Q&A: Downgrading to Windows XP (Still?)

Reader Pam asks: I have Windows Vista 64 bit running on my computer right now and I was wondering if I could run Windows XP on it instead. Do I just install windows XP on top of Vista or do I have to uninstall Vista?

What, haven't you heard? Windows 7 is out! You're supposed to be upgrading, not downgrading to old Windows XP!

Oh, you don't care? Well, sure, downgrading is still an option, but bear in mind there are some serious caveats if you try to do it now.

The big one: Drivers. Windows XP requires one set of hardware drivers to make all the equipment on a computer work, Vista requires another. Many vendors simply stopped making Windows XP drivers for their hardware years ago when Vista came out, so if you have a newer computer, there is often no easy way to downgrade. The drivers simply don't exist. (A few hardcore hackers found that experimenting with drivers for similar hardware could sometimes get things up and running, but this is really not a workable solution for most users and I don't recommend it.)

So: Before you even consider a downgrade, check to see if drivers are available for your computer. Go to the Service & Support section of your computer vendor's website and check for driver updates for your specific model machine. If Windows XP drivers are there, grab them before you do the installation as this will make the process far easier. Dropping them on a CD or a thumbdrive is the best idea.

If you don't find Windows XP drivers there, a little web searching might turn up some of the essentials, but unless you can find drivers for your video card, networking devices (wired and wireless), audio subsystem, and any other essential components, don't even think about downgrading. You might read the experiences of other users who've tried the same thing by searching for "computer modelname XP downgrade."

If you do have the drivers you need, the downgrade process isn't that tough. You'll need to wipe out your hard drive completely as part of the process: Just pop in your XP disc, boot from it, and during the setup process choose to reformat the hard drive partition in question. This will wipe Vista away completely. There's no way to install XP "on top of" Vista, so remember to back up all your data thoroughly before you take this step.

Also keep in mind that officially Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft, so if you have problems along the way you're on your own.