How to downgrade windows 7 to xp install#
How to downgrade windows 7 to xp upgrade#
How to downgrade windows 7 to xp windows 8.1#
How to downgrade windows 7 to xp Pc#

How to downgrade windows 7 to xp Pc#

The usual solution is to create a bootable 4GB or larger USB thumb drive, and use a second PC to copy all the files from the Windows DVD to that. The simplest is to add an external DVD drive via a USB port, but if you donвЂ™t already own one, this would be another extra cost.

How to downgrade windows 7 to xp install#

Second, your netbook does not have a built-in DVD drive, so you will have to find another way to install Windows 7. Microsoft provides the Windows Easy Transfer for Windows XP program to help, but it will still take some time.

You will therefore need to back up all your data beforehand and re-install all your programs afterwards. So, you canвЂ™t do an вЂњin placeвЂќ upgrade, only a вЂњclean installationвЂќ that replaces XP completely. First, Microsoft only supports one-step upgrades and (because of Vista) Windows 7 is two steps from XP. There are two main problems with upgrading to Windows 7. Note that you will need the 32-bit version if your netbook has the usual Intel Atom processor, though a 64-bit processor and operating system would obviously be better. OEM editions are provided for system builders or Original Equipment Manufacturers so the price does not include any support.

How to downgrade windows 7 to xp upgrade#

Checking .uk, the best offers at the moment are 32-bit Windows 7 Ultimate on DVD (OEM edition) for ВЈ49.99 and the Windows 8 Pro Upgrade Edition - which includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions - for ВЈ99.99. However, you missed the launch upgrade offers, so Windows 8 could cost you more. They need at least 1024 x 768 pixels, unless you use вЂњdownscalingвЂќ as explained at. You donвЂ™t have to worry about Windows Modern (aka Metro) apps because they will not run on a netbookвЂ™s limited 1024 x 600 pixel screen display. Examples include Start8 and Classic Shell. Yes, the Start screen works better with touch, but you can set 8.1 to boot straight to the desktop, and/or install utilities that make it work more like Windows 7. ItвЂ™s more economical in its use of resources, smoother in operation, has improved security features, and will be upgradeable to the next version of Windows. IвЂ™d consider Windows 8 because it is a better operating system than Windows 7. Most PCs that run XP should run Windows 7 or 8, but if you only have 1GB of memory, it would be worth expanding this to 2GB, if you can. These will check your current system for compatibility.

How to downgrade windows 7 to xp windows 8.1#

The first step with a Windows upgrade is always the same: download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, or the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant. ItвЂ™s not very nice, but you could use Splashtop online and Windows XP offline. This is installed under a variety of names: Asus ExpressGate, HP QuickWeb, and so on. Some netbooks and laptops already include a solution in the form of a separate Linux-based operating system called Splashtop. Less knowledgeable and less vigilant users should change. Someone with safe surfing habits and good backups could keep using XP, though I wouldnвЂ™t recommend it. XP will keep on working, but it will be more dangerous to use it, because malware writers will be able to find security holes in XP by examining the patches for later versions of Windows. Microsoft will soon stop releasing security patches for Windows XP, though it will continue to provide updates for its anti-virus program, Microsoft Security Essentials. Would I be wasting my time pressing on? I am not keen on replacing an otherwise satisfactory netbook with a tablet. The Microsoft site has a tutorial, but is still somewhat baffling, and it seems fairly time-consuming. Windows XP goes out of support in April, so IвЂ™m looking for guidance on how best to go about replacing it with Windows 7.