Free vista to xp

Some of these drivers might be available from the manufacturer's website if you have lost your CD's. Put in the CD and then restart your computer. Wait for the setup files to finish loading. Restart your computer and press the key for the boot menu.

This key is different for every computer depending on the BIOS. Follow the instructions given by Setup. Then switch back to the Windows XP disc. This erases all the files on your hard drive! Then wait for the files to copy. The ID number printed on it is what it wants. Type it in accurately. If Setup says that the code is invalid, carefully check your typing against the label and try again. Change it back if you want to go back to Windows Vista.

If there's no such setting, you're out of luck and will have to continue to use Windows Vista. In this case, just remove the CD and reboot; no files were erased. Install the drivers you saved to the backup disk. To save time, remember to activate Windows first. When updating your computer, you will need a high-speed Internet connection, and several reboots will be required as Service Pack 3 and other updates are installed; after each reboot, you should run Windows Update again until there are no more updates.

Put back your files and software. Download and install any drivers you need that you have not already installed. Get the software programs you want and reinstall them, and put back your pictures, documents, and other files you saved.

For the most part, yes. Just make sure your Computer has Windows XP drivers before downgrading. Yes No. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Consult a computer-savvy friend to explain things to you that you don't understand. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Because you're giving up an important security feature called User Account Control UAC by downgrading, consider setting up a separate, "limited" user account for most uses including surfing the web, and install Secunia PSI and check it regularly to make sure that your software remains updated with the latest security fixes.

Unpatched software can lead to your computer becoming infected with malware, which is used to attack other computers, steal private information such as credit card and social security numbers, or extortion such as holding your files for ransom, without you even knowing it.

Look on the disc. In general, if you bought the CD before , it will not include the service pack and you will need to download the latest Service Pack 3 before downgrading and install it immediately after installing Windows XP.

If you bought the CD before , it probably doesn't even include Service Pack 1, which is the oldest version that will work, and you should find a newer Windows XP disc.

They broke a lot of things. We know that. But Decisions on Microsoft analyst Michael Cherry questioned whether free support will convince users to switch. My biggest problem is still the hardware footprint for Vista. To make his point, Cherry quoted from a catalog he'd recently received from a "major OEM," a reseller that targeted small and midsize businesses.

I still worry about the amount of RAM in machines being sold with Vista. Small businesses aren't putting off Vista because they think they'll need more hand-holding, or even because they believe compatibility issues plague the operating system. Their fear is spending that much money on hardware for a PC that can run Vista. Microsoft's help desk representatives will answer any Vista questions, help users with application and peripheral compatibility problems, and point out key features of the operating system, said the company.

We made some significant investments around security in this product," said Brooks. They broke a lot of things. We know that. But Decisions on Microsoft analyst Michael Cherry questioned whether free support will convince users to switch.

My biggest problem is still the hardware footprint for Vista. To make his point, Cherry quoted from a catalog he'd recently received from a "major OEM," a reseller that targeted small and midsize businesses. I still worry about the amount of RAM in machines being sold with Vista. Small businesses aren't putting off Vista because they think they'll need more hand-holding, or even because they believe compatibility issues plague the operating system. Their fear is spending that much money on hardware for a PC that can run Vista.

Microsoft's help desk representatives will answer any Vista questions, help users with application and peripheral compatibility problems, and point out key features of the operating system, said the company.