Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

replacing vista with xp

by tom tindall Feb 10, 2009 2:54AM PST

I bought a new laptop that has vista installed, my desktop has xp home and not only do I like it better, I would like to keep both computers on the same system. I still have my reinstallation disk from my desktop for xp home (service pack 1a) can I simply uninstall vista from the laptop & run the xp disk to install xp?
Would it also be possible to keep microsoft office on the laptop with uninstalling vista?

Discussion is locked

3 Posts

- Collapse + Expand Details

- Collapse -

eula?

by chickenorfish Feb 10, 2009 3:11AM PST

im pretty sure its agaisnt the microsoft eula to install the os on 2 computers at the same time. i dont see why it cant be done, as i have used the same os on several computers, just never at the same time.

- Collapse -

No, you cannot do that.

by Edward ODaniel Feb 10, 2009 3:13AM PST

First, it would be an illegal violation of the EULA and second Microsoft would not activate it on the new computer.

To install XP on the laptop you would need to PURCHASE another copy of Windows XP (full version as it isn't an upgrade).

Next issue is that BEFORE even contemplating such an OS change you need to look around and locate then download all the necessary XP drivers for any and all peripherals and the motherboard because XP will need them or it can't function correctly. Be aware before you initiate this search for drivers that not all components in all Vista machines have ever enve had an XP driver written for them so you may not be able to locate all drivers.

Now, if your version of Vista is Business or Ultimate you can downgrade to XP through your system manufacturer if they have all the XP drivers so do contact them and ask. Vista home versions do not qualify for downgrade privelidges.

- Collapse -

Won't work . . .

by Coryphaeus Feb 11, 2009 2:59AM PST

After you install it it will fail. It will want to activate and if you allow it it'll find that it's already activated on another PC. If you don't activate it, after 30 days it will stop working.

Back to Computer Newbies forum