need help to downgrade from win7 to win vista

[jamieT82]

hi i need help since i installed win7 my graphics intergrated motherboard has started playing up alot and has no updates/upgrade for win 7 so been advised to go to win vista as motherboard can take that but i have no idear how to downgrade without losing everything??

 

[Imperfect1]

Here's some information and instructions for you as to how to downgrade from Windows 7 to Vista:

Downgrade Rights + Downgrade Process - from Microsoft

How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder - from Microsoft Answers

Windows 7 Downgrades to Vista and XP - Softpedia - from Softpedia

 

[jamieT82]

thank you for the reply a prob i have is i dont have the win7 disk anymore

 

[gregrocker]

Hardware which will run Vista will run Win7 equally well or better.

Did you check the computer and Display adapter models' Support Downloads webpage for newer drivers? If you'll fill in your system specs we can help.

Where did you get Win7? How is it activated? It seems strange you would make an expensive investment to upgrade to Win7 and not save the installation media which is needed for repairs or reinstalls.

If you still want to go back to Vista, does your p.c. have a Recovery Partition or disks? Do you have access to a Vista installation DVD? Is there a Vista COA sticker with Product Key on machine?

 

[Wishmaster]

Have you tried downloading the appropriate Vista drivers (32bit or 64bit) from the MOBO or PC manufacturer and installing them?

You may need to run in compatability mode, but as Gregrocker said, if it compatible with Vista, it should work under 7.

 

[jamieT82]

hi thanks for replies i sold my windows 7 disk to a friend who lost it so havent got it anymore and have now bought windows vista upgrade as got advised to switch by asus, my motherboard is a graphics intergrated motherboard asus p5vd2-mx se they have no new drivers for windows 7

 

[DustSailor]

In some instances, "Upgrading" to Vista will cause more problems then you have at the moment with win 7. Most people, if not all will agree win 7 is far better than vista. That is a big jump (or fall, as some might say). I wouldn't downgrade myself, Win 7 fixes a lot of issues vista had, and vista will still be buggy unless you update. So you will be back in the same boat. Asus makes great motherboards, but they aren't big brains on any kind of software or software related advice. Like greg and wish said, most of the time vista drivers will work on win 7 computers. Try updating your computer through windows update (all those microsoft compatability updates and all the important updates as well). Then go to your motherboards manufacturer and download the appropriate (vista, is it?) driver for your motherboard. Be careful to get it exact. There are 32bit (84x) and 64bit downloads, and many boards appear to be the same but are not.

hi thanks for replies i sold my windows 7 disk to a friend who lost it so havent got it anymore and have now bought windows vista upgrade as got advised to switch by asus, my motherboard is a graphics intergrated motherboard asus p5vd2-mx se they have no new drivers for windows 7

Bad, very bad idea. Each Windows bit of software comes with product keys, a single liscence per disk sold. How does he manage to use your cd without your liscence and you still have your computer up and running?

 

[SIW2]

Hi Jamie,

You will be fine.

Vista is a great o/s. I am using it myself.

If you have the Vista install dvd and product key - what else do you need?

Machine specific drivers are best downloaded first and put on cd/flash.

Each Windows bit of software comes with product keys, a single liscence per disk sold. How does he manage to use your cd without your liscence and you still have your computer up and running?

 

[bobkn]

hi i need help since i installed win7 my graphics intergrated motherboard has started playing up alot and has no updates/upgrade for win 7 so been advised to go to win vista as motherboard can take that but i have no idear how to downgrade without losing everything??

As far as I know, you can't install any older OS over Windows 7. You'd have to do a clean install, and re-install every application.

Asus doesn't list Vista support for your p5vd2-mx se. It's based on an old Via chipset, and it looks like support for operating systems newer than XP is poor.

If you installed Windows 7 in such a way that a windows.old folder was created, you may be able to use that to restore the old OS. I eect that you'll lose everything installed since WIn7 was installed, but you ought to be able to back up files (not programs).

If not, I doubt that the downgrade rights for Win7 will be of much help. One, downgrade rights are aimed at industry, and I doubt that Microsoft supports them for individuals. Two, if you sold the Win7 license key to a friend, your Win7 installation is now in violation of your license agreement.

I don't recommend software piracy, but as you're already committing it after a fashion, you may as well go the rest of the way and pirate XP. Windows 2000 might be easier, as it doesn't require product activation, but it's probably less suitable for home use than XP.