downgrade from Vista to XP

[patio]

Your answer is contained in the 1st reply...
You need to research and collect XP drivers for that laptop beforehand...

If they don't exist you can't run XP on it.

[soybean]

I prefer XP over Vista too, but I wouldn't go to the trouble of changing my OS because of it.  My home PC is XP and I can't think of a good reason to change it.

But Vista is OK, and Win 7 is OK, but maybe I'm just lazy, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

I'm in agreement with rthompson80819.  You realize you need to buy a separate edition of Win XP to have a legetimate license to install it on your laptop.  And, if I were going to replace Vista, I'd replace it with Windows 7, not Win XP.  Why spend money on an older OS?  But, hey, it's your choice, it's your money.

[sagebrush]

From what I have seen of Vista, this would be an upgrade really.

[soybean]

I bought my laptop, with Vista, in July 2007.  I still have Win XP on my desktop system.  XP is very good.  I've used it for many years.  But, to me, buying XP to replace Vista on my laptop would be utterly silly and a waste of money.

[doglover]

I thank you all for the input. I will just scrap that plan and buy a used one with XP on it.

[Geek-9pm]

I thank you all for the input. I will just scrap that plan and buy a used one with XP on it.

Excellent choice!
Under $300

Dell Latitude D600 Laptop Computer (Refurbished) - Intel Pentium M 745 1.60GHz, 802.11b Wireless, 512MB DDR, 40GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD Combo, 14.1" XGA, Windows XP Home - D600PM1.8XPH-REF

[Allan]

I thank you all for the input. I will just scrap that plan and buy a used one with XP on it.

You're going to buy a new (used) computer with XP rather than change the OS or see if you like Vista? Now THAT's ridiculous.

1) Try Vista. You will NOT have to relearn how to use a computer. It's just the operating system for crying out loud.
2) No big deal to downgrade to XP if that's what you want to do.

I certainly wouldn't buy a different computer.

[doglover]

I said I found one, I didn't say I bought one. I haven't done anything yet. Geek, can you tell me where this computer is that you showed a picture of? I'm afraid to trust one from Ebay, and most of them are higher than a new one any way. I've always owned an HP computer. Is a Dell a good brand?

[Geek-9pm]

Right now I am on a HP (Compaq) desktop. But I like my Dell too.
The epicure I showed you was from a Google search.
That machine is at the low end. The optical drive does not writ DVD.
You can do a lot better with Refurbished HP from regular outlets.
Here is a Google search on HP. Expect to pay $359 to $550.
Google : Refurbished hp Laptop Computer
http://www.google.com/products?addr=Redding%2C+CA+96003&q=Refurbished+hp+Laptop+Computer&hl=en
Amazon, Buy, Staples and TigerDirect are all big players in this market. Expect they will not sell you junk. Unless it is very good junk.

[rthompson80819]

I wouldn't even want to guess how many operating systems I've used.  Most versions of DOS, most versions of Windows, several versions of Unix, RSX-11M, several proprietary versions of machine language, and a bunch more I can't even remember.  And most of them have more similarities than differences.

Going from one version of Windows to another is one of the easiest transitions you can make.

Learning most of Vista (but not all) should take you all of 10 minutes.