How to Downgrade Windows Vista to Windows XP Professional
Windows XP is compatible with almost all software applications existing today, making it a reliable and practical choice for an operating system. Because of the practicality that this operating system offers, many Windows Vista users prefer to downgrade to Windows XP. If you want to downgrade to XP, the following steps can help you.
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Instructions
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Back up all data in your computer. Save all your important documents in an external storage device to prevent data loss.
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Configure your BIOS to "boot from CD." Restart your computer, and upon the initial boot screen, press the key assigned to the BIOS. Keys are either Del, F2 or F10.
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Navigate through the pages of the Bios and look for "Boot Order" or "Boot Device Priority." Select "CD-ROM" as your first boot device. Exit and save your settings.
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Insert your Windows XP installation disc to the optical drive (CD/DVD-ROM). Reboot the computer and wait for the setup screen to load. Accept the "License Agreement" and follow the instructions that will flash on your screen.
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Delete the partitions one by one by clicking on it and pressing "Delete." Press "Enter" and then press "L" to confirm that you want to delete the partition. If you have several partitions, repeat these steps until all partitions are deleted.
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Create a new partition by clicking on the "unpartitioned space." Press "C" and type the size you want the new partition to have. If you want only one partition for your computer system, do not change the default partition size and press "Enter."
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Select "NTFS partition" on the next page and then press "Enter." Follow the on-screen instructions that appear.
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Enter all required information on the XP setup screen, including the product key of your XP installer. This ensures you are using a genuine Windows product. When the setup is finished, the computer will automatically reboot.
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Reinstall your motherboard, video card and other hardware devices that need to be installed and restore all files from your backup. Reboot your computer.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember, once you delete a partition, the computer system permanently deletes all data it contains. Before proceeding, make sure all important files are backed up.
If you want to have two partitions, type half of the default partition size and press "Enter." After you are redirected to the partitioning screen, click on the last unpartitioned space and press "Enter."
