for their newest Vista-compliant hardware, so that the computer manufacturers could sell computers with Vista on them (which is not the same as having a Vista-capable machine). Your new machine has Vista drivers. XP drivers may or may not be available for the hardware in it.
The only reason I bring it up is because, Vista is really more secure than XP, and in a lot of ways that users can't see. I think that if your machine can run it, and yours can, you're better off with Vista.
You didn't say, but why do you want to go back to XP?
If you don't like the Vista user interface, Aero, you can set the UI to use "classic" mode, so that it looks and feels like XP.
And here's a concept that might boggle your brain, in kind of reverse-legacy situation, you might have a problem finding XP drivers for your machine. See, the component manufacturers had to build drivers for their newest Vista-compliant hardware, so that the computer manufacturers could sell computers with Vista on them (which is not the same as having a Vista-capable machine). Your new machine has Vista drivers. XP drivers may or may not be available for the hardware in it.
The only reason I bring it up is because, Vista is really more secure than XP, and in a lot of ways that users can't see. I think that if your machine can run it, and yours can, you're better off with Vista.
biznaga
Active Member
kefguy said "biz, You didn't say, but why do you want to go back to XP?"
Due to compatability. My IP doesn't know if I can even access their server yet. my newly purchased photo scanner has no VISTA driver as of today...and so on for my very old HP Laser printer.
Also planningto network as house is prewired with 12 CAT5e ports all over house.
biznaga
Active Member
TJR said "I would vote for considering dual boot as well. Vista has a new re-partition capability and dual boot capability that makes it all possible"
Good point. That may be the way to go. I did get a HD 10 times bigger than what I have now and my current one is only 1/3rd full as I don't store much on it.
Thanks
Good point. That may be the way to go. I did get a HD 10 times bigger than what I have now and my current one is only 1/3rd full as I don't store much on it.
Thanks
Dale Carlson
Active Member
biz,
You shouldn't have any problems connecting to your ISP or a home network. Every Windows OS since 3.1, including Vista, has used TCP/IP and Ethernet, which are the most widely used networking protocols in the world today. Those standards are really OS-agnostic, so I'm wondering why your ISP would say that.
As far as your scanner and printer, you might try installing them in Vista with XP drivers. A lot of people are reporting some success (and some not) with that.
You shouldn't have any problems connecting to your ISP or a home network. Every Windows OS since 3.1, including Vista, has used TCP/IP and Ethernet, which are the most widely used networking protocols in the world today. Those standards are really OS-agnostic, so I'm wondering why your ISP would say that.
As far as your scanner and printer, you might try installing them in Vista with XP drivers. A lot of people are reporting some success (and some not) with that.
Thomas Rogers
Well-Known Member
Kefguy,
Many dialup ISPs still have their own installation CDs and own downloadable installation programs that configure remote connections for dialup and install other software (their own skinned browser settings, etc). Some of these ISPs probably haven't updated their software yet for Vista, or at the very least made sure it still works under Vista; thus their disclaimers that it "might not connect". I suspect to avoid any additional support burdens until tested they paint a "worst-case scenario" for those asking about upgrading.
I agree though, the general connection should work fine.
TJR
Many dialup ISPs still have their own installation CDs and own downloadable installation programs that configure remote connections for dialup and install other software (their own skinned browser settings, etc). Some of these ISPs probably haven't updated their software yet for Vista, or at the very least made sure it still works under Vista; thus their disclaimers that it "might not connect". I suspect to avoid any additional support burdens until tested they paint a "worst-case scenario" for those asking about upgrading.
I agree though, the general connection should work fine.
TJR
Gavin Allan
Well-Known Member
The ISPs don't want to handle technical assistance for the new stuff. The don't yet have the knowledge or capacity do do so.
I wouldn't worry about VISTA-- I'd keep it and try it before going to the trouble of dumping it or setting up partitions, etc. Why create more work until you know you need to. You can probably run drivers in legacy mode to emulate previous MS releases like XP anyway.
I wouldn't worry about VISTA-- I'd keep it and try it before going to the trouble of dumping it or setting up partitions, etc. Why create more work until you know you need to. You can probably run drivers in legacy mode to emulate previous MS releases like XP anyway.
Dale Carlson
Active Member
TJR, you've got a point, I hadn't thought about ISP software (some broadbands have their own software, too) because I hadn't used it in so long. The first time I used an ISP's crapware, I uninstalled it and configured the connection myself using Windows' native features - that's been 10-12 years now, and I haven't used any since on my own computers.
I also agree with Gavin. The ISPs probably don't have the helpdesk scripts/manuals updated or their helpdesk personnel trained for Vista yet.
I also agree with Gavin. The ISPs probably don't have the helpdesk scripts/manuals updated or their helpdesk personnel trained for Vista yet.
Thomas Rogers
Well-Known Member
Right, Gavin, Kefguy. The ISPs (dialup and broadband) have developed there own "productivity ware" to help the noob users instead of educate them. In the process, they have create a mountain of fragile software that isn't really necessary, and now they have to continue to support it across OS versions.
TJR
TJR
Thomas Rogers
Well-Known Member
My wife's new Dell Inspirion 1501 just came in. 2GB of RAM and Vista Business edition pre-installed. I have spent much of the night playing with it. I uninstalled some stuff, disabled some other startup items (nice feature of Vista), and installed Free AVG. So far only a few hiccups along the way. Office 2000 was too much of a pain to install (complained about missing registry entries after installation...Googled, looked like a hassle to fix), luckily I also had a copy of 2003. All in all, it's really nice. The startup is much slower than I expected on a duo core, 1.8ghz pc with 2GB memory, but still not bad. Since I expect she will startup from hibernate, I expect that's not of an issue.
So far it seems really secure...installing anything makes you remove the chastity belt, put on a condom, etc. (or the Windows equivalent of validation screens).
TJR
So far it seems really secure...installing anything makes you remove the chastity belt, put on a condom, etc. (or the Windows equivalent of validation screens).
TJR
