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Downgrading a preinstalled vista pc to xp is the worst thing you could ever do to a pc! A vista preinstalled pc includes all the drivers to run vista smoothly. If you downgrade, the brand's special features, quick launch buttons, and webcam/microphone won't work. Sound, video, networking, and bios will run at limited functionality, if you can even find the drivers, which can take weeks at best. So think, would it be worth the trouble to downgrade and lose a lot of features for a few applications and games? Also consider the fact that in a few years, updates and support will end for xp. Also, all new applications will be made just for or designed mainly for vista. If you downgrade, you're basically putting your self in an enclosed circle that can't open up very far. So its your choice, but microsoft, hp, dell, acer, compaq,asus,and all the other major pc makers as well as I recommend to stick with the preinstalled vista.

Don't give microsoft more cash than they need.

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Comodore commented: Agreed! +1

Dani AI

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Short primer and practical counterpoint to the thread: is right that factory-installed features often depend on vendor drivers and utilities, and is correct that laptops are the riskiest machines to change. is also right that some vendors publish XP drivers for certain models. The important thing is this: downgrading can work, but only when done with a checklist and a recovery plan. Without that, it becomes a long troubleshooting exercise.

Pre-downgrade checklist (must-have items):

  1. Confirm model/SKU and whether the OEM actually provides XP drivers for that exact model.
  2. Make a full disk image and create OEM recovery discs so the original state can be restored.
  3. Download all XP drivers before wiping: chipset, mass-storage (SATA/AHCI), LAN/Wi‑Fi, video, audio, ACPI/hotkeys, card reader, webcam. Store them on USB.
  4. Use XP media with Service Pack integrated (SP3). If the installer does not see the drive, either set SATA mode to IDE/Legacy in BIOS or integrate SATA drivers into the installer (tools such as nLite were commonly used). Many modern systems lack a floppy, so F6 is not practical without a slipstream.
  5. Check license/downgrade rights for the OEM build; prepare product keys and documentation.

Post-install tips and fallbacks: install chipset and storage drivers first, then network so driver lookups become easier. If function keys, camera, or card reader remain unrecognized, check Device Manager for unknown hardware and search by hardware IDs (VEN/DEV). If native downgrade proves impractical or unsupported, run XP in a virtual machine (VirtualBox, VMware, Microsoft Virtual PC) to preserve hardware support while keeping legacy apps operational.

Final note: changing the factory OS can affect manufacturer support and warranty interactions and requires careful planning. For many users, virtualization or compatibility mode is the safer route; native downgrade is only recommended when a critical application truly cannot run any other way.

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Member Avatar for Comodore

My thoughts exactly! I'm bookmarking this thread. (It should be stickied :p)

Just some input here: this is especially true for laptops. Desktops are easier, and more possible, but the worst thing you can do to a laptop (other than dropping it) is to change its preinstalled OS unless its a dinosaur, in which case using Linux or something experimental is fine, as its probably junk anyways.

All the best,

--The Comodore

Member Avatar for chris5126

Its not the worst thing you can do but certianly not the best. Some manufactures will provide both vista and xp drivers for thier machines even if vista is preloaded ..

however i am one for change and think that vista is the way forward a newer better operating system and the only reason that it may not be as stable or a quick as xp is becuase microsoft decided to provide legacy support to provide backwards compatability for xp instead of rewriting the o/s from scratch.

Member Avatar for forumdude123

Thanks Comodore for your interest. Look for more of my quick tutorials as the days progress.

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