From Vista to XP

[MajorInMurder]

My dad got hold of an XP cd. Right now i have Vista on my computer, and plan to restart my computer. Just to be safe, are there any problems doing this? And is it a good idea?

Thanks.

 

[InductedStorm]

There is a limit on how many computers XP keys can used on. Try to figure that out bc it would stink to find out that you already are using that key and can't install. Also you will have to mess with installing all or most of the drivers which can be a pain.

 

[Apples [S|R]]

First off it's a GREAT idea as Vista is evil. EVIL.

Secondly, issues that can commonly arise are as follows:

-XP cdkey has already been used
-Installation will fail for no reason whatsoever (happened four out of the nine times I did this)

-BY FAR the most common issue is that you do not have XP software that is required to "see" your HDD. This will cause the XP installation to instantly fail because it will think that you have to hard disk drive.

(Other drivers are *usually* present, or at least semi-outdated generic ones that will do the job until you can get proper ones in.)

---------Resolving these issues-------------

1. Self-explanatory
2. Just start over.
3. This is the more annoying one. I'll only type it out if you reply that it applies to you. It involves storage manager drivers and slip streaming.

---------Installation--------------------------

Do the usual, reformat and install. My personal favorite method is to use a Linux OS CD to reformat the HDD into ext3 and then reformat over that with NTFS for XP. This is because sometimes reformatting over vista with the XP cd has just failed randomly.

If any of the above issues occur, resolve them as needed and continue. If #3 happens post here or pm me and I'll tell you how to fix it.

Good luck.

 

[MajorInMurder]

It installed on the first try, no fails. The cd key was unviseral b/c my dad got it from a place with lots of computers. My computer is running fine, no problems. I just d/led software for my internet, and then i'll d/l steam. That's about it =) BTW do you think it's a good idea to get more RAM or memory for my computer?

 

[Apples [S|R]]

Nice you got lucky.
@2nd question:

Uh if I remember correctly your computer specs are as follows:
-160GB SATA II HDD @7200RPM/8MB Data Cache
-1024 MB DDR2 SDRAM
-AMD athlon 64 processor 3800+ (1x2.4GHz{64-bit}|512kb L2|2000MHz FSB)
-Forgot the video card, what is it?

Personally I would get another gigabyte of RAM. This is really not required unless you plan to play newer games or do heavy map compiling, etc.

Your processor is fine, athlon 64-bit single core processors are quite powerful for their set frequency (Yours performs at the level of a 3400-3600MHz P4 which is quite nice for a single core system).

HDD space is not something I can really advise on. If it fills up get another one.

Video card: Don't remember what it was.

 

[Buddha Boy]

[quote1205533766=Apples [S|R]]
First off it's a GREAT idea as Vista is evil. EVIL.
[/quote1205533766]

Vista is EVIL!!!!

 

[OMG!]

hey guys there's an awsome! hack off windows.

it's called windows xp ultimate edition.

check it out....i'm not sure if it's on google or not but check and see!

 

[Apples [S|R]]

@above:

Besides the fact that the mentioned hack is in several parts illegal, it's useless.

All of the included "bonuses" are either easily replaceable with free software, or are actually already free software.

It is NOT fully stable, and will give you far more headaches than just using XP. Plus it's a bit outdated usually.

Waste of time and risk in my opinion.

 

[OMG!]

ya...i understand but it's still pretty sweet using it!

i don't use the hacks though, (you can decide to use them or not, YES you can!), i used them on tf2 but not dod or css because they're actually WORTHLESS!

 

[Blitzkrieg-=KK=-]

My buddy (you may know him as PastorBob), he went from Vista on his new computer to XP with no problems. Besides Vista sux.

 

[OMG!]

i don't like vista either but i prefer it over mac OS

 

[Rifleman]

I am buying a new computer and I cannot decide between Vista or XP, could you guys suggest which one would be more effective in gaming, since other people love Vista and other people hate it so I cannot decide, help me.

 

[Apples [S|R]]

XP!!

Vista EPIC FAILS at gaming.

1. More system resources are used/wasted
2. Vista doesn't like some games for no reason at all.
3. XP pwns Vista
4. The bit about resources deserves a second point.

 

[OMG!]

@above

i'm with you on all of it except "fails at gaming" because my school has it and we have time to play tf2, dod, css, etc. for a while and it ALWAYS runs smooth as can be.....but for the record XP does pwn vista!

 

[Apples [S|R]]

It fails at gaming because the difference between using xp to game and using vista is usually more than a dozen fps in my experience.

 

[You Cant See Me[S|R]]

Yea, I'd have to say XP is way better then Vista and the Mac OS is cool i guess. I use it when i work with computer graphics and stuff but i prefer PC over Mac.

 

[OMG!]

[quote1205993366=Apples [S|R]]
It fails at gaming because the difference between using xp to game and using vista is usually more than a dozen fps in my experience.
[/quote1205993366]

ok fine, but vista isn't that bad, i mean, (gaming wise), it's better than Mac OS, right?

 

[Rifleman]

Ok thanks for the help, XP it is.

 

[Bleed.the.Fifth[DAM]]

Try and go for XP64 for this simple reason alone. Not sure if it applies to you, but if you ever wanted to put over 2 GB of ram in your 32 bit xp machine, its pointless as 32 bit XP itself doesnt use more than 3 GB at all times and 32 bit XP also has a 2 GB ram process limit. What that means is, if you have 4 GB of ram on your 32 bit XP machine.. and say a game such as Crysis takes up more than 2 GB of ram while loaded up, it wont use that extra 2 GB of ram you have in your machine AT ALL. It then uses "virtual memory" which is just your hard drive acting as RAM and is annoyingly slow and choppy when this happens.

 

[Cryptex]

I have Vista, and in some instances it's not so great at gaming, but so what? It's just a few games, AND it's the game's I don't usually play. If I could uninstall Vista I would, but I'm really getting sick and tired of the people who say "VISTA SUX, GO BUY XP", and they've never even used Vista!