I've decided that the feature loss with Vista far outweighs any feature
gain, therefore, I want to replace Vista with XP-pro.

the two big issues are lack of toolbar customization and undesirable
explorer windows behavior as described in my previous posts.

Can someone out there who has already retreated to XP share their
experiences, pit-falls, observations and comments??

thanks in advance....


Eddie.

timbucktoo@xxxxxx wrote:

> I've decided that the feature loss with Vista far outweighs any feature
> gain, therefore, I want to replace Vista with XP-pro.
>
> the two big issues are lack of toolbar customization and undesirable
> explorer windows behavior as described in my previous posts.
>
> Can someone out there who has already retreated to XP share their
> experiences, pit-falls, observations and comments??

General information about replacing Vista with XP:

A. On an OEM (HP, Sony, etc.) computer:

1. Go to the OEM's website and look for XP drivers for your specific model
computer. If there are no XP drivers, then you can't install XP. End of
story. If there are drivers, download them and store on a CD-R or USB
thumbdrive; you'll need them after you install XP.

2. Check with the OEM - either from their tech support website or by calling
them - to see if you will void your warranty if you do this. If you will
void the warranty, you make the decision.

3. If the OEM does support XP on the machine, call them and see if you can
have downgrade rights and have them send you an XP restore disk. This will
be far the easiest and best way of getting XP on the machine.

4. If XP is supported on the machine but the OEM doesn't have an XP restore
disk for you, understand that you'll need to purchase a retail copy of XP
from your favorite online or brick/mortar store.

5. Also understand that you will need to do a clean install of XP so if you
have any data you want, back it up first.

6. If none of the above is applicable to you because you can't run XP on
that machine (see Item #1 above), return the computer and purchase one
running XP instead.

B. On a generic/home-built computer (from non-OEM company) - You will need
drivers for all your hardware. See the second link below for more details:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...alling_Windows - What
you will need on-hand

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Malke,
Thank you--Truly excellent advise. I'll contact DELL and post the results
of my migration efforts in a few weeks or so.

Thanks again...

"Malke" <malke@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OlkSUA1QJHA.588@xxxxxx

> timbucktoo@xxxxxx wrote:
>

>> I've decided that the feature loss with Vista far outweighs any feature
>> gain, therefore, I want to replace Vista with XP-pro.
>>
>> the two big issues are lack of toolbar customization and undesirable
>> explorer windows behavior as described in my previous posts.
>>
>> Can someone out there who has already retreated to XP share their
>> experiences, pit-falls, observations and comments??

>
> General information about replacing Vista with XP:
>
> A. On an OEM (HP, Sony, etc.) computer:
>
> 1. Go to the OEM's website and look for XP drivers for your specific model
> computer. If there are no XP drivers, then you can't install XP. End of
> story. If there are drivers, download them and store on a CD-R or USB
> thumbdrive; you'll need them after you install XP.
>
> 2. Check with the OEM - either from their tech support website or by
> calling
> them - to see if you will void your warranty if you do this. If you will
> void the warranty, you make the decision.
>
> 3. If the OEM does support XP on the machine, call them and see if you can
> have downgrade rights and have them send you an XP restore disk. This will
> be far the easiest and best way of getting XP on the machine.
>
> 4. If XP is supported on the machine but the OEM doesn't have an XP
> restore
> disk for you, understand that you'll need to purchase a retail copy of XP
> from your favorite online or brick/mortar store.
>
> 5. Also understand that you will need to do a clean install of XP so if
> you
> have any data you want, back it up first.
>
> 6. If none of the above is applicable to you because you can't run XP on
> that machine (see Item #1 above), return the computer and purchase one
> running XP instead.
>
> B. On a generic/home-built computer (from non-OEM company) - You will need
> drivers for all your hardware. See the second link below for more details:
>
> http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...alling_Windows - What
> you will need on-hand
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
>