uninstall Vista

[jos1]

Can I uninstall Vista and install XP and if so how?

[DaisyMae]

I too would like to know that, I've heard it's a nightmare though.

Sorry Jos1 for jumping in.

[Ethel]

You must have XP on disc (not 'recovery') and the licence key otherwise you'll have nothing. You need to be sure that the equipment inside the pc (graphics card for example) will run on XP - you should find the drivers online first and back them up to cd.

http://www.chuckegg.com/how-to-remove-microsof t-vista-and-replace-it-with-windows-xp/

An alternative would be to install XP as well as Vista. That would be my choice:
http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_vista_and_x p_with_vista_installed_first__the_stepbystep_g uide.htm

Don't forget that it will be difficult to buy printers, routers and so on that are compatible with XP in a few years, so you really should try to get to grips with Vista

[rojash]

I'm largely with Ethel on this one. Unless the machine came with an XP 'Downgrade' option, much as I dislike Vista, I think you'll end up with far more problems if you attempt your own downgrade.

On the other hand, I've just downgraded two Sony Vaios for a client and it was dead easy - BUT, they came with a downgrade option in the box.

Give it another year and you can upgrade instead to Windows 7 which is beginning to look very much like it will be what Vista should have been in the first place!

[Ethel]

Roj - I am very tempted to buy a new pc - should I wait for Windows 7, bearing in mind I don't NEED a new pc?

*sorry for the thread hijack*

[rojash]

Well, MS have said that Windows 7 may not be ready in time for Christmas 2009, which implies to me that (even if it's not) they are really intending to push it out. So, If you are happy to wait 18 months, that's what I'd do.

From what I am hearing from beta testers, it really is going to be what many of us were hoping for from Vista. And, as far as I can tell, it will use the same driver model as Vista (it's the change to the driver model which is the biggest problem for hardware compatibility).

[rinkytink]

Windows 7 Beta is available for download now:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/bet a-download.aspx