Dumping Windows Vista

Factual Questions
1

Tell me all I need to know about getting rid of Vista and installing another operating system. Especially and obviously, how do I ensure that I keep all my saved data. What should I install, etc…

2

It kinda depends on why you dislike Vista. Is it your preference? Is it the capability of your machine? Software?

Tell us more.

3

Ideally have a second hard drive and drag all your data there, even disconnect it while installing a new operating system, then reconnect it after installation.
Failing that, write it to DVDs.

As to which alternative OS to install, that depends on what you want from it and if it is compatible with the files you have created and the packages used to create them.

I would (and have) opted for Ubuntu (there is a new version out in a month) but that may not satisfy your requirements.

4

It also depends on what data you wish to save, and how you wish to use that data after the switch. There may not be non-Windows apps that can use that data.

5

If you really would like to get rid of Vista (I’m assuming it’s because of low end hardware?) then:

  1. Make sure all of your programs have install CD’s. Or copy their setup programs to another hard drive (either an internal one, or better yet an external one.

  2. Copy over all of the files you want to keep (documents, pictures, music, etc) to your backup drive.

  3. Open up any programs that have saved settings/user options/data and make sure you export that to your new drive (this included e-mail clients, your browser’s favorites list, saved games, etc).

  4. Disconnect your backup drive.

  5. insert the new OS CD and make sure that in your BIOS you have your CD or DVD device selected as your primary boot device.

  6. Boot into the OS CD and install.

  7. After install copy your files back. re-install your old programs. import your user settings/data/emails/saved games.

6

Exactly - simplest may be just to ‘downgrade’ to XP - there is a process for this that uses the same product key as your current Vista one, but there are limits to the versions of XP that may be substituted.

It does appear to be something of a minfield though.
If you buy a suitable piece of hardware - a hard drive, for example, you are permitted to legally purchase an OEM copy of XP along with it at a reduced price.
Probably the simplest option if you can’t live with Vista.

7

Oh my… I’ve been working professionally with Microsoft’s products for ten years – Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP Professional, ISA Server, SharePoint, Exchange 2000, 2003, 2007, Server 2008, and all that comes with it, like Active Directory, Hyper-V – and, yes, they know what they’re doing; especially later products like SharePoint 2007, Windows Server 2008 and Exchange 2007; some of them quite superior. This summer, while working with Windows Server 2008 and Hyper-V with Failover Clustering, I was impressed in a way I’d never thought I’d be as a systems administrator…

But my oh my, that Vista. I’m having it at work, and was the project manager for the implementation 18 months ago – but I still run XP myself at home and am considering Mac and Linux rather than Vista now the time for an upgrade has come.

Sorry for the hijick, the thread Myglaren linked to got me going.

8

Step 5 might not be all you need to get rid of Vista. I got a new machine with it last year, and tried to install XP by simply inserting the CD. I forget the error message I got, but from what I remember you have to remove Vista entirely before it will let you put a new OS on there. Vista is also, if I recall correctly, a bitch with partitions as well.

Sorry, don’t remember details, but on my old machine I had no trouble reinstalling XP several times. This time I got frustrated and then lazy and ended up not going through the hassle. Still have Vista :frowning: