Windows 7 downgrading to xp

[Dervish]

Hi guys,

I plan on buying a computer that has windows 7 (64 bits) is it possible for me to install windows xp on it?

The version of xp I plan on using is most likely professional (32 bits)

 

You're probably asking yourself why 32 bits?

Well most of the programs/peripherals I use doesn't work in 64 bit architecture and they don't have updates/drivers for it.

 

I don't want to use programs that will allow me to tweak stuff or to cheat in order to be able to use 32 bits

and I don't want the emulated windows xp offered on windows 7, not stable enough for my needs.

 

Thank you!

[Sy_Accursed]

1) If you need 32 bit why not buy a computer with a 32 bit OS?

 

2) Windows 7 can emulate 32 bit very successfully, and thus runs anything in 64 bit

[Will H]

Why would you do that? Windows 7 x64 will run x32 programs just as well as any x32 bit operating system, and will be more stable compared to XP. If you're having compatibility issues with Windows 7 itself, I'd think about replacing your programs and devices instead, because it won't be long before they won't work at all.

 

But, to answer your question, yes, and I would suggest going for a dual boot system, so you can choose each time you start up whether you want to run Windows 7 or XP.

[Laura]

If you're having compatibility issues with Windows 7 itself, I'd think about replacing your programs and devices instead, because it won't be long before they won't work at all.

It's far easier to stick with a platform rather than learn how to use a different piece of software and in many cases it's not a possibility to switch over to something different. If it works with Windows XP, it should always work with Windows XP, so I'm not sure what you mean by that statement.

[Sy_Accursed]

If you're having compatibility issues with Windows 7 itself, I'd think about replacing your programs and devices instead, because it won't be long before they won't work at all.

It's far easier to stick with a platform rather than learn how to use a different piece of software and in many cases it's not a possibility to switch over to something different. If it works with Windows XP, it should always work with Windows XP, so I'm not sure what you mean by that statement.

 

If they dont work with the newer OS it shows the product/device is no longer receiving support/updates.

 

With this being the case at some point an update to windows for security or w/e will cause them to not work and you will have to replace them.

[Laura]

If they dont work with the newer OS it shows the product/device is no longer receiving support/updates.

Many corporations work with software that no longer receive updates, especially those with unique specialities.

With this being the case at some point an update to windows for security or w/e will cause them to not work and you will have to replace them.

It's doubtable that Windows XP will receive any more updates that totally break it in a way to make the software unusable. Even if it were to happen, you could rollback to a previous date and omit the update.

 

And yes Dervish, if you buy a copy of Windows XP you should be able to install it over Windows 7 by reformatting the partition. Many users here would be happy (at the very least have the knowhow) to help you with that.

Edited January 16, 2010 by laura0077

[Jernlov]

There are still plenty of reasons to use XP over 7, at least for me - a lot of my Japanese-language applications have poor support for builds of Windows over 2600. This is, of course, not a problem with Windows 7 but a problem that stems from the atrocious state of software development in Japan. They have absolutely fantastic technology but they are very slow to adopt and adapt to new standards. If you've ever browsed .jp domains, you will still find a lot of sites with plain HTML code and .gif backgrounds. However, Japan is now rapidly gaining on the western world in terms of web and program development.

 

If they dont work with the newer OS it shows the product/device is no longer receiving support/updates.

 

With this being the case at some point an update to windows for security or w/e will cause them to not work and you will have to replace them.

I'm not really sure if you know what you're talking about. Laura has already said it - if it has always worked with XP, it should and most likely will always work with XP. I've never had any of my programs, not even the specialty ones, break due to an update. Nothing broke when I upgraded to SP3 either.

 

Anyway, yes - if you decide to install XP again, I would be more than happy to give you some help with doing so if you need it.

[Sy_Accursed]

I'd say you know less than I.

 

I may of overstated the point, asa Laura rightly said it is doubtful it will happen, but not outright impossible.

[Will H]

I still believe that Dervish is asking for a lot of problems in the future if s/he does not start making the transition to Vista or 7, preferably the latter. XP has about four more years of operating system support, but it sounds like the support for these programs and devices have already stopped. I wouldn't be happy to be in a position where components of my system are liable to stop working at any point, it's far from the 'stability' Dervish wants.

[Laura]

I still believe that Dervish is asking for a lot of problems in the future if s/he does not start making the transition to Vista or 7, preferably the latter. XP has about four more years of operating system support, but it sounds like the support for these programs and devices have already stopped. I wouldn't be happy to be in a position where components of my system are liable to stop working at any point, it's far from the 'stability' Dervish wants.

Again, I should ask, what is going to break?

[Sbrideau]

What about Windows 7's XP mode?

[Will H]

I still believe that Dervish is asking for a lot of problems in the future if s/he does not start making the transition to Vista or 7, preferably the latter. XP has about four more years of operating system support, but it sounds like the support for these programs and devices have already stopped. I wouldn't be happy to be in a position where components of my system are liable to stop working at any point, it's far from the 'stability' Dervish wants.

Again, I should ask, what is going to break?

 

I never said 'break', document formats would become incompatible with other computers, drivers and programs may no longer work due to an update, and so on. It'll be gradual and downhill. Not to mention that new computer hardware will almost certainly outlive the operating system. Rolling back on updates will cause the security of the computer to suffer. I just wouldn't recommend getting XP on a new computer on its own at this point in time.

[Laura]

I never said 'break', document formats would become incompatible with other computers, drivers and programs may no longer work due to an update, and so on. It'll be gradual and downhill. Not to mention that new computer hardware will almost certainly outlive the operating system. Rolling back on updates will cause the security of the computer to suffer. I just wouldn't recommend getting XP on a new computer on its own at this point in time.

No you said that "components of [the] system [would be] liable to stop working at any point" which is not true. Unless I am mistaken, you can rollback to a previous date, omit the update and then continue to receive updates (I am aware this this is an option on Vista and 7, but it has been a while since I've used XP). Meaning that the security loss is only skin deep. As of December '09, greater than 60% of the Windows OS marketshare belongs to XP. ^[1] I'm not sure of the reliability of the graph, but many people are still contently using XP. Sure it would be better to use the latest OS, but if it's essential to get this program working then using XP isn't that bad. The OP still has four years of support, enough to time to cross that bridge.

 

...document formats would become incompatible with other computers...

Even disregarding the compatibly mode of most programs, as far as the graph goes, that only applies with a minority users.

[Stragomagus]

I still believe that Dervish is asking for a lot of problems in the future if s/he does not start making the transition to Vista or 7, preferably the latter. XP has about four more years of operating system support, but it sounds like the support for these programs and devices have already stopped. I wouldn't be happy to be in a position where components of my system are liable to stop working at any point, it's far from the 'stability' Dervish wants.

 

Windows 7 is really just an upgraded version of Vista, which is already going out the door, so to make a downgrade to vista would be a poor choice.

 

If by components you mean the hardware itself....then he really doesn't have much to worry about , but if you are talking about software then he doesn't have much to worry about either.

 

I never said 'break', document formats would become incompatible with other computers, drivers and programs may no longer work due to an update, and so on. It'll be gradual and downhill. Not to mention that new computer hardware will almost certainly outlive the operating system. Rolling back on updates will cause the security of the computer to suffer. I just wouldn't recommend getting XP on a new computer on its own at this point in time.

 

Document formats do not become incompatible just because your computer is updated...that is a result of changes in the word processors themselves. Besides, most word processors these days will try to work in compatibility mode with document formats they do not support.

 

In terms of security, properly configuring your firewall, anti-virus, and anti-spyware will pretty much make any security suffrage negligible at best. Also, if security is something that you have in mind let it be known that many scientific labs are still using windows ME.

[The Observer]

I would personally arrange a dual-boot system because Windows 7, in my opinion, is a lot more stable than XP.

[JoeDaStudd]

There's next to no reason to install XP over W7.

If your concerned get W7 Ultimate or Profession.

W7 64bit will run 99.9% of 32bit programs without any hassle and for any which don't use XP mode.

 

64bit allows you to have more addressable memory, Windows 7 allows for DX10 and DX11 as well as a bungle of other features.

As for the peripherals W7 has infact been better at detecting and installing them then any OS I've ever used. Its literally miles better then XP.

It detected a keyboard who's makers had been taken over twice and almost completely impossible to buy now from the start.

[utahman3431]

What about Windows 7's XP mode?

 

I would have to agree with sbrieau2000...if compatibility mode doesn't work for 7, use XP mode...you get a full install of xp within 7, and you still get all of the pluses of 7.

[Teshiburu]

To use windows 7 XP mode you need a Win7 Ulitmate License....

 

im not sure about business editions but i know it doesnt work on home pro...

[Sbrideau]

I can use it on my Windows 7 Pro that I bought for the laptop, so it's not just ultimate.