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04-02-2008, 10:28 PM
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#1
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Constant Bitrate
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Springfield, MO
Posts: 218
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How to i downgrade to Vista
Hey everyone, so i just bought a new laptop it naturally came with vista, how can i downgrade it to XP w/o having to reformat?
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04-02-2008, 11:58 PM
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#2
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Raw Wave
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Nashville
Posts: 2,635
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well, when I put an XP cd in, the install option is greyed out.
But why wouldn't you want to wipe the drive and start fresh.
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04-03-2008, 12:33 AM
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#3
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Fusion Brain Creator
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Colorado, but Canadian!
Posts: 8,862
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You can never go from Vista --> XP without reformatting.
You can partition the drive, insert the XP CD and install from the basic install menus on the new partition. Basically a dual boot. Vista is like a bad virus, you cant make it go away without reformatting but it will take over easily.
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04-03-2008, 12:56 AM
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#4
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Raw Wave
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NY
Posts: 1,806
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my suggestion is clone the drive incase you mess up then reformat and install xp
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04-03-2008, 11:57 AM
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#5
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Constant Bitrate
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Springfield, MO
Posts: 218
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The reason i don't want to reformatt is because i don't want to lose office 07 which came w/ my computer.
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04-03-2008, 01:23 PM
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#6
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Fusion Brain Creator
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Colorado, but Canadian!
Posts: 8,862
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Quote: Originally Posted by Nickwell24  The reason i don't want to reformatt is because i don't want to lose office 07 which came w/ my computer.
Windows does not work like osx/unix/linux
You cannot copy a program folder to somewhere else and get it to work. Windows relies on a registry to store lots of information.
If you keep the vista partition intact, and install XP seperate you will never be able to open Office from XP without reinstalling it which does more than copy files, but sets up global environment variables, and registry keys. You would need to copy the files, the registry, and the global variables from Vista to XP. Something tells me you cannot do this.
So just reformat. Also if your PC did not come with an Office CD, then you dont have Office, you have the demo. Unless you have a restore CD, and you may be able to extract the cab files from there once you are back on XP.
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04-03-2008, 01:24 PM
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#7
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Constant Bitrate
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Springfield, MO
Posts: 218
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No it comes w/ a restore D drive, no CDs
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04-03-2008, 01:32 PM
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#8
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Fusion Brain Creator
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Colorado, but Canadian!
Posts: 8,862
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Quote: Originally Posted by Nickwell24 No it comes w/ a restore D drive, no CDs
Then find the cab's on there. It is the same principle.
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04-06-2008, 12:18 AM
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#9
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Bowel movement
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: not sure yet.
Posts: 1,644
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kick bill gates in the head
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04-06-2008, 10:33 AM
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#10
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Low Bitrate
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 64
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I second the drive imaging suggestion. I am a big fan of Acronis Drive Image and have used it for years.
Go download a freeware program called Magic Jelly Ben Keyfinder (google) and run it on your copy of Vista. It will tell you the Serial Number to your Windows install as well as your Office install. Write both down for good measures.
Find a copy of Office 2007 floating around on the Internet and use your key to install it on XP.
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04-06-2008, 11:04 AM
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#11
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FLAC
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Top o' the world Ma!
Posts: 1,281
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I wasn't thrilled with vista either when I first got it. Came pre-installed (home ultimate).
But, after digging around in it for a week or so, I find it's not so bad. About as much a PITA to learn as it was when I switched to xp............
What is it you don't like about vista?
My big PITA was UAC, but I turned that off, then I made the "hidden" admin account visable and all is good..............for now..............
Drivers and existing equipment are a different story............
But I'm looking to microsoft to continue work on this, Maybe I'll try SP1.............
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Last edited by greatwhite; 04-06-2008 at 11:14 AM.
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04-06-2008, 12:21 PM
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#12
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Takes it in the Rear
Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: Where the penguins and polar bears live.
Posts: 686
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Quote: Originally Posted by Nickwell24 The reason i don't want to reformatt is because i don't want to lose office 07 which came w/ my computer.
Well since you legally own it, if you go in the help / about, it maybe gives the serial code, just download a full version on the internet and use your serial code. I doubt its illegal since you own it legally.
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04-09-2008, 11:44 PM
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#13
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FLAC
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NY
Posts: 1,142
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Buy a second hard drive and install XP on there until you can get Office 2007 for yourself. Swap out as neccessary.
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04-15-2008, 04:31 PM
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#14
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Maximum Bitrate
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Wales, UK
Posts: 787
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I dont know what its like in the states but your popular brands like acer, toshiba, hewlett packard etc come with a 60 day trial version of office and norton Is or 360.
in addition there is usually a hidden recovery partition or a way to make a factory recovery image on a dvd 
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04-15-2008, 07:48 PM
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#15
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FLAC
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Top o' the world Ma!
Posts: 1,281
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Quote: Originally Posted by jonessc I dont know what its like in the states but your popular brands like acer, toshiba, hewlett packard etc come with a 60 day trial version of office and norton Is or 360.
in addition there is usually a hidden recovery partition or a way to make a factory recovery image on a dvd
Very true.
Used the option in my HP to make a cet of dvd recovery disc's.............
Not sure if it'll work with a new drive as I believe they have to detect a previous install.
I think it looks for specific file or some other "bit" like XP did when upgrading from 98 (remember when?)
Maybe you can transfer the office 2007 files off the recovery disc's. Not really sure........
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For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.
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