Vista - Why is it not possible to roll back to XP?

Hello,

I recently "upgraded" my PC from XP to Vista. My PC was sold as "Vista
ready" and before running the upgrade, I did my research and ran the upgrade
assistant - but neither identified the catalogue of problems that I am now
experiencing with Vista.

I would really like to roll back to XP. However, this is not possible unless
I format the disk and reinstall everything - this is just not an option...

I am therefore seemingly stuck with Vista and its problems.

But why have Microsoft made it impossible to reinstall XP? Is this really
technically impossible - if so why? Or have Microsoft made the upgrade
one-way for marketing reasons - ie to prevent people going back to XP?

I feel badly let down by Microsoft on this.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b/933168/en-us

That is the link for rolling it back if you still have the windows.old folder.

You did say that you did an upgrade of Vista, not a clean install.

"Ric" wrote:

You can't downgrade from Vista to XP without reformatting for the same reason you can't downgrade from XP to 2000 without reformatting.

You have two choices:

1. Backup all pertinent data and perform a clean-install of Vista, which will eliminate a vast majority of the problems you are experiencing
2. Back all pertinent data and perform a clean install of XP

Either way, you'll need to do a format clean install...

Hi Ric,

If you upgraded, and a windows.old folder was created, there is the
procedure here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933168

However, this procedure does not always work and you should be prepared to
do a clean install if it fails. This means backing up all data and making
sure that you have the installation disks for any programs that you will
want to reinstall.

Also, Microsoft has never supported uninstalling NT system upgrades. Both XP
and Vista are NT systems. Uninstalling was common with 9x upgrades (Win's
95, 98, and ME), and even 9x to NT (such as 98 to Win2000 or XP) upgrades,
but never NT to NT (NT4, Win's 2000/XP/Vista) upgrades. Those have always
been one way streets.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Ric" <fraybentos@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:05D194CF-F5DA-450C-9035-A3CB26681B4A@xxxxxx

Because thats just the way it is. You are given the option during the
initial phase of setup to rollback to Windows XP, but that is your only
chance. Once you have fully upgrade from XP to Windows Vista, your only
choice is a clean installation if you want to go back to Windows XP.

Here is a good resource if you want to get XP back on your system:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"Ric" <fraybentos@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:05D194CF-F5DA-450C-9035-A3CB26681B4A@xxxxxx

On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:20:49 +0100, "Ric" <fraybentos@xxxxxx>
wrote:
Because the drive space required is prohibitive. Vista is SOOOOO
idfferent in the way it looks and in the way it does things, alot has
changed. To save all the old things and still have room for a properly
operating Vista would require a 300 gig or more hard drive. Most
people don't have that available, so MS left it out.
Vista is better, it is just MUCH different. It is closer to the future
than the past. It is closer to making we users more responsible for
what is causing the problems with our pc's. In the past, as Admins, on
our pc's virueses, trojans, etc could just walk right in and take
over. Then we would call tech support and say 'hey why did you let
them in, why didn't you provide we with a program to stop that
stuff'?. Well MS is listening, not in the way we thought, but.... Now
you will be asked for the Admin password many, many times during the
first couple of weeks, then less and less often as you get your pc
setup like you like it. All those password requests happen because
there is no way for the OS to know if you or a virus, etc, is trying
to do something. Maybe the kiddie virus writers will slow down as time
goes by and we users stop getting infected. The really good virus
writers cannot be stopped, ever. Not as long as we insist on going
online and checking our email, etc.

Ric wrote:
If you upgraded to Vista from WinXP:

How to go back to Windows XP after you have upgraded a Windows XP-based
computer to Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933170/en-us

How to restore a computer to a previous Windows installation after you
install Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933168/en-us

Otherwise:

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS
installation, simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be
offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part
of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of
boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...B;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Then the backed up data can be restored and applications (Those
that are WinXP-compatible, that is) re-installed.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

I saw this same ire when Microsoft introduced Windows XP, replacing
the warm and fuzzy feeling of Windows 2000 (the NT version of Windows
98) I, too, pissed and moaned about what a POS XP was. It's a matter
of what you know and how much changes between what you know and the
new system.

Change like this brings technological issues (not all hardware
manufacturers test their drivers thoroughly when a new OS is released)
and then there's users finding ways to use the OS that even the most
forward-thinking developer never thought of.

For IT professionals, Vista is here to stay (at least for the next 5
years, anyway) and Microsoft will be improving it as they did with XP.

If you don't handle this kind of change very well, stck with XP for a
while. Eventually, software will be written soley for Vista and there
won't be a choice. But that doesn't mean you have to switch now.

As an IT professional, there are many things about Vista that I like.
What I have trouble with is all the UI changes and some of the
behaviors. But we'll get use to them the way we did with XP...

-JS-

Well said by one who regularly calls people liars and is UNABLE to
prove the accusation.
Well said by one who regularly changes the handle in a futile attempt
to escape and hide.
Well said by someone unable to offer anything constructive in any way
to help the OP.

So typical of your posts, attacks on others while providing NOTHING of
value.

People who successfully use windows Vista are called "delusional".
Because of your own inability to use Windows Vista, you can do little
more than attack others who succeed where you fail.

Windows Vista works well for me on two older computers.
Many others have similar experiences
FACTS you are unable to dispute.

A very typical post from you.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Tiberius" <123@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:474bf8f3@xxxxxx-privat.org...

It depends on how you upgraded.
If you have the windows.old folder, it may be possible.

If you post details of your problems in a new thread.
Post the specifics of your hardware.
Also post software that is giving you problems.
Someone may be able to help.

"Vista ready"
Do you mean "Vista Capable" or "Premium Ready"?
There is a significant difference:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...e/capable.mspx

Do you have the latest updates and patches for your software?
Is all your software compatible with Windows Vista as determined by
the software manufacturers?
Do you have the latest drivers from the manufacturer?
Do not assume a new computer comes with the latest drivers, that is
often not true.

Do you have at least 1 GB RAM?
Most need that much while some need 2 GB or more depending on the
specific uses of the computer.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Ric" <fraybentos@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:05D194CF-F5DA-450C-9035-A3CB26681B4A@xxxxxx