I want to downgrade vista to xp pro

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Jay2007

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#15954 17-Sep-2007 23:54

Hi

I'm currently purchasing 8 HP DC 5700 desktops and 2 HP NX 7400 laptops for work, they are coming loaded with vista business and i want to downgrade to xp pro due to software compatibilities. How would I go about doing this?
I have been told that i would need an OEM XP Pro media disk, but microsoft are saying i need to get this from hp, who are saying i need to get it from my suppliers and they are telling me i need to provide hp with the serial numbers of the machines when i get them and they will provide me with the disk.
Which 1 is correct?

Any help would be appreciated
Jay

rscole86

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#86967 18-Sep-2007 08:23

AFAIK none of them are correct.

You will need to find someone who can provide you with copies of XP PRO, you are not able to buy OEM distributions without purchasing hardware at the same time.

Your best bet would have been to ask your supplier if they could have provided you with machines that still had XP on them. As opposed to buying Vista machines and then trying to work backwards.

The laptops will be the biggest problem as there is a 99% possibility that there will NOT be any drivers for XP, as HP will have only developed drivers for Vista.

camo786

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#86974 18-Sep-2007 09:34

You may quite legitimately downgrade from Vista Business to XP Pro

You will need a Windows XP OEM CD, borrow one (you will need to phone M$ to activate and explain what you are downgrading, they will give you a product key and activate it) or an HP OS restore CD, this doesnt need activating, something ion CD and in BIOS means it will know its and HP computer

The laptops will be just fine, HP still issuing Window XP drivers for all the current Models, look on www.hp.com, under support and downloads

PM me if you need help, I have images for all the current models made from HP restore CD

Jay2007

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#86977 18-Sep-2007 09:51

Thanks for that, I've checked on the hp website and i can get the drivers for desktops and laptops on xp pro, which i've downloaded and burning to cd.
The old machines i've got are hp dx2000 which i think i have got the restore disks for (i found a white xp pro sp1 disk in with these) would i be able to use this disk alone then install drivers for the new ones from hp.
If i can't do this i spoke with someone from hp who have confirmed again that if i provide them with a serial number from one of the new machines they will provide me with restore disks, which i suspect will be xp pro restore disks for dc5700 and nx7400 with drivers.

Jay

crapinator

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#90432 10-Oct-2007 11:56

tis a good move, Vista licks scro

Matt

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#90435 10-Oct-2007 12:04

This reply did not added a lot to the thrad...

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t94xr

21 posts

Geek

#90574 11-Oct-2007 02:56

you dont really need to downgrade to XP Pro...

Just run the software you're having compatibilities with in Windows XP Compatibility Mode
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/using-windows-vista-compatibility-mode/
http://help.unc.edu/?id=6037

It's rather easy to do and simple to try. Most software specifically designed for XP should run in this compatibility mode fine.

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pwaddles

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#91502 18-Oct-2007 13:02

Does that compatibility mode work? And does it work well?

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