vista 64 downgrade ??

jimmyjim11

is it possable to down grade from vista 64 bit home preimum OEM to 32 bit or xp
TIA

Vista 32-bit: Yes, just find a Vista 32-bit DVD and use your 64-bit product key - they're both the same

XP: Not without buying an XP licence. There's no legitimate way to downgrade a home release freely. But if you have XP already then you can, just try to get the drivers beforehand.

You'll need to do a clean install in both cases.

BoB_BoT

usually downgrading is messy and awkward. if possible, it's better to do a clean install. essentially downgrading would be installing an operating on top of the current one. This would not be possible with xp, as it won't sit on top of vista or incorporate its data during the install. Again it may be possible with vista 64bit to home. personally i'd advise against it as downgrades usually arn't supported.

However, a clean install will allow you to install either xp or vista home premium.
What sort of hardware are you installing on? relatively new/old?
for xp to work with newer hardware (sata controllers) you may have to slipstream a copy of the sata controller into the xp install disk (if there's no floppy drive in the machine you're installing on).

-Rob

testicle

A clean install isn't really a downgrade is it??

Quick answer, no.

BoB_BoT

bah Karsini beat me too it :P

testicle

testicle wrote: »

A clean install isn't really a downgrade is it??

Quick answer, no.

It is and it isn't. It's not the same as installing XP on top of Vista but the same term is used to describe the ability to exchange Vista Business for XP Professional. It's possible but I've never done it before. I'm sure Capt'n Midnight would know more about it.

BoB_BoT wrote: »

bah Karsini beat me too it :P

Yep, thought I needed to clear things up a bit.

jimmyjim11

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
XFX GeForce 8600GTS

having prob with my old hauppauge hvr 1100 tv card

haven't even tried my xfi sound card yet

BoB_BoT

Karsini wrote: »

It is and it isn't. It's not the same as installing XP on top of Vista but the same term is used to describe the ability to exchange Vista Business for XP Professional.

humm didn't know you could do a direct install from business to pro. Ya learn something every day

regarding your system spec jimmyjim11, you shouldn't have a problem installing xp straight from cd. had a quick look at the mainboard, it doesn't provide a sata floppy install driver (Although there is a chipset driver) so it may pick up hard drives and rom drives off the bat.

are you looking to preserve the settings/data that's currently on the hard drive? or are you ok with just wiping and installing fresh?

jimmyjim11

a fresh install will do just fine haven't much on it at the moment

can you get Microsoft to change license to 32 bit or get dvd of them ??

or do you have to purchase another cd/dvd

Capt'n Midnight

http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/5/5/f5573dbc-e4d9-464f-953c-4eacea2a38c1/VL_downgrade_rights.doc

Rights to OEM versions of systems software are granted in the OEM License Terms. The OEM License Termsfor most OEM versions of systems software do not grant downgrade rights. The exception is the OEM License Terms for Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Windows Vista Business, and Windows Vista Ultimate, which grant downgrade rights. See the full text of the OEM License Termsfor the specific downgrade rights.

Windows Vista Business, and Windows Vista Ultimate, will allow you to downgrade to Windows XP PRO (but not to XP Home)
you could upgrade Premium to Ultimate and then downgrade :rolleyes:

Downgrade refers to the license. I've never seen windows downgrade to an earlier version, the nearest in rolling back to the version you had before an upgrade, and that usually ends in tears. Clean install is the only way to go if you want a stable system.