By now you will have read the 'long live Windows XP' headlines, with Microsoft giving the operating system a stay of execution by allowing users to buy it for five months longer than previously anticipated. The decision has been labelled as another black mark against Windows Vista, which has failed to meet Microsoft's sales expectations. Some Vista users are even reverting back to XP, while others in PC Advisor's Windows Vista forum claim they'd like to, given the right know-how.
Tips on how to revert back to Windows XP
So what does it take to turn back the clock? Read on for more about the trip to Windows yesteryear.
What is a downgrade?
To Microsoft, 'downgrade' describes the licensing rights it grants to older operating systems. Downgrade doesn't mean the process for rolling back Windows from Vista to XP, since there isn't such a procedure, not in the generally accepted use of 'upgrade'. In an older-to-newer move, developers usually make it possible to retain all the digital detritus on the drive, from already-installed applications and Word documents to iTunes tracks and family photos, while updating the system files. Not so in a downgrade.
Specifically, these downgrade rights let owners of some versions of Vista replace it with XP without having to pay for another licence. In effect, the licence for Vista is transferred to XP. Think of it as a swap, Vista for XP, not as an extra licence. By Microsoft's end-user licensing agreement (EULA), you can't have both the Vista and its downgraded XP installed at the same time on the same or different machines. You have to pick: It's one or the other.
See also: First look: Windows Vista SP1
To the vast bulk of users, though, 'downgrade' is a synonym for reverting to an older version. In that case, it simply means dumping Vista and returning to XP.
So, what downgrades does Microsoft allow? Owners of the OEM editions of Vista Business and Vista Ultimate can downgrade to Windows XP Professional, including Tablet PC Edition and x64 Edition. Only the OEM editions qualify for a downgrade, so if you purchased a new PC with either Business or Ultimate preinstalled, you're in luck.
Those who aren't: all users of Vista Home Basic and Vista Home Premium, and anyone who upgraded to Vista using a retail edition of any of the operating system's SKUs.
How do I downgrade?
Install a copy of Windows XP Professional with the product key that came with the copy, and then when you hit the activation screen - which is near the end of the installation process - select the activate by phone option rather than the online method. You'll likely end up talking with a live rep; tell him that you're downgrading from Vista to XP, and give him the Vista product key. The rep is supposed to walk you through the rest.
Comments
Arvind said: I agree with peoples views here MS should start providing productive-updates to XP from Vista its not really a downgrade in my opinion - XP did its job better than Vista doesIn my opinion Vista is just a waste of time
That is why Sales are down said: When Microsoft wakes up from its amnesia with Millenium it will realize the large number of computers sitting on the shelf of computer stores are home premium and home basic The people who are making the loudest noise right now are users of home basic and home premiumIf they are not relieved of this vista nightmare the sales will continue to drop Their anquish and voices are like a virus without a cure People hear and feel their misery with this garbage put out by microsoft and immediately process the pain They feel the pain and say No to Vista No to microsoft and many dont even have the OS yetSo if Microsoft is smart they will address that vocal minority before this becomes a smoking disasterSo in my book Vistas got to go or get it right M NowNo Penalty No Charge to downgrade to XP
That is why Sales are down said: When Microsoft wakes up from its amnesia with Millenium it will realize the large number of computers sitting on the shelf of computer stores are home premium and home basic The people who are making the loudest noise right now are users of home basic and home premiumIf they are not relieved of this vista nightmare the sales will continue to drop Their anquish and voices are like a virus without a cure People hear and feel their misery with this garbage put out by microsoft and immediately process the pain They feel the pain and say No to Vista No to microsoft and many dont even have the OS yetSo if Microsoft is smart they will address that vocal minority before this becomes a smoking disasterSo in my book Vistas got to go or get it right M NowNo Penalty No Charge to downgrade to XP
DOCTOR WATSON HE KNOW THE TR said: MICORSOFT HASENT MADE ENOUGH EFFORTS FOR COMPATABILITY THE MAIN ISSUE WITH VISTA IS UN COMPATABILITY WITH THE MAJORITY OF EXISTING SOFTWAREIF ALL OF THE OLD WOULD WORK WITH THE NEW THAT WOULD BE HEVEN THERE IS A MARKENTING SCHEEM TO FORCE EVERY ONE TO PURCHAS NEW SOFTWARE AND ITS CALL VISTAMICROSOFT THINKS THE PUBLIC IS STUPID VISTA IS THE MILLINIUM NIGHT MARE ALL OVER AGAIN
DOCTOR WATSON said: MICORSOFT MUST MAKE A VISTA DOWN GRADE ADVISOR MICROSOFT AND THE COMPUTER MANIFACTURES MUST DO MUCH MORE TO HELP THE END USER NO MORE STUDDERING HINGINS FROM THE 7 ELEVEN GIVING THE WRONG INFO SAY NO TO SABOO IN INDIA
Kirk said: Recently bought an HP laptop tx1000 with Vista Home Business Premium and decided that the incompatibility with other programmes was unacceptable and after backing up the system performed a scratch install of XP something new to me Only problems were some of the drivers were hard to find HP was very supportive and now I have stable laptop with only a few features missing