Microsoft xp/vista

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Guest

I just recently purchased a dell and the software on the computer is Vista.
I am in college and taking a microcomputer class and I can't use vista. Is
there a way to convert vista to xp?
 
There is no way to downgrade from Vista to XP.
If you can afford it, buy a new hard drive and Windows XP.
Then remove the drive with Vista on it and install the new drive and XP.

NOTE: Before you buy anything, make absolutely certain there are XP drivers
available for you motherboard, Video Card, Sound card, Etc. as Vista drivers
will not work on XP and a number of new Computers no longer have XP drivers
available. Check the manufactures web site for XP drivers for your specific
model.

As an alternative, since your in college there is always someone selling
stuff and maybe you can get a good deal on an older PC that meets your
needs.

JS
 
Should you not have thought of this before you purchased the
computer........Course requirements are listed...Equipment needed is listed.
Dell would have sold you the computer with XP
peter
 
Brandy said:
I just recently purchased a dell and the software on the computer
is Vista. I am in college and taking a microcomputer class and I
can't use vista. Is there a way to convert vista to xp?
Click to expand...
There is no way to downgrade from Vista to XP.
If you can afford it, buy a new hard drive and Windows XP.
Then remove the drive with Vista on it and install the new drive
and XP.
NOTE: Before you buy anything, make absolutely certain there are XP
drivers available for you motherboard, Video Card, Sound card, Etc.
as Vista drivers will not work on XP and a number of new Computers
no longer have XP drivers available. Check the manufactures web
site for XP drivers for your specific model.

As an alternative, since your in college there is always someone
selling stuff and maybe you can get a good deal on an older PC that
meets your needs.
Click to expand...

JS,

What?!
Seriously... What?!

First - let me say you are correct - you cannot 'downgrade' from Windows
Vista to Windows XP. Whatever the OP does to go from Windows Vista to
Windows XP will require a clean installation.

However - I do not understand the need to purchase a new hard disk drive -
it is not necessary in this situation. Possibly they may need a place to
store either an image of the entire hard disk drive *as is now* or at least
their personal files/folders/emails/contacts/favorites during the move to
Windows XP - but an entire replacement hard disk drive - I think that is a
bit overkill and definitely spending money foolishly.

To the OP (original poster),

First - contact Dell - tell them you have made a mistake and that you are a
student and your school needs you to have Windows XP. Worst case is they
tell you there is nothing they can do - best case is they may be able to
work something out where you either get a Windows XP system in swap for
yours or at least get shipped the Windows XP version of the Windows Vista
stuff you have installed now.

If that doesn't work out... (Even if it does - this may be good for you to
know...)

Check around your college to see if they have a deal with Microsoft that
allows you to purchase software inexpensively. Each deal is a bit
different - but I know some schools can sell their students copies of
Windows XP with valid key/licensing for as little as $10. Same for
Microsoft Office, etc. Otherwise you might want to consider purchasing an
academic license elsewhere - most legitimate online retailers have these -
or you can simply go to a bookstore around your campus and ask.

Next - JS is correct in that you need to look up your Dell online to verify
that drivers are available for Windows XP for the system. It is *very* easy
to do... Visit
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd
and enter your service tag (it's on a sticker - possible two different
stickers - on your computer) and then change the operating system to Windows
XP. It should list what drivers are available. You will want to be sure it
lists the chipset, network card, video card and sound card at the bare
minimum. You can even download them and store them to external media now.

Once you know your system supports Windows XP (or not - if not - stop...)
then you can backup your stuff (image the machine using a software like
Ghost, TrueImage, Booting, etc; copy your favorites, email, contacts,
documents, spreadsheets, pictures, scripts, *your stuff* to external media;
etc...) format the system and install the new operating system and
applications. As your new Dell likely only came with a 'recovery partition'
or a set of 'recovery CD/DVDs' - you may not have a way of installing any of
the applications you may have become used to with the media supplied. This
is where communicating with Dell will be very useful. If you purchased
Office 2007 or something from Dell and they did not give you the actual
installation media - they may supply it now with the right level of friendly
insistence from you.

Sure - you could buy a new hard disk drive and swap it out - having your
Vista one sit idly by - wasting space and becoming an expensive door stop...
Sure you could look for a used computer with Windows XP and take chances on
that. I'd personally op to learn something and get a lot out of what you
likely (or your parents likely) paid a lot of money for - plus - who knows
what you'll discover about what you want to do in College (or not do) in the
process...
 
I just recently purchased a dell and the software on the computer is Vista.
I am in college and taking a microcomputer class and I can't use vista. Is
there a way to convert vista to xp?
Click to expand...


You can not literally convert one operating system to another. However
you can certainly uninstall whatever operating system is on a computer
and install another one (but only cleanly--no downgrade from Vista to
XP is possible). There are two thing to be concerned about, however:

1. Some OEM manufacturers consider that if you change the operating
system, it voids your warranty. I'm not sure if Dell is one of these,
but you might want to check.

2. Make sure XP drivers are available for all your hardware devices.
 
Ken wrote on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:38:22 -0700:

??>> I just recently purchased a dell and the software on the
??>> computer is Vista. I am in college and taking a
??>> microcomputer class and I can't use vista. Is there a way
??>> to convert vista to xp?

KBM> You can not literally convert one operating system to
KBM> another. However you can certainly uninstall whatever
KBM> operating system is on a computer and install another one
KBM> (but only cleanly--no downgrade from Vista to XP is
KBM> possible). There are two thing to be concerned about,
however:

KBM> 1. Some OEM manufacturers consider that if you change the
KBM> operating system, it voids your warranty. I'm not sure if
KBM> Dell is one of these, but you might want to check.

I would expect not since you *can" buy Dell laptops without an
operating system or even with Ubuntu installed at a saving of
$50 over Vista (or so I am informed).

KBM> 2. Make sure XP drivers are available for all your
KBM> hardware devices.


James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
 
Ken wrote on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:38:22 -0700:

??>> I just recently purchased a dell and the software on the
??>> computer is Vista. I am in college and taking a
??>> microcomputer class and I can't use vista. Is there a way
??>> to convert vista to xp?

KBM> You can not literally convert one operating system to
KBM> another. However you can certainly uninstall whatever
KBM> operating system is on a computer and install another one
KBM> (but only cleanly--no downgrade from Vista to XP is
KBM> possible). There are two thing to be concerned about,
however:

KBM> 1. Some OEM manufacturers consider that if you change the
KBM> operating system, it voids your warranty. I'm not sure if
KBM> Dell is one of these, but you might want to check.

I would expect not since you *can" buy Dell laptops without an
operating system or even with Ubuntu installed at a saving of
$50 over Vista (or so I am informed).
Click to expand...


I'm glad to hear that, but unless you are sure (or someone else is), I
still think it's wise for the OP to check.
 
Ken wrote on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:21:35 -0700:

??>> Ken wrote on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:38:22 -0700:
??>>
??>>>> I just recently purchased a dell and the software on the
??>>>> computer is Vista. I am in college and taking a
??>>>> microcomputer class and I can't use vista. Is there a
??>>>> way to convert vista to xp?
??>>
KBM>>> You can not literally convert one operating system to
KBM>>> another. However you can certainly uninstall whatever
KBM>>> operating system is on a computer and install another
KBM>>> one (but only cleanly--no downgrade from Vista to XP is
KBM>>> possible). There are two thing to be concerned about,
??>> however:
??>>
KBM>>> 1. Some OEM manufacturers consider that if you change
KBM>>> the operating system, it voids your warranty. I'm not
KBM>>> sure if Dell is one of these, but you might want to
KBM>>> check.
??>>
??>> I would expect not since you *can" buy Dell laptops
??>> without an operating system or even with Ubuntu installed
??>> at a saving of $50 over Vista (or so I am informed).

KBM> I'm glad to hear that, but unless you are sure (or someone
KBM> else is), I still think it's wise for the OP to check.

KBM>>> 2. Make sure XP drivers are available for all your
KBM>>> hardware devices.

Go to Dell's web page. Or rather, don't try just now since
something seems to be up with Dell's pages even if I looked
there this morning :-(

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
 
James wrote to Ken Blake, MVP on Mon, 24 Sep 2007
17:44:52 -0400:

??>>> Ken wrote on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:38:22 -0700:
??>>>
??>>>>> I just recently purchased a dell and the software on
??>>>>> the computer is Vista. I am in college and taking
??>>>>> a microcomputer class and I can't use vista. Is there
??>>>>> a way to convert vista to xp?
??>>>
KBM>>>> You can not literally convert one operating system to
KBM>>>> another. However you can certainly uninstall whatever
KBM>>>> operating system is on a computer and install another
KBM>>>> one (but only cleanly--no downgrade from Vista to XP is
KBM>>>> possible). There are two thing to be concerned about,
??>>> however:
??>>>
KBM>>>> 1. Some OEM manufacturers consider that if you change
KBM>>>> the operating system, it voids your warranty. I'm not
KBM>>>> sure if Dell is one of these, but you might want to
KBM>>>> check.
??>>>
??>>> I would expect not since you *can" buy Dell laptops
??>>> without an operating system or even with Ubuntu installed
??>>> at a saving of $50 over Vista (or so I am informed).

KBM>> I'm glad to hear that, but unless you are sure (or
KBM>> someone else is), I still think it's wise for the OP to
KBM>> check.

KBM>>>> 2. Make sure XP drivers are available for all your
KBM>>>> hardware devices.

JS> Go to Dell's web page. Or rather, don't try just now since
JS> something seems to be up with Dell's pages even if I looked
JS> there this morning :-(

Here's a recent lead:-

http://www.seopher.com/articles/why_dell_should_offer_more_than_

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
 
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