[karenlynn58]

I just bought an HP with Vista. I contacted HP last week to see if I could downgrade to XP. This is the email they sent me....Guess they will not downgrade like they said they would do....
Hp recommends not to downgrading from Windows Vista to Windows XP, it may cause Hardware & Software conflicts, as the computer is shipped with OEM versions of Operating System.
However, if you want to downgrade the Operating System you can by buying the retail version of Windows XP from Microsoft, again Hp may not be able to provide the drivers for the Windows XP.

[mphenterprises]

Hi KarenLynn and welcome to PCWorld. :-)




If you are seriously considering downgrading from Windows Vista to Windows XP, I would strongly advise you review this Document created by one of our members:

http://forums.pcworl...m/docs/DOC-1097

After reading this Document, if you have specific questions, it would be best to open your own Discussion so others can assist you. This current Discussion is related to the fact that NEC Supports Vista Downgrade to XP. Here is a link that you can use to open your own Discussion, if necessary.



http://forums.pcworl...=2000&go=CreateNewDiscussion

[RNR19952]

Did you buy this retail?

Almost all of the business class machines support downgrading to XP

[karenlynn58]

Yes...I bought a desktop and a laptop directly from HP.

[RNR19952]

What exact models?

HP supports converting to XP

I really don't know why they call it a downgrade, it would be like "downgrading " from Windows ME to Window 98SE

[mphenterprises]

Hi KarenLynn. Since you have a specific computer question not related to the initial Discussion, I have created a new Discussion for you so that all members can attempt to help you. As stated previously, if you are seriously considering downgrading from Windows Vista to Windows XP, I would strongly advise you review this Document created by one of our regular members:

http://forums.pcworl...m/docs/DOC-1097


If you have any questions after reading this Document, please feel free to ask. Also, please answer RNR's latest questions.

[karenlynn58]

Sorry Guys....Didn't know I would cause such an uproar here with one comment.

Being my first comment ever, I didn't know there was a specific place to post comments.

All I know is that I read an article from PC World that said HP and a couple of

other companies had offered to downgrade you back to XP.

But when I contacted them about it, they refused and said they could not do it. They said it would screw up my computer because of driver issues.

Thank you RNR19952 for trying to help me...

Thank you mphenterprises for setting up a new discussion post for me...

Karenlynn58

[mphenterprises]

No apologizes necessary. :-)





Yes, if done incorrectly, a downgrade from Windows Vista to Windows XP will render your computer useless. However, it is definitely possible. Have you read the Document referenced initially? One of our regular members created it and it is full of useful information.

You have other options as well:

- Dual Boot Windows Vista and Windows XP

- Use a virtual application to run Windows XP simultaneously with Windows Vista

None of these three options are hard, per se. The biggest factor is to have a bit of patience, follow any steps carefully, and ask for help when needed. If you haven't already, review the Document regarding going from Windows Vista to Windows XP. If you feel this is something you want to do, we can assist you further. If you want to learn more about the other two options, we can help you with those as well.

[karenlynn58]

Thanks!! I would love to dual boot Xp And Vista. I like Vista, but I have several photo and video programs that will not run on it....So...that is why I need Xp.

I don't want to give Vista up and that would be the perfect solution. I will read the article you sent me. I will probably be asking for more help, but I believe that will be the perfect solution and my hard drive can handle it as it is a 320g hard drive...

Thanks so much!!

I will be talking to ya'll again!!

[mphenterprises]

With pleasure. To get you started, here is an article regarding creating a Dual Boot system. To be honest with you, it is really very easy. Review the article and ask any question you may have. I currently have a Dual Boot system so I will try to answer any question. If I cannot, there are many other members in here who would be more than happy to make suggestions.

http://apcmag.com/5485/dualbootingvistaand_xp

[karenlynn58]

After reading the article about dual booting, I think I will leave well enough alone and just stick with Vista.

I don't want to take a chance of totally screwing my computer up....Sounds a little risky to me.

I still have a Dell that still has XP on it, so I will just keep going from computer to computer.

Thanks guys for all your help!!

karenlynn58 ;)

[rgreen4]

karenlynn - if you don't mind, you never told us which model of HP you have. For one thing is it a laptop or desktop?
There are significant problems attempting to install XP on HP laptops that have a certain SATA HD controller, and most of their current laptops do. HP installs a resticted BIOS in their machines to limit consumers causing havoc and increasing the support load. On most desktops, the advanced part of this controller can be disabled and XP installed.

HP does provide some laptops from the factory with XP installed, but then HP installs the XP driver for the controller. It is possible to download this driver from the HP website, but on an laptop without a floppy drive installing this driver during the XP install process is complicated for those not accustomed to installing OS's on their machines.

[karenlynn58]

I have a new laptop and desktop. Both with Vista on them. I have decided to leave well enough alone and not try to put a dual bootup on either of them. I still have a Dell desktop with XP, so I guess I will continue to use it when I need my picture and video editing software. I do alot of dvd slide shows for people and just thought it would be easier to have my software on my new computer, but, it will not run on Vista....

Thanks everyone for all your help.....

[rgreen4]

The desktop would be much easier. I have a desktop with Vista, XP and W2K. The easiest way in my opinion is to install a second drive and remove the primary with Vista. Then install XP while Vista is not there, and install your programs. Then reinstall the Vista drive and now you have a dual boot machine with each OS on its own drive. At boot, if you will notice some of the text that comes up at the bottom of the screen when the boot logo shows up will say something like "Boot Menu", holding down the key referenced will bring up a boot menu with a myriad of choice. One of which is Hard Drive. If you have more that one bootable HD, there will be a little "+" in front, and when you select Hard Drive, you get a list of available drives. The quirk is it lists the drive by Mfg, model and size. Not OS. But if you use say an 80GB for XP and a 320 for Vista, then you simply select 80 when you want to boot XP.
You can semi-permanently select the default boot drive in the BIOS Setup, and then use the Boot menu to change just on that boot. It really is easier, and you don't need a second machine and you don't need a second monitor and keyboard.

If the older machine is still functioning and not in the way, that is easier, and besides it gives you a backup. You could also tie both machines to a single keyboard, video and mouse with a KVM switch. I use that too and have for about 10 years.

[karenlynn58]

A KVM switch sounds like a very interesting possibility!! I have never heard of that. I just googled it and that looks like what I need.

Is it very hard to get it going? My computer with XP on it is not very old so it still has alot of life in it....I would love to have the two computers tied together.

I would try to do the dual booting with my computer but that sounds a little to complicated for me, especially on a brand new computer. Sure would hate to screw something up. So tell me about this KVM switch....How does it work??

[rgreen4]

There are three sets of cables. One set goes to computer A, the second set goes to computer B and the third set goes to the "console". The console is your monitor, keyboard and mouse. The device generally will only come with the cables to the two computers so you plug your current monitor cable, keyboard cable and mouse cable into the console ports.

The switching mechanism varies from device to device. Mine switches either from the button on the front of the box (which sits on top of one computer) or with a double tap of the right hand control key on the keyboard. Some use a litle switch button that you push to change.

Mine uses the standard VGA monitor cables, and PS/2 keyboard and mouse cables and has no speaker connection. Some of the newer ones have speaker connections, USB connections for keyboard and mouse and DVI for the monitor. Although I have been told they don't work with a KVM switch, I use a Microsoft wireless mouse and it works fine - most of the time. The power is taken from either machine, I think through the mouse port, because when I have a problem, I need to unplug the device from both computers and let it set, the plug it back up. Most of this I think is from my experimentations with the one computer, and I have only had to do this twice in the past three years. I view it kink of like having to unplug my satellite receiver and re-boot it when it get in a snit.

As far as setting up, you simply plug it in and use it. No software, its basically an electronic switch.

You do need to decide what you want in the switch. For example, my ten year old on is based on PS/2 and 15 Pin VGA cables. Newer ones are available with USB, DVI and speaker connections. They switches come in boxes that sit on top of the desk, or hid under the desk. Here are two examples - one pure VGA and the other with DVI monitor connections. If you don't want to use USB, both are available in PS/2 connections. The ATEN line has a print ad on page 4 of the March issue of PCW!

[karenlynn58]

Wow!! Who would have thunk it!! That is just going to be to easy!! I will be looking for one this weekend!! Thank you so much for all your help....That is going to be just what I need!!

Thanks again!!!

Karen

[rgreen4]

Depending on where you live, you may want to just order on-line. I got mine at Fry's in Houston when I was there visiting family. There are two Fry's, and they have about 4-5 times the selecton of the biggest Best Buy I've ever been in. Not as fancy, but a much larger selection. I have seen a few at our local Best Buy (which is a fairly small one) but I was not impressed. The ATEN unit looks good, but it's has a higher price tag. (Retails for $140 which makes the $73 price look good). Rosewill is a name I had not come across before a year ago, but they seem to have an extensive line of accessories, and so far I have liked everything. It's not often you see a company marketing products as diverse as CPU cooler/fan assembly, KVM switches and SATA HD enclosures.
Just let your cynical side do the looking when in the store, be picky and it will serve you well over a long period of time. I looking because most of my computers now have DVI out, my monitors have DVI in, I use a USB wireless mouse and I have to use adapters with my current rig. The only thing I have found about the ATEN that I don't like (after reading the literature last night) is that it doesn't have a hot-key option. This is where you use a keyboard key stroke combo to switch. Instead, you can only use the little remote switch. IOGEAR has one at Newegg that has both a remote switch and hot-key, but it's $30 more than the ATEN.

Good Luck in your search.