Sorry to hear you are having problems. I upgraded my E510 desktop from XP Media Center to Vista Home Premium the day it came out and wouldn't consider going back to XP. I had a minor software problem (one program was not Vista compatible) but I didn't really use that program so it wasn't a "loss". No hardware problems as the PC was "vista ready" (except I had to upgrade the BIOS), Vista drivers were available for my sound and video cards and my Epson all in one printer/scanner.
If you wanted to install XP, you would have to reformat and reinstall everything. Check the Dell downloads to see if all the XP drivers are there. If not, you should reconsider.
Why would you want to downgrade and put a old 6 year old OS on your computer. XP does work but it is very ugly. The Luna theme is the worst looking thing ever. When I was using XP I switched it right away to the classic look and I can't understand why anyone in their thick mind would use the Luna theme like my cousin does. Vista is much prettier.
I have had Vista now for close totwo months and, like a host of others, am more than ready to go back to XP Professional until Vista has all its bugs sorted out. My dislikes refer to speed, failure to recognise some software, hardware and drivers and it freezes regularly. Other than that it's O.K.!!!
How do I go about reinstalling XP on the very latest high end Inspiron E1705. Does it have to be a clean from start installation? Does the new Vista driven mother board support XP drivers? If not, where do I go from there.
Your help please.
You may be better off to try and solve the Vista 'problems' rather than reverting to XP.
I think that Vista is having the same teething problems that all new or updated OS have had. It is just so darn irritating to find that Microsoft offers a new system and to blazes with hardware and software and drivers you have that are not compatible. For example anything older than Adobe 7 it just doesn;'t recognise. I was very comfortable with XP and I never had any but miniscule problems. My colleagues are of similar opinion as are others such as the following links lead you to.
Thank you for your comments though, I am just too impatient to try and come to grips with Vista right now. I am in my late seventies....I just don't have the time!!
Software and hardware companies had lots of time to develop drivers for Vista before it's public release. Many companies were developing (and releasing) beta drivers for many builds of Vista during the entire beta cycle.
There is no excuse for companies waiting months after Vista's RTM (release to manufacturing, Nov '06) to have drivers/updates available. This was a major OS, after all.
I agree with the original poster. I had to return a new Dell AMD Dual Core system because Vista just ran at an intolerable crawl. I couldn't get any work done. I too believe I will want to WIPE VISTA and do an install of Win XP.
I have been trying to get a straight answer to this question too. Unfortunately, too many folks seem to be put off by the question. Perhaps some of them would comment on whether they have any stake in VISTA being a winning OS or not. .Personally, I think Vista is pretty, but pretty doesn't get things done. There is a reason that Dell began offering XP again on their low end and top end machines. The reason is that VISTA DOES NOT WORK WELL for many users. In contrast XP requires far fewer computer resources, runs much faster and is much more stable.
The tech people who run the 200 or so systems in my office all say that Vista is to be avoided. My experience with Vista was dismal. Why would anyone want to pay for a huge upgrade in hardware and get a huge downgrade in system performance? I have purchased a much more powerful Dell system (XPS 410). I was disappointed that I could not get it with XP pre-installed. Instead, I will have to wipe VISTA myself if the system performance is equally dismall on the XPS as it was with the much cheaper AMD Dual Core system.
A few simple walk throughs would really be appreciated. I don't have a dog in this fight. VISTA may become a nice OS (especially after the release of SP 1, expected around the end of the year). But as it stands now VISTA fails to meet the needs of many computer users.
..... Help this guy out please.
......There are quite a few users who just want our computer's to perform at a basic level and we haven't gotten that with VISTA.
Thank you for your response. I am convinced, more than ever, that I am doing the right thing in reverting to XP Professional for the time being.
Productivity is the name of the game and I just do not feel I should have to devote ever increasing time to isolate problems, find solutions on some time consuming and hard to navigate web site and then get on with my usual work or leisure time computer use. In another year or so I am sure most of the bugs and drawbacks will have been resolved and I will then adopt Vista with open arms. Mind you, it is not quite the horror show Windows Millennium was.
One unmentioned Vista issue is the debilitating affect Aero has on battery life. Switching it off, however, has an immediate and ultra positive effect but you do lose the 3D effects. Big deal! Having said that, I do think the options one has with battery settings on Vista is really great and allows one to choose what is best for you at any particular time. Vista has many positives.
To those who say software and hardware developers are more or as much to blame than Microsoft for all these flaws in that they did not respond fully during the time that Vista was in Beta format. That aside, there was no promotional mention ever from Microsoft that problems with some older hardware and software would occur for purchasers of Vista. None. Nada. The truth of the matter is that Vista was really forced on the public with an aggressive push by Microsoft and then to have all existing XP OS software withdrawn and returned from the retail level. You have to go on line now to find a copy of XP.
I just can’t help but compare Microsoft and Boeing. What would it be like if Boeing took its Dreamliner to the air and then blamed suppliers for any subsequent operating problems!! What’s a wee crash here or there? Complain, and you’d be told your travel agent is somewhat to blame and download whatever was needed to resolve issues from their sites.
On the positive side, it does give us something to talk about. My original question is still somewhat unanswered:- My Vista is a 32 bit offering as is my XP. I am still wondering if the motherboard in my Dell E1705 running Vista Home Premium will recognise my XP drivers or will even accept a bare bones clean hard drive installation of XP Professional.
You make 2 very good points. The battery drain with Vista and productivity issues. XP Pro wins that hands down. I remember ME all to well also. You could try the portable forum for the driver issues.
The battery drain on a laptop for some functions may hold water. The rest of your "reasons" are the same reasons we heard from people that didn't like XP when it came out. There was a lot of older software and hardware that was not XP compatible and people complained about that and many vendors were slow to make drivers available for devices that were XP compatible. Starting with XP, Microsoft is no longer making the operating systems 100% backward compatible like they did with older operating systems but they still have the "compatibility mode" options like they do in XP.
But, the bottom line is gets back to "managing change". Some can accept change and some cannot or do not want to. Having been a Network and help desk manager for a large Federal Government Agency, until I retired, the "managing change" was a major "block" that we had to deal with as many users would have problems adjusting to new hardware and software or procedures.
fireberd
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jmfmvps
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You may be better off to try and solve the Vista 'problems' rather than reverting to XP.
Murdoch Matheso
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jmfmvps
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Message Edited by jmfmvps on 05-20-2007 09:01 PM
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Murdoch Matheso
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May 21st, 2007 19:00
Thank you for your response. I am convinced, more than ever, that I am doing the right thing in reverting to XP Professional for the time being.
Productivity is the name of the game and I just do not feel I should have to devote ever increasing time to isolate problems, find solutions on some time consuming and hard to navigate web site and then get on with my usual work or leisure time computer use. In another year or so I am sure most of the bugs and drawbacks will have been resolved and I will then adopt Vista with open arms. Mind you, it is not quite the horror show Windows Millennium was.
One unmentioned Vista issue is the debilitating affect Aero has on battery life. Switching it off, however, has an immediate and ultra positive effect but you do lose the 3D effects. Big deal! Having said that, I do think the options one has with battery settings on Vista is really great and allows one to choose what is best for you at any particular time. Vista has many positives.
To those who say software and hardware developers are more or as much to blame than Microsoft for all these flaws in that they did not respond fully during the time that Vista was in Beta format. That aside, there was no promotional mention ever from Microsoft that problems with some older hardware and software would occur for purchasers of Vista. None. Nada. The truth of the matter is that Vista was really forced on the public with an aggressive push by Microsoft and then to have all existing XP OS software withdrawn and returned from the retail level. You have to go on line now to find a copy of XP.
I just can’t help but compare Microsoft and Boeing. What would it be like if Boeing took its Dreamliner to the air and then blamed suppliers for any subsequent operating problems!! What’s a wee crash here or there? Complain, and you’d be told your travel agent is somewhat to blame and download whatever was needed to resolve issues from their sites.
On the positive side, it does give us something to talk about. My original question is still somewhat unanswered:- My Vista is a 32 bit offering as is my XP. I am still wondering if the motherboard in my Dell E1705 running Vista Home Premium will recognise my XP drivers or will even accept a bare bones clean hard drive installation of XP Professional.
Thanks again.
MM
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fireberd
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