Windows Vista Basic to Windows XP?

Question

Hi! I just purchased a Dell PC with Windows Vista Basic, and I'm a bit uncertain of how it will run. (Its not due to arrive for another day or two). If I feel the need, does Vista Basic come with an option to downgrade to Windows XP, or do I have to buy a copy of XP in order to do so?

Mary G · Answer

You must buy a new full copy of XP and do a complete clean install with reformat and find all the drivers yourself. Basic should work OK on your new computer and you might want to upgrade to Home Premium if your hardware can handle it. Don't change anything until you are sure that the computer works fine and doesn't need any support from Dell.

C3PO5 · Answer

Hi You have to buy a new copy of XP  and if you think you may want to go back to XP you have to make sure the new computer can support it as in is all of the XP drivers there for it! Be careful ! Read about some of the problems that people are having when they try to go back to XP ! Good Luck

BSA70 · Answer

You've gotten plenty good advise on how to step back to xp. Let me encourage you to give vista a chance. Like you, I really wanted to go back to xp. Reading all the complaints made me feel vista is inadequate. I'm sure if you are really a power user, really strain it to the max, vista may be a dog. I have found with what I use it for, surfing, pictures, video, email, etc.. it's great. There are a few quirks i dont like, sometimes it seems to get locked in a mode and take forever to logoff, shutdown, open a program, but these are very few.   There will be a learning curve, but you will like it the more you use it.....   BSA

C3PO5 · Answer

Hi It is always better to post what computer you bought when you post on any of the forums here . That way someone can tell you what to watch out for after you get it or {before you buy it} ! I moved to Vista right after it came out and even before it came out  i was in the Beta program for Vista with my D 8400 i will not go back to XP 32 bit at all .   Good Luck

san_marco · Answer

Hello all of you, am a engineer, i just ordered a new vostro 1500 with 160 gb, 2ghz core 2 duo, 2gb ram, 256 mb video and all the stuff you can imagine... whatever: the stuff is I am used to my old inspiron 6000 with a xp home suite that works fine for me.. well  the thing is that in my country there are plenny of copies ilegal of xp. but even so..   I must really tell you.. am little afraid about changing my  os to xp.. i would rather use for some time the vista suite and see how it works.. well that's all i have to say..   what I only disagree is find two partition in my drive.. so i have a C:\ and a Recovery:\ drive   the first one uses 140 gb and the second one use 10 gb or more.. well the thing is i want to find out if the second one can be deleted or no.. or what is it use for?..   if anyone can help me.. i will be thanksfull..

jmwills · Answer

Delete that partition and you will never be able to use the F11 Restore feature.

Windows General

Was this post helpful?