Downgrading from Windows 7 to Windows XP

[happy9302]

Hi,

my installation of Windows 7 didn't go exactly as planned. A lot of my drivers are missing due to my installation of the 64 bit version. Therefore, I wish to downgrade from Windows 7 to my old installation of Windows XP. I wanted to know if I could use these instructions How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder to downgrade from 64 bit Windows 7 to 32 bit Windows XP.

Thanks.

 

[housry23]

If you have a windows.old folder then you probably can.

 

[Ryan2320]

I am not sure,
Because the fact that you installed a 64bit version of Windows 7. I believe you cannot go back to 32 bit unless you do a clean install of Windows XP. (I am not positive on this) Also do you still have the Windows.old folder on your computer?

When you installed Windows 7, was this a clean install? or Upgrade? from XP...

 

[happy9302]

Yes, I still have the windows.old folder on my computer. My installation was a custom install, as unfortunately, it is impossible to upgrade from windows XP to windows 7.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you look on the Support Downloads webpage for your computer model for 64 bit drivers that are missing?

Did you Google each Device with missing driver by its exact name + 64 bit Win7 driver?

Did you check Optional Windows Updates for any drivers?

If you are Happy with 32 bit XP then why not try 32 bit Win7 which will prob have all of its drivers at install?

 

[whs]

Do you still have your XP recovery partition. If yes, why not reinstall from there.

 

[jeepmann4x4]

Driver Genius Professional Edition!! worked for my 64bit systems.

 

[happy9302]

Yes, I have looked here Select software and drivers HP Pavilion dv8305us Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English) in order to find my drivers, but the web page doesn't even have half the drivers I need. For example, I can only find its WLAN driver in the Windows XP list of drivers. I did Google everything, however this machine is about 3-4 years old, so I could only find 32 bit drivers.