Downgrade to XP?

  • Thread starter Thread starter PhooPhan
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PhooPhan

I'm not a computer guru but I know enough to get myself in trouble. I bought
a new Dell laptop about 6 months ago and they talked me into going with Vista
Home Premium. I really like what Vista is supposed to do but I'm getting way
too frustrated with all the little things that go wrong all the time.

1. Internet Explorer locks up then fades and says it's "Not Responding".
Then I go to Task Manager and kill the program then start up IE again and all
is well, for a little bit anyway.

2. A couple of programs will all of a sudden freeze the entire laptop and
the only way I can fix it is to hold down the power button until it powers
down.

3. My last laptop running XP was twice as fast as this one running Vista
yet everyone says I should have a screaming laptop considering the hardware
configuration. Outlook takes 45 seconds to open and get to a point where I
can start using it.

This is only two examples of the many problems I experience every day.
Since I purchased my laptop from Dell I'm told I have to work with them to
troubleshoot but so far no one over there has been able to fix anything
Vista. (I don't even think they can spell Vista.)

I'm told Microsoft is now offering a downgrade program to XP for Vista
users. If that's true then there must be major problems with Vista that
makes me scared to stay with it. Some people say I should be patient and
Vista will smooth out as the bugs are fixed. Any suggestions regarding
downgrading? I'm at the end of my rope having to deal with these issues
every day.

Downgrade or carry on as is?
 
PhooPhan said:
I'm not a computer guru but I know enough to get myself in trouble. I bought
a new Dell laptop about 6 months ago and they talked me into going with Vista
Home Premium. I really like what Vista is supposed to do but I'm getting way
too frustrated with all the little things that go wrong all the time.

1. Internet Explorer locks up then fades and says it's "Not Responding".
Then I go to Task Manager and kill the program then start up IE again and all
is well, for a little bit anyway.

2. A couple of programs will all of a sudden freeze the entire laptop and
the only way I can fix it is to hold down the power button until it powers
down.

3. My last laptop running XP was twice as fast as this one running Vista
yet everyone says I should have a screaming laptop considering the hardware
configuration. Outlook takes 45 seconds to open and get to a point where I
can start using it.

This is only two examples of the many problems I experience every day.
Since I purchased my laptop from Dell I'm told I have to work with them to
troubleshoot but so far no one over there has been able to fix anything
Vista. (I don't even think they can spell Vista.)

I'm told Microsoft is now offering a downgrade program to XP for Vista
users. If that's true then there must be major problems with Vista that
makes me scared to stay with it. Some people say I should be patient and
Vista will smooth out as the bugs are fixed. Any suggestions regarding
downgrading? I'm at the end of my rope having to deal with these issues
every day.

Downgrade or carry on as is?
Click to expand...


First thing I'd do is insist that the vendor fix it since it's presumably
still under warranty.

Although I suspect the problem is with Vista...

There could be a hardware problem
 
Microsoft is not supplying XP to unhappy Vista users.

As far as I know, Dell has a solution whereby THEY supply you with XP disks
for a minimal charge.
They are still selling computers loaded with XP
Dell's answer to probs is a full recovery, lol.

Re your IE7 prob; try starting it with no-addons. In the right top of
IE7>tools>Manage Addons.
Delete them and add them one at a time to find the culprit.

With your other problems post them in vista.general stating your computer's
harware specs, and what programs you are having troble with, AND what , if
any, error messages you are getting.
You should have a minimum of 128MBs for Graphics, and 1 G of RAM, and that
will still be slow compared to XP.
You also have a lot of Dell's crap on there, and you don't say what is
starting up at startup.
You don't say what version of Outlook you are using.

Are the programs you are having trouble with compatible with Vista?

Good luck.
 
I would suspect that at least some of the issues are created by 3rd party
software installed on the computer. Are you using the Vista firewall or a
3rd party firewall? Are two firewalls running simultaneously?

1: -- in IE try disabling Protected Mode for the Internet zone... did
wonders on mine.

2: -- For the problem programs try enabling "run as administrator". You can
do this with right click when you start the icon and if it makes a
difference you can set it as a default in the program's shortcut properties.
Some software just isn't Vista compatible but running in XP or Win2k
compatibility mode (also in shortcut properties) can help.

3: -- Is there an AV or anti spam program on the PC automatically scanning
your Outlook mail base every time you open it?
 
PhooPhan said:
I'm not a computer guru but I know enough to get myself in trouble. I
bought
a new Dell laptop about 6 months ago and they talked me into going with
Vista
Home Premium. I really like what Vista is supposed to do but I'm getting
way
too frustrated with all the little things that go wrong all the time.

1. Internet Explorer locks up then fades and says it's "Not Responding".
Then I go to Task Manager and kill the program then start up IE again and
all
is well, for a little bit anyway.

2. A couple of programs will all of a sudden freeze the entire laptop and
the only way I can fix it is to hold down the power button until it powers
down.

3. My last laptop running XP was twice as fast as this one running Vista
yet everyone says I should have a screaming laptop considering the
hardware
configuration. Outlook takes 45 seconds to open and get to a point where
I
can start using it.

This is only two examples of the many problems I experience every day.
Since I purchased my laptop from Dell I'm told I have to work with them to
troubleshoot but so far no one over there has been able to fix anything
Vista. (I don't even think they can spell Vista.)

I'm told Microsoft is now offering a downgrade program to XP for Vista
users.
Click to expand...

Not exactly. Downgrade rights are limited to specific versions of Vista,
primarily Business and Ultimate. No Home versions qualify, as far as I can
tell.

The downgrading user has to supply the XP install media and a working
install key; MS will not provide these (except in the form of a new license
sale), and then you must apply to MS for activation codes.

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...cbd-699b0c164182/royaltyoemreferencesheet.pdf
If that's true then there must be major problems with Vista that
makes me scared to stay with it.
Click to expand...

No, it actually means that MS recognises that specific and large market
segments (i.e. corporations and institutions) can't shift to Vista without
years of testing and revising legacy apps. Those segments can easily need
new hardware, but not be able to use a new OS.

I happened to be walking by a Customs and Immigration desk recently. The
PCs were running Windows 2000.
Some people say I should be patient and
Vista will smooth out as the bugs are fixed. Any suggestions regarding
downgrading? I'm at the end of my rope having to deal with these issues
every day.

Downgrade or carry on as is?
Click to expand...

For you, downgrading to XP is at your own expense and risk. You must
provide a new XP license, and to install it, you have to start with
formatting. I would suggest removing the Vista drive, adding a new hard
disk for XP (where I am, 500 gig drives are just over $100), and installing.

However, there is a caveat that you absolutely MUST respect, and that is the
availability of drivers. Many systems that come with Vista Home versions
aren't offered with XP as an option, and drivers, particularly motherboard
chipset drivers may just not ever be available.

Check that you can get the drivers *first* before considering any
installations. If you can't get the drivers, you'll wind up having made the
problem much worse.

Your system is a Dell, and Dell has made it easy to check. Look on the
bottom of your laptop for the Service Tag number. Log onto the Dell
support site and search on that Service Tag number. You will find all the
drivers that are available for your system.

If there aren't XP drivers, reconsider your options, which include returning
or selling that laptop and getting one that can have XP installed
successfully.

HTH
-pk
 
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