Going back to XP

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Guest

Appears to be a good OS, unfortunately my computer isn't powerfull enough, so
i going back to XP.

I didnt install vista as an upgrade (i chose the other option).

I've placed the windows.old file on my second hard drive, how can make good
use of the file?

I'd like to know what option i have to go back to XP.


Thanks in advance
 
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I certainly hope you installed Vista on a second drive/partition. If you did,
it should already be set up to dual boot with XP, and that Vista boot manager
should give you choices when you restart your computer. It should give you:

1. Earlier Windows
2. Vista

or something like that. Pick "Earlier Windows" to launch XP. If you're not
getting the boot manager, either something went horribly wrong during the
Vista install, or you have overwritten some of the XP stuff with Vista stuff,
probably by accidentally installing Vista in the same area as XP. You might
need to do some XP recovery if that happened.
 
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Oh this sounds hopefull :) , could you give me an idea on how get to that
boot manager?

Thank you very much.
 
Take William's advice.

> Oh this sounds hopefull :) , could you give me an idea on how get to that
boot manager?

Thank you very much.

:
Click to expand...
 
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gatekeeper6838 said:
I certainly hope you installed Vista on a second drive/partition. If you did,
it should already be set up to dual boot with XP, and that Vista boot manager
should give you choices when you restart your computer. It should give you:

1. Earlier Windows
2. Vista

or something like that. Pick "Earlier Windows" to launch XP. If you're not
getting the boot manager, either something went horribly wrong during the
Vista install, or you have overwritten some of the XP stuff with Vista stuff,
probably by accidentally installing Vista in the same area as XP. You might
need to do some XP recovery if that happened.
Click to expand...
How do I do some XP recovery???
 
Oh crap! I just looked it up. Vista only makes you have a Windows.old folder
if you tried to install it on the same drive/partition as Windows XP. It
renames your old Windows folder as "Windows.old". You're in bad shape if that
happens! Basically, what you'll have to do probably is rename the Windows.old
folder (it is a folder, right?) back to "Windows", assuming that was it's
original name, and put that folder back where it came from (your first hard
drive). You'll probably have to move the Vista folder to the second hard
drive first (thus making Vista inaccessable).

Once the old Windows folder is back, you'll probably have to pop in your
Windows XP CD, boot from the CD and do an OS repair. If you're lucky, Vista
didn't completely destroy your copy of XP and you can get XP up an running
without re-installing it. If you're not so lucky, you'll have to re-install
XP.

Here's a tip for anyone who is installing a beta OS... DUAL BOOT! That way
you can use both OS's on the same computer. Here's how (only works if you
have more than one hard drive or partition): Your original OS should already
be on your first hard-drive. When you try to install Vista, pick Custom Setup
and instead of installing it on the same hard drive as XP, install it on your
second hard drive. Vista will automatically configure your compuer to use
both OS's. Once Vista is installed, it gives you the boot menu and you just
pick which OS you want to use. It's as simple as that! :)
 
renames your old Windows folder as "Windows.old". You're in bad shape if
that
happens! Basically, what you'll have to do probably is rename the
Windows.old
folder (it is a folder, right?) back to "Windows", assuming that was it's
original name, and put that folder back where it came from (your first
hard
drive). You'll probably have to move the Vista folder to the second hard
drive first (thus making Vista inaccessable).
Click to expand...

No you don't! Windows.old contains your old Program Files and Documents and
Settings folders. You have to copy both of them back to their original
locations
AFTER you reinstall XP. If you just rename windows.old to windows, all your
old data will be overwritten when you reinstall XP.

Tom Lake
 
Right here's what i think i have to do now. But i do have some questions
along the way.

First of all I installed windows vista on Home(C:), and
I placed the windows.old file on Data(D:)

Should i format C: ,install XP and replace the folder windows that will then
be created ,with the windows.old file
And when installing XP can i still use the same product key? Or do I have to
buy a new copy.


Oh and by the way, what about that boot manager thing, are there any options
to use that?



You guys are being a great help, Thanks!
 
The "windows.old" folder has no functionality other than storage, so no, you
can't replace something with it, especially your "Windows" directory. Yes,
format the system drive and then install XP using the Product Key originally
supplied with that copy of XP. Then reinstall (not copy them from
"windows.old") your other applications. Finally move your data files. The
data files should all be in the "windows.old" file and can easily be moved
or copied to your preferred document directories. The "boot manager thing"
will be gone when you format the drive.
 
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Your best method is to save all your important data to a CD or DVD so that it is removed from the computer and is safe, delete the C partition entirely by booting from your Windows XP CD and when you get to the point of choosing which partition to install XP and deleting it, then recreate a new partition as your C drive and then re-install a clean copy of Windows XP and then re-install your applications and copy your important data back to your computer.

William


Right here's what i think i have to do now. But i do have some questions
along the way.

First of all I installed windows vista on Home(C:), and
I placed the windows.old file on Data(D:)

Should i format C: ,install XP and replace the folder windows that will then
be created ,with the windows.old file
And when installing XP can i still use the same product key? Or do I have to
buy a new copy.


Oh and by the way, what about that boot manager thing, are there any options
to use that?



You guys are being a great help, Thanks!
 
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Gordon, I don't understand why you aren't considering simply installing XP
and then restoring from your backup or, even simpler, restoring the whole
volume from an image you created before installing Vista. Why kind of back
up did you do before installing Vista that you cannot simply use it to get
back to where you started?
 
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