deleting win7 from my HP laptop

[Solaris]

I really would rather go back to using xp. How do I delete this mess?

 

[WalksWithChrist]

I really would rather go back to using xp. How do I delete this mess?

What exactly is the problem with Windows 7?

 

[Dark_Lite]

I really would rather go back to using xp. How do I delete this mess?

Step 1: Find Windows XP install disc.
Step 2: Install Windows XP over Windows 7.

Secret Hidden Step: Make sure to back up data.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

Step 1: Find Windows XP install disc.
Step 2: Install Windows XP over Windows 7.

Secret Hidden Step: Make sure to back up data.

Right. Because it's just that easy.

Please disregard this advice as it is utterly unspecific and not addressing the underlying problem.

 

[pgp_protector]

Actually wouldn't step 1 be BUY windows XP (If still available)

Step 1: Find Windows XP install disc.
Step 2: Install Windows XP over Windows 7.

Secret Hidden Step: Make sure to back up data.

You forget GET Drivers that are compatible with XP (IF available)

Also remember.
Windows lifecycle fact sheet - Microsoft Windows

So you've only got 3 Years of Support left with XP.

 

[Dark_Lite]

Right. Because it's just that easy.

Please disregard this advice as it is utterly unspecific and not addressing the underlying problem.

How is it unspecific? If she wants to delete Windows 7 and go back to Windows XP, you get Windows XP and install it over Windows 7. It was not asked whether or not going back to XP is a good idea, nor was any specific problem mentioned. A question was asked, and an answer was given.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

How is it unspecific? If she wants to delete Windows 7 and go back to Windows XP, you get Windows XP and install it over Windows 7. It was not asked whether or not going back to XP is a good idea, nor was any specific problem mentioned. A question was asked, and an answer was given.

I do tech support for a living. Non specific, non sourced "answers" like what you posted are a pretty big pet peave of mine.

That's like saying "oh, just throw in the disk...should work" basically. If you are telling someone to "install over" with an older operating system, you will have to give a ton more detail than what you did. It is far from cut and dried.

I could put up a whole laundry list of things that could go wrong if they went and did what you said if you like.

 

[Dark_Lite]

That's like saying "oh, just throw in the disk...should work" basically. If you are telling someone to "install over" with an older operating system, you will have to give a ton more detail than what you did. It is far from cut and dried.

I could put up a whole laundry list of things that could go wrong if they went and did what you said if you like.

By all means, provide an entire installation guide for downgrading that covers every single possible problem that could arise. It would be more constructive. There isn't much beyond what I said. Back up data, reformat, install Windows XP, install drivers. If you want to provide more detail, then by all means do so. No one is stopping you.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

By all means, provide an entire installation guide for downgrading that covers every single possible problem that could arise. It would be more constructive. There isn't much beyond what I said. Back up data, reformat, install Windows XP, install drivers. If you want to provide more detail, then by all means do so. No one is stopping you.

Yeah, there really is.

Point is you have no idea what the person's system specs are, what apps they have installed, how many partitions they may have...etc. Your advice may not even apply to them at all meaning XP may not even be a viable (or even available!) option for them at all. Hence my calling your post bad advice.
Never mind the fact that doing what you advised may well void a warranty.

This is why I asked them a followup question instead of just making a shotgun reply. I can't tell you how many times I've had people get frustrated with an OS or an app and it turned out there was a very simple problem that needed to be solved.

Basic troubleshooting FTW.

 

[Dark_Lite]

Yeah, there really is.

Point is you have no idea what the person's system specs are, what apps they have installed, how many partitions they may have...etc. Your advice may not even apply to them at all meaning XP may not even be a viable (or even available!) option for them at all. Hence my calling your post bad advice.

This is why I asked them a followup question instead of just making a shotgun reply. I can't tell you how many times I've had people get frustrated with an OS or an app and it turned out there was a very simple problem that needed to be solved.

Basic troubleshooting FTW.

If you're completely dumping an OS the only thing that really matters is the setup of the hard drives and the computer's specs. And since this computer can run Windows 7, it can certainly run Windows XP.

But you are correct in that it may simply be something with with Windows 7 that needs to be resolved. The reason I did not assume that is because for as many times as I've seen people thinking they have one problem when they have another, I've seen just as many where people want a specific solution (i.e. what they asked for in the first place) but then they have an entire thread of people telling them to do something completely different. Then they only end up more frustrated.

Different perspectives I suppose.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

If you're completely dumping an OS the only thing that really matters is the setup of the hard drives and the computer's specs. And since this computer can run Windows 7, it can certainly run Windows XP.

But you are correct in that it may simply be something with with Windows 7 that needs to be resolved. The reason I did not assume that is because for as many times as I've seen people thinking they have one problem when they have another, I've seen just as many where people want a specific solution (i.e. what they asked for in the first place) but then they have an entire thread of people telling them to do something completely different. Then they only end up more frustrated.

Different perspectives I suppose.

It certainly may not run Windows XP. Some of the devices (sound, network card, etc) may not have XP drivers. XP is nearing the end of its support life cycle! As already pointed out in post #5...

Also apps developed for Windows 7 this person might have may well not be compatible. This is a huge consideration. Never mind the fact that they may have a whole load of pre-installed apps (that they can't backup) that they will lose if they just do a wipe and fresh load of XP.

So no, it's not a matter of perspectives at all. Just hard facts about the reality of making the most out of a 10 year old operating system.
Which I do btw. My gaming box at home still runs XP.


You're dealing with an English major who has worked IT for a long time. So expect I will be making corrections!

 

[Dark_Lite]

It certainly may not run Windows XP. Some of the devices (sound, network card, etc) may not have XP drivers. XP is nearing the end of its support life cycle! As already pointed out in post #5...

That is true, but I'm not really sure how much of a concern that is. I suppose for much newer devices it is a possibility. Windows can cover a lot of things with its generic drivers.

Also apps developed for Windows 7 this person might have may well not be compatible. This is a huge consideration. Never mind the fact that they may have a whole load of pre-installed apps (that they can't backup) that they will lose if they just do a wipe and fresh load of XP.

Eh, who likes pre-loaded apps anyway? As for Windows 7-specific apps... what is there? IE9? That's the only major thing I can think of.

So no, it's not a matter of perspectives at all. Just hard facts about the reality of making the most out of a 10 year old operating system.
Which I do btw. My gaming box at home still runs XP.

You're dealing with an English major who has worked IT for a long time. So expect I will be making corrections!

I stay away from Windows as much as possible anyway. All of my computers run Linux or some form of Unix (i.e. Mac OS). I do have Windows 7 on my Mac laptop, but rarely use it.

I'm actually usually pretty bad at giving computer advice, mostly because it's so much easier for me to just do it all myself. I have a short amount of patience when it comes to teaching other people how to use computers. I did work in tech support for my school though... but I did so much better once I switched to developing applications.

 

[freezerman2000]

If you haven't already reverted back to XP, make a copy of your OS...that way, if you decide later to go back to the original, you can, right back to the way it came out of the box...just a little insurance for the future...

 

[DaisyDay]

It certainly may not run Windows XP. Some of the devices (sound, network card, etc) may not have XP drivers. XP is nearing the end of its support life cycle! As already pointed out in post #5...

Also apps developed for Windows 7 this person might have may well not be compatible. This is a huge consideration. Never mind the fact that they may have a whole load of pre-installed apps (that they can't backup) that they will lose if they just do a wipe and fresh load of XP.

So no, it's not a matter of perspectives at all. Just hard facts about the reality of making the most out of a 10 year old operating system.
Which I do btw. My gaming box at home still runs XP.


You're dealing with an English major who has worked IT for a long time. So expect I will be making corrections!

My problem with is apps that work with XP but not Win7. The version of VPN we use at work being an important one; little apps that don't have the certificate Win7 requires being minor, but enough to confirm that I don't want it for the time being.

My husband's laptop has Win7, so I was able to see some problems for myself.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

I really would rather go back to using xp. How do I delete this mess?

Rather than use an XP operating system thats ten years old now and losing support day by day, I would suggest you check out Linux Mint 10. It's a modern Linux distribution ready to go - just download and install from CD.

It isn't Windows so Windows programs won't run (by default) on it but it has thousands of free applications that you can install. It already comes loaded with applications that you will use everyday such as an office suite, email, chat and web browsers etc...

They have a wonderful community there too, lots of help if you get stuck!

BTW - if you download and burn it to a CD, you can run it in live mode by booting your pc/laptop from the CD. Using it in live mode will allow you to try it without disturbing any data already on your laptop.

Whatever you do, hope it works well for you.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

If you haven't already reverted back to XP, make a copy of your OS...that way, if you decide later to go back to the original, you can, right back to the way it came out of the box...just a little insurance for the future...

Just how does one go about copying their OS?

I can't wait to hear this one...

 

[freezerman2000]

I believe it is in the system control area..."Recovery"...there is an option to create recovery discs...it is normally 3 DVDs long, and all of the info to put the computer back in it's "out of box" condition will be on them...make a copy, instead of buying another copy of the original OS.
Copying it is a one time deal, but as long as the discs stay in good shape, they can be used as many times as you want.
It has been a year since I made mine.... The computer's Help topics will walk you through it. BTW, it also saves all of the hardware's drivers too.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

I believe it is in the system control area..."Recovery"...there is an option to create recovery discs...it is normally 3 DVDs long, and all of the info to put the computer back in it's "out of box" condition will be on them...make a copy, instead of buying another copy of the original OS.
Copying it is a one time deal, but as long as the discs stay in good shape, they can be used as many times as you want.
It has been a year since I made mine.... The computer's Help topics will walk you through it. BTW, it also saves all of the hardware's drivers too.

Oh that! I did one of those a long time ago. It really wasn't worth the effort for me. Once upon a time, the manufacturers of computers would actually include a recovery disk for this purpose. No longer! Now either you get a "recovery partition" (which I normally wipe out to recover STOLEN drive space!) or nothing.

But I will say this method is good for folks that don't have the skills to put everything right manually.

 

[Cute Tink]

Once upon a time, the manufacturers of computers would actually include a recovery disk for this purpose. No longer! Now either you get a "recovery partition" (which I normally wipe out to recover STOLEN drive space!) or nothing.

I noticed this when we bought my wife's Windows 7 laptop. It was a first for me. When I got my laptop earlier this year, it was the same. It bugs you until you create the discs or you tell it to leave you alone. I made the discs in both cases just in case.

 

[freezerman2000]

Oh that! I did one of those a long time ago. It really wasn't worth the effort for me. Once upon a time, the manufacturers of computers would actually include a recovery disk for this purpose. No longer! Now either you get a "recovery partition" (which I normally wipe out to recover STOLEN drive space!) or nothing.

But I will say this method is good for folks that don't have the skills to put everything right manually.

Some manufactures will send the discs to you on request..some charge for it, some don't.
The cost of three DVDs makes it good sense to create your own...I think of it as insurance..I've already had to use mine.