Upgrading from vista to xp.

Interested · 12-25-2007, 08:49 PM

Hey everyone,

I installed vista in august thinking WHOA i got vista! Now, i just want to make sure vista doesnt come into my face until i get a new computer (mid-late next year). I can barely play CSS, (at first fps were low on 800x600, and now i get an error), it doesnt support a lot of stuff, and it LAGS LIKE A TURTLE. Now i got a virus, and it does not know what proc / ram i have and its sad. I just want to go back to XP. Now, since vista has a few differences like pictures is not in documents, and ect...., when i install XP via upgrade feature, will my music be in My Music? or will it be in Music (vista's version of the folder that is in a different location)? What about My Documents? My Pictures?

Thanks of helping.....

tlarkin · 12-25-2007, 09:40 PM

XP uses a different directory structure than Vista. Notice how vista has a \Users directory? Well, in XP its \Documents and settings\username\home directory.

Also, vista uses a different boot loader, no longer is there a boot.ini. I think in all honesty you are best up backing up all data you want and then wiping and reloading the OS.

Aloush · 12-25-2007, 09:42 PM

May i just say wouldn't it be downgrading not upgrading ?

ckfordy69 · 12-25-2007, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aloush

May i just say wouldn't it be downgrading not upgrading ?

Not in this case

Aloush · 12-25-2007, 10:00 PM

Oh ok sorry then

ckfordy69 · 12-25-2007, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aloush

Oh ok sorry then

Yeah Vista really sucks so thats why a lot of people are saying upgrading to XP.

alienationware · 12-25-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

May i just say wouldn't it be downgrading not upgrading ?

No, you may NOT!

PC eye · 12-25-2007, 11:44 PM

For cleaning Vista off entirely the primary partition will have to be reformatted in order to see the new "boot" folder removed. If you don't have a dvd burner for backing up a large volume of files but have a cd writer you can burn the Linux drive tool GParted onto a bootable cd-r.

Why? you first shrink the existing primary by first backing up what you can and then create a second temporary storage partition for backing up the bulk of files onto that from the various folders. Once that is done you can use the format option found on the Vista installation disk to simply reformat the current primary in preparation for XP. Your files are safe and XP then replaces Vista. Both use NTFS 5.0

Once XP is up and running you can then copy your files into the desired folders or keep the second partition for backing things up. Otherwise you can then delete that and expand the first as a single primary. With only one drive installed many prefer a second for storing files.

Interested · 12-25-2007, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PC eye

For cleaning Vista off entirely the primary partition will have to be reformatted in order to see the new "boot" folder removed. If you don't have a dvd burner for backing up a large volume of files but have a cd writer you can burn the Linux drive tool GParted onto a bootable cd-r.

Why? you first shrink the existing primary by first backing up what you can and then create a second temporary storage partition for backing up the bulk of files onto that from the various folders. Once that is done you can use the format option found on the Vista installation disk to simply reformat the current primary in preparation for XP. Your files are safe and XP then replaces Vista. Both use NTFS 5.0

Once XP is up and running you can then copy your files into the desired folders or keep the second partition for backing things up. Otherwise you can then delete that and expand the first as a single primary. With only one drive installed many prefer a second for storing files.

whoa dude, i dont need that. I plug in my 20gb External HDD, back up my stuff, put in my XP disc, format, reinstall all my progs, and im done. Ill be done in about 6 hours.

PC eye · 12-26-2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Interested

whoa dude, i dont need that. I plug in my 20gb External HDD, back up my stuff, put in my XP disc, format, reinstall all my progs, and im done. Ill be done in about 6 hours.

You are fortunate to have one onhand then in order to backup things on the external drive. If you didn't have it then what? The method outlined there is for someone without a second drive whether internal or external onhand.

But for seeing the boot folder removed even the full release of Vista couldn't remove the one created by the RC1 beta here when later installed to replace XP Pto on the last build when moving OSs around there. I later simply deleted the entire partition with GParted when replacing XP Home with the Pro edition remaining with that build.

You will most likely want to start off fresh again anyways when going back to XP. The main reason people thinl Vista is so sluggish is mainly due to running games written primarily for XP. Try running an old 98 game on XP? It won't do so well either. Once new Vista only games are written and are out(some already) you will probably notice a big improvement with those.

12-25-2007, 08:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Interested Platinum Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: PA Age: 13 Posts: 561	Upgrading from vista to xp. Hey everyone, I installed vista in august thinking WHOA i got vista! Now, i just want to make sure vista doesnt come into my face until i get a new computer (mid-late next year). I can barely play CSS, (at first fps were low on 800x600, and now i get an error), it doesnt support a lot of stuff, and it LAGS LIKE A TURTLE. Now i got a virus, and it does not know what proc / ram i have and its sad. I just want to go back to XP. Now, since vista has a few differences like pictures is not in documents, and ect...., when i install XP via upgrade feature, will my music be in My Music? or will it be in Music (vista's version of the folder that is in a different location)? What about My Documents? My Pictures? Thanks of helping..... __________________ N3W U1+1M4+3 M0N5+3R/N3W U1+1M4+3 L4PPY CASE:RAIDMAX SMILODON SILVER/BLUE/Dell Vostro 1500 CPU:Q6600 @ 2.7 GHz/T7250 @ 2.00 GHz HDD:Seagate 7200.10 250 GB SATA 2/120GB RAM: WINTEC AMPX 4GB DDR2 800/4GB DDR2 667 MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L / Intel GM965 GPU: MSI nx8600GT 512MB DDR3 @ Core: 700 / 1836 Memory: 756 / nVidia 8400M GS MONITOR: ACER 22" P223w Glossy! (sexiest screen ever!)/ 15" Glossy! FOR SALE : http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=370044254803

12-25-2007, 11:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 18,687	For cleaning Vista off entirely the primary partition will have to be reformatted in order to see the new "boot" folder removed. If you don't have a dvd burner for backing up a large volume of files but have a cd writer you can burn the Linux drive tool GParted onto a bootable cd-r. Why? you first shrink the existing primary by first backing up what you can and then create a second temporary storage partition for backing up the bulk of files onto that from the various folders. Once that is done you can use the format option found on the Vista installation disk to simply reformat the current primary in preparation for XP. Your files are safe and XP then replaces Vista. Both use NTFS 5.0 Once XP is up and running you can then copy your files into the desired folders or keep the second partition for backing things up. Otherwise you can then delete that and expand the first as a single primary. With only one drive installed many prefer a second for storing files. __________________ Users Fight to Save Windows XP! http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4646547 Microsoft Not Ruling Out XP Extension http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4716159

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12-25-2007, 09:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
tlarkin VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 5,187	XP uses a different directory structure than Vista. Notice how vista has a \Users directory? Well, in XP its \Documents and settings\username\home directory. Also, vista uses a different boot loader, no longer is there a boot.ini. I think in all honesty you are best up backing up all data you want and then wiping and reloading the OS.

12-25-2007, 09:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Aloush Silver Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 122	May i just say wouldn't it be downgrading not upgrading ?

12-25-2007, 10:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
Aloush Silver Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 122	Oh ok sorry then