How to downgrade a laptop from Vista to XP

The question now before You might ask: if you read this article: "Why would anyone want to downgrade from Vista to XP Their laptop?" There are many reasons but the most common is speed and stability. Windows Vista is much faster on same hardware as Vista. Also, Windows Explorer crashes frequently in Vista compared to XP.

In this article we downgrade Vista to XP the easy way. Actually there are some options toSo we will walk through three of them here.

Option 1: Perform a Windows Recovery Console

One way to downgrade to Windows XP is to implement a recovery. Now, this approach is more convenient because there is no need to clean your hard drive.
The disadvantage is that it is generally not as clean as the other option (option to start from scratch below).

Let's see, you must:

Backup your entire hard drive.

The first and most important thing tois doing to make a backup of your entire hard drive in case something goes wrong with this process. If you have Windows Vista Business or Ultimate, there is a complete PC backup and recovery tool you can use. Also, make sure to leave several GB of free space on your startup disk after the backup.

A secure (and my favorite) is to copy the data on an external hard drive. You can simply copy all back once XP is running. Make sure to back up the entire C: Users folder,which is also the documents folder, desktop files, plus data applications such as email.

Backup your entire hard drive.

The first and most important thing to do is make up your entire hard drive in case something goes wrong with this process.
If you have Windows Vista Business or Ultimate, there is a complete PC backup and recovery tool you can use.

Boot with the Windows XP CD.

Set Wnidows XP CD in the opticaland turn on the laptop. You can then press the space bar when the message Press any key to boot from CD .... If you do not need to "go to the message's BIOS setup screen of the laptop and change the boot options. Your CD drive should appear now, before the hard drive in the boot order list.

Open the Recovery Console.

After installing Windows XP starts, you must press R on the first page and open the Recovery Console. When prompted, select aWindows installation, type 1 and press Enter.

At this point you can request an administrator password. This is where it gets a bit 'difficult. If you do not know the administrator password, you can put:

* Starting Windows Vista

* Open the Start menu, enter, press enter and lusrmgr.msc

* Open the C: Users

* Double-click the Administrator account and disable the option Account Disabled

* Open the Start menu again, typeControl userpasswords2 in the search box and press ENTER

* Click Reset Password button, choose a new password, and start

This gives the administrator password and you should be able to proceed with the downgrade.

Prepare your hard disk for XP. Next, go back to the Recovery Console command prompt and type the following commands.

fixboot

fixmbr

CD

other Windows WinVista

Exit

Leave your laptop to restart, andStart with the Windows XP CD back. Installing Windows XP starts normally.

Move your documents. Once the Windows XP setup is complete, you will have a functioning Windows XP operating system. However, it is necessary to move some files manually. In particular, this would be your documents to the desktop contents, and all other redundant data in Vista C: Users folder in XP C: \ Documents and Settings. "You also need to reinstall all applications and device driversDriver, and finally delete the abandoned C: WinVista.

And that's all ... If you followed here will be successfully downgraded Windows Vista to Windows XP without reformatting the hard drive.

Option 2: Starting from scratch

The second way of downgrading to XP is to start over. This method has the advantage of being very "clean install". That is, your laptop is loaded from Vista remains, mixed with with XP. AllAnd 'pure Windows XP.

Here's how we do it:

Backup your entire hard drive.

As before, the first step is to do the entire hard drive in case something goes wrong with this process.
Just copy your data on an external hard drive - may once again running copy of XP.

Perform a clean install of Windows XP.
The procedure here is very different, depending on your laptop. You should "consult the manual for your laptopfor more details.
Typically, the software is the extermination of the laptop hard drive and a preinstalled version of Windows XP drive.
This picture should come with the purchase of all the drivers and demo software that your laptop when you first got with him.

If this is done, install, easy to connect the backup drive and copy files.

Option 3: Dual-Boot Configuration

Now consider a third option. What if you have any questions essentialor device that simply will not work with Vista. You also do not want to downgrade to XP.
What are you doing here? One possibility is to perform a dual boot. Be warned, however, this option is an advanced option, you should have some idea of dual-boot before trying.

You are installing XP alongside Vista, so you need a second hard drive or a second partition on primary hard disk.

You should start booting Windows XP installation CD, install theOS on the second disk.
Once you know that - do not panic when Vista will not start doing. Just install the new times of Vista boot manager.
Start the Vista installation CD and click Next on the first page.
In the Windows Setup page, click Repair your computer.
You will be asked to choose between Windows XP laptop and Vista every time you turn.

Completion

Correct! I hope this article gave you an idea of how a downgrade fromWindows Vista to Windows XP. The downgrade is a really good sense if you have problems adjusting to Vista. However, you should also consider
new software is designed for Windows Vista. And the legacy support Windows XP will disappear very soon. In any case, if you feel you must try to downgrade one of the options above. I hope the work for you!

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