The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Downgrade Vista to XP Prof.

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by lucas37, Jun 3, 2007.

  1. lucas37

    lucas37 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Can I downgrade my OEM version of Windows Vista Business to Windows XP Professional? And if yes, how?
     
    lucas37, Jun 3, 2007
    #1
  2. Xander

    Xander Paranoid Android

    Reputations:
    1,321
    Messages:
    1,455
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    It would be easier to keep Vista and dual boot XP Pro. Here is a guide, How to dual boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first) from apcmag.com.

    Oh and you can change the settings in Vista to make XP the default OS: How to Change Default OS in Vista/XP Dual-Boot Setup from howtogeek.com.

    I know it's not exactly what you were looking for, but you should consider your options.

    To downgrade, I think you would need to perform a clean install of XP, which would completely erase your hard drive.
     
    Xander, Jun 3, 2007
    #2
  3. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

    Reputations:
    836
    Messages:
    3,682
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    No, you cannot downgrade. If you want XP Pro, you must buy a copy of XP Pro and do a complete install, which will wipe the drive/partition that currently has Vista.
     
    kegobeer, Jun 3, 2007
    #3
  4. Gintoki

    Gintoki Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,886
    Messages:
    6,566
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Which means you have to make a recovery CD of vista before you do it. So dual boot would be as eternal said, the best choice.
     
    Gintoki, Jun 3, 2007
    #4