Vista v XP

[countrykid]

I bought a new laptop last year which has Vista. Can't get on with it, besides which all our work PCs have XP, which I am used to and prefer. Is it possible to have XP put onto the laptop, either as well as Vista, or remove Vista altogether if necessary?

Many thanks.

[sarah_louise]

Yes I agree once you are OK with XP then Vista seems awkward to use.
I would suggest you find someone who is fairly computer wise to do a complete installation from scratch using a legal copy of XP Home. (Yes you have to buy a copy.)
Ensure that all the driver software is available for your particular laptop before doing this or some hardware may not work..
Dont mix both operating systems.

[countrykid]

Thanks Sarah_L, I willmake some enquiries. Vista received some much hype when it was launched but I find very few people seem to like it, or more to the point, they prefer XP. I suppose XP was not liked when it first came out, with all the usual problems that come with a new system. Was the previous one to XP called ME (Millenium Edition)? Pity when buying a new PC that you an't choose the OS.

Cheers again

CK

[sarah_louise]

Yes Windows ME was prior to XP.
I think Dell are now allowing (for a limited period ) you to pick your OS as so many people still wanted XP.
They are also supplying the Free OS Linux if you prefer.

[vehelpfulguy]

sarah_loiuse make the most important point here.

Make sure you can find XP drivers for your laptop before trying to install it.

Most laptops have specific components that require a driver to be installed AFTER the operating system has been installed (Sound, Graphics, other components).

If the components in your laptop are new it may be that only Vista drivers have been written and there are none for XP.

I did read about a case in a magazine a few months ago where a man tried to go back to XP on his Vista laptop but had to give up as no drivers were available. He then had to re-install Vista.

[ACtheTROLL]

drivers are the biggest problem .... dixons, currys etc sell their own brands ... and get cheaper licences because they contract NOT to make drivers for other OSs available.

However ... you could ring MS support and see if the downgrade option is still available.

having said that ... vista isn't going to go away....
business's are starting (slowly) to use it.... and the next version of windows is available in a very raw alpha .... and guess what ... it's vista's big brother ... not a trace of XP in sight

[countrykid]

Thanks to all. The upshot seems to be "try and get used to Vista". I guess its a bit like learning anything, but the older you get, the less inclined you are to want to start all over again. XP probably had its fair share of critics at the start, and I know there were various problems with all manner of "Fixes/Patches" to solve them. But once sorted, why can't they leave it that way. Seems we are forced to adopt a new system whether we like it (or need it). Guess I am just getting old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vehelpfulguy]

I think one of the options with Vista is to make the user interace look like Windows XP, that may help.

Not sure how you do it as I have not got a Vista PC to hand, maybe right click on the desktop ?

[ACtheTROLL]

lol

It's not that different ... (honest!!)

things are in slightly different places ... or just have different names (my computer = computer, my network places = network - my documents ...... )

haha!!! ... wrong!!!! ... my documents now has the same name as your user id (not literally) - but inside is a folder called documents.

on the plus side
It's slower than XP ... so you have more time to think about what to do next ...

but the important bit is ... it's not going to go away ...
and the next version will be a bigger jump from XP ... and you'll be older ... (look on the bright side ;-)

(today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday)
in 10 years they'll be arguing about the new version of black hole being worse than good old event horizon.

[countrykid]

Thanks again. I like the bit about today being the tomorrow worried about yesterday. so true! Vista it will have to remain - and i WILL get used to it - just before the next worst thing since sliced bread enters the scene!!