should I downgrade to Windows XP??

Question

hi every1, well I'm not much of a computer expert here, but I just bought a new laptop like one month ago, and it came with Windows Vista. The extra features like the 3D windows and stuff look really cool, but like 80% of my programs don't work anymore!! Whats going on, I always used my software on XP with no problem, but Vista is driving me nuts. Nothing works! I feel kind of guilty, but I wanted to ask for peoples opinion first, should I downgrade my computer and go back to XP???
I mean I have a DVD burner and an external 120gb hard drive... , saving my data is not a problem if I want to format my PCs hard drive to install XP. ... Just not sure what to do.. Am I missing something in here?? Is there like a Vista compatibility patch with XP? should I give myself a few months?? Has anyone already donde this?? Please help tell me what to do.. .. TY

Answer 1

Since this is a laptop I advise against it. The problem is that XP is 6 years old, and it doesn't always have support for new hardware. This is especially true for laptops. Before yo do anything, find XP drivers for every single piece of hardware on your computer and save them to disc. If you can't find them, wither take the computer to a shop and let the pros do it, or don't start the install process. In order to downgrade to XP you'll need to format your hard drive, and you'll lose all your data. At that point the computer won't be usable until you get XP installed, and if you don't have all the drivers the OS may not install at all (if, for example, you don't have drivers for the hard drive or hard drive controller). If that happens you'll be in a world of hurt.

Check the websites of the software manufacturers and see if they have patches or updates for Vista. Also, try some of the suggestions above.

Answer 2

Before moving to MS Vista you should have checked the application vendors website to check for compatibility. Many XP applications will run without a problem but there are plenty of exceptions, especially older applications. You'll also find hardware driver issues for older hardware as well.

For particular applications that aren't 100% compatible with Vista, see if someone has posted a work around to get the application running on Vista. I had problems with getting World of Warcraft running on Vista initially but found that it was just a matter of how the patch was to be installed (didn't popup the "allow/deny" dialog and had to manually launch with the "RunAs").

If you have specific software applications, post them and people here may have suggestions.

Personally I like XP over Vista but I haven't brought myself to downgrade my two new systems to XP yet. I'm trying to give it a chance before resorting to that (plus I don't really want to buy two more XP licenses when I have two Vista licenses already).

Answer 3

well you see windows vista is new and a lot of programs are not compatible with it yet. So yes you should downgrade right now. Then when a few months past and more stuff becomes compatible reinstall it.

It was the same with xp when it now came out many things were not compatible with it then after a year or so many things were started to get made for it.

So in my opinion yes i think you should downgrade to windows vista then in a few months when things become compatible for it reinstall vista

And be sure to keep the windows vista CD and don't loss it.

Answer 4

I have been using Vista now for 4 months, all my old software works. There is a few things to learn about Vista security to get things working. You might already be aware of this step but I say just in case your not. To run most programs from the icon Right-click and select "run as Administrator"

You may experience problems downloading software and it denies you from doing such. This is how you get around the security (your computer will act like XP) follow these steps.

Your problem is with the UAC in Vista...I will disable it to complete my changes..then set it back when done. This will give you complete control of your computer

To disable or enable UAC
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

In Control Panel, click User Accounts.

In the User Accounts window,

In the User Accounts tasks window, click Turn User Account Control on or off.

If UAC is currently configured in Admin Approval Mode, the User Account Control message appears. Click Continue.

Do one of the following:

To disable UAC, clear the Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer check box.

To enable UAC, select the Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer check box.

Click OK.

Click Restart Now to apply the change right away, or click Restart Later and close the User Accounts tasks window.

You have free riegn of the computer with UAC disabled


Vista and Messenger 8.1

If you are using Windows Vista, you may encounter crashes if you don’t have the latest version of Adobe Flash installed. You can install the latest version of Adobe Flash at http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/...

If you have a computer manufactured by Acer, you may be using Acer eDataSecurity software. Please upgrade to the latest version at http://global.acer.com/support/winvista/...


Good Luck

Answer 5

Instead of Downgrade
I will suggest you to keep Vista and Xp both on ur Pc.

Install Xp on other drive.
eg :- If vista is installed on C:
then install XP in D:

So with that u will enjoy the cool loox of vista and u can also work with all ur softwares..

Answer 6

It depends on the programs you use.

The question is, do you have any games or applications that ONLY work in Windows Vista? If you do, then you might need that Vista OS.

However, if it's the reverse and that you don't have any programs that need Vista, and your old applications don't work anymore, then why continue to use Vista? It's similar to suffering for no possible gain at all.

Answer 7

Vista has a lot of incompatibilities. I really wouldn't call it "downgrading" to XP lol. I have not upgraded to Vista for obvious reasons, if you can get XP definitely do that.

Answer 8

I advice you to Downgrade

or install XP with Vista ( Dual Boot )

Answer 9

Windows XP, as well as Windows Vista, is extremely obsolete. Reinstall and upgrade to Windows 7 for files, and Windows 8.1 for internet.

Answer 10

Vista has compatibility problems, you will need to research new drivers for your peripheral devices. Also contact the websites of your programs that won't work to see if they have any fixes.
For more info on Vista, check this site out. http://www.vista4beginners