Posted by Joan Bergstrom on 2/14/07 4:29pm
Msg #175685

My Vista upgrade needs to be removed

I need to get this upgrade off my computer. I have the upgrade disk but im not sure how to remove the upgrade from Vista back to XP? What a disaster this upgrade has been.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 2/14/07 4:36pm
Msg #175687

All You Should Have to Do...

...is restart your computer with the XP cd loaded. Follow the instructions to format the hard drive & install a new clean version of Windows XP. Unless Vista performs some BIOS revisions I'm not aware of this should do the trick.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 2/14/07 4:39pm
Msg #175689

This Assumes...

...you've made backups of all the data you need to reload onto the clean install of XP. Hopefully you backed up all that information BEFORE you tried to load Vista.

Reply by Terri_CA on 2/14/07 4:38pm
Msg #175688

Whoa Joan, I wish I'd known you were going to do that.... I would have told you DON'T DO IT. As with most MS products, wait awhile before updating from one version to another because there are all sorts of bugs. Besides, the new Vista may not work with your connected printers etc.

You may have to call Microsoft or talk to a computer technician. I believe you may have to reinstall XP, which may require a complete reformat and reinstall of all your software, drivers, etc. What a bummer.

Terri
Lancaster, CA

PS. Generally, you don't want to do an "upgrade" installation, but a full install of the new product. Win95 to XP some had real problems and had to buy the full version of XP in order for it to work right.

Reply by MasterCloser on 2/14/07 10:55pm
Msg #175736

To me, XP works just fine. Why change it just for the sake of change? I have looked at some of the new features and I just say phooey. "If it isn't broken, don't fix it" Just my two cents.

Reply by ewing2surf on 2/14/07 4:40pm
Msg #175690

I have to laugh out loud at that Apple commercial where the Apple guy has to talk to the other guy to get permission to talk to PC.

Sorry Joan lucky for me I decided to wait. I see there are already bug fixes for Vista coming out.

Reply by Ndwa on 2/14/07 5:44pm
Msg #175707

I brother work as an IT administrator for Paul Allen (Bill Gates former partner). He's MS certified in and out. He always laugh whenever I ask him about new MS product and tells me to upgrade when he says so.

Reply by Kate/CA on 2/14/07 6:58pm
Msg #175715

What don't you like about it?

Reply by MikeC/NY on 2/14/07 7:41pm
Msg #175720

Removing Vista

The only way I know to do this is to reformat your drive and reinstall XP - and that would require reinstalling all of your programs, and restoring your data files from whatever backup you took before you upgraded. It also assumes you have your original XP disk available. Unless you are really comfortable with doing this kind of stuff, you may need to find someone like the Geek Squad to help you...

If you don't have the original XP disk and backups of your programs and data, you have no choice - you're stuck with what you've got, so try to make the most of it and adapt as best you can. What is it in Vista that is giving you problems? There may be ways to work around them.

Reply by MichiganAl on 2/14/07 9:14pm
Msg #175730

Couldn't you just use system restore?

Restore your computer back to a date prior to installing Vista. Is there a reason I'm not thinking of that this wouldn't work?

Reply by MikeC/NY on 2/15/07 6:34am
Msg #175750

Re: Couldn't you just use system restore?

As far as I know, that's only possible if you create a new partition when you install Vista, which means you have a choice of starting XP or Vista. If it's not set up as dual boot, I think you're basically toast - you've overwritten the old operating system.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 2/14/07 9:16pm
Msg #175731

I am stuck with it

I can't find my old XP disk.

My son did a favor for me and installed Vista when I was gone to Las Vegas overnight. When I posted last week that I had bought the Vista upgrade I was pretty much decided against installing it because of all the negative feedback from almost everyone.

The fellow that posted about pioneers being shot with arrows is right on target. I think my XP computer is too old for this upgrade.

What don't I like about it? When I tried to install my HP 1300 printer it wouldn't allow it. I think its too old of a printer for Vista.

When I tried to re start my computer it took me over 1/2 hour to get it loaded. I have since removed all the start up programs that seemed to make this program work.

My computer (when I can get it started) is running much faster but the thought of going through any reboot again is enough to scare anyone to death. About half the time the window just froze up.
I finally had to leave the house and run errands because I thought I might kill the computer. When I came back it had finally become functional and I get into the Internet.

My son's computer, laptop, is much newer and the Vista upgrade worked like a charm for him.

He has promised not to do anymore favors for me again!

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 2/14/07 9:27pm
Msg #175733

I should have said I know my computer is too old for this

upgrade by Vista.
In Vista it has a icon in the control panel that says "Computer Performance" and I had two number 1 listed next to my ability to upgrade. The number 1 is a deal breaker for this upgrade.

I could have gone on the Internet and found this out before I upgraded, but this option was not available before hand or I missed the procedure to do this.

Reply by Barbara Fillinger on 2/15/07 8:30am
Msg #175755

Info re Vista and HP LJ 1300

I was on the HP web site this morning trying to solve a printer issue I have, and ran across a link that led me here: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=110&prodSeriesId=25474&prodTypeId=18972&objectID=c00808536#N10864. I don't know if it will help or not, but thought it was worth at least passing on to you.

Good luck!

Reply by TitleGalCA on 2/14/07 8:38pm
Msg #175727

Thanks for the post Joan. I've been waiting for my disc, which was part of my computer purchase in December. I have second thoughts about installing it now. Appreciate the heads-up.

Reply by cara on 2/14/07 10:20pm
Msg #175734

I think that the problem here is with upgrading to Vista. I needed a new computer, but remembering what a nightmare it was to upgrade to XP with an older computer, I waited until Vista was launched. I bought a new computer a computer 10 days ago with Vista preinstalled. It is working beautifully and I am quite impressed. However, I have never purchased a Windows product in the first 6 months of a version because I was unwilling to struggle through Microsoft’s notoriously problematic launch versions. I am going to keep duplicate files on disks (and my old computer which is now networked into my system) for a while because I am holding my breath for the new product problems to begin.

I suggest that Joan contact Microsoft technical support or a certified Microsoft technician to attempt to recover her data and uninstall Vista, reinstall XP or whatever is officially recommended. If I remember correctly, I had help recovering my pre-XP data from local experts after upgrading. Most of my data was recovered.

Had I not needed a new computer months ago, I would have waited at least 6 months to buy Vista ready machine, and there is no way I am going to install it on my old faithful.