Skip to Content

Free TUAW iPhone app -- try it now!
AOL Tech

downgrade posts

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft

Microsoft to let users downgrade from Windows 7 to Vista or XP

Windows XP
Windows XP is turning out to be the operating system that will not die. Microsoft had planned to phase out the OS a while back, but extended its life because Windows Vista is too resource-heavy to run on low powered computers like netbooks, which are taking the world by storm right now. You can't walk into a store and buy a retail copy of Windows XP anymore, but you can purchase a netbook with the operating system, and under some circumstances you can purchase a computer that normally ships with Windows Vista and have it downgraded to XP for no additional cost.

It looks like Microsoft plans to continue allowing downgrade rights once Windows 7 is released. Not only will users be able to downgrade to Windows Vista, but they'll be able to skip an entire generation of operating system and downgrade to Windows XP.

Windows 7 isn't the resource hog that Windows Vista is. So it's not likely that Microsoft will be offering these downgrade rights to netbook users. But corporate customers who aren't ready to upgrade hundreds of computers at once might prefer to buy new computers running XP than Windows 7. It's likely that you'll need to purchase a computer with a Windows 7 Enterprise or Ultimate license to qualify for the downgrade.

Microsoft isn't commenting on the deadline for downgrading to Windows XP. But an early report indicated that the downgrade option would be available through April 30, 2010.

Filed under: Business, OS Updates, News, Microsoft

One in three new Vista machines downgraded to XP

You probably knew that a lot of dissatisfied WIndows Vista users had downgraded -- some might say "upgraded" -- to Windows XP. It was never clear exactly how many people took that step, but it was enough that Microsoft extended the shelf life for XP for a while. Now we have a number, thanks to a survey by Devil Mountain Software: nearly 35% of new Vista machines are being downgraded.

The survey used data from PCs that have been shipped in the last 6 months, and included machines that were downgraded by vendors before delivery or by users after the fact. The Register seems to think that Microsoft is shifting focus away from Vista, and instead increasing the marketing effort for its next major OS release, Windows 7. I hardly think these numbers spell doom for Microsoft, but they hopefully provide some incentive to look at why customers are ditching Vista and address their concerns.

Filed under: OS Updates, Microsoft

Microsoft allowing PC makers to offer XP downgrade from Vista

Lenovo offers downgrade
Windows Vista is pretty. Nobody disputes the fact that the Aero interface is pretty, and in some cases even useful. And there are a lot of security measures built into the operating system. But many users have reported software they rely on isn't compatible with the latest operating system from Microsoft. Power management features often don't work the way they're supposed to. And sometimes too much security isn't a good thing (for example when your computer asks for your permission to perform what seem like the most basic tasks.

It turns out Microsoft has not turned a blind eye to all these complaints. And while most computer makers are offering Vista on their new PCs, Microsoft has made it easy for PC manufacturers to offer a downgrade option to Windows XP.

The downgrade option is only available for Windwos Vista Business and Ultimate editions. And PC makers get to decide if and how to offer the downgrade. Fujitsu has begun including an XP disc in boxes of computers it ships, while HP offers customers the ability to configure business models with XP. Lenovo will be selling XP "recovery discs" to customers who buy Vista Business or Ultimate until July 31, 2008. Hopefully by then Windows Vista Service Pack 1 will be out and will address most, or at least some of the major complaints.

[via
Engadget]

Featured Time Waster

The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

View more Time Wasters

Featured Galleries

Defective by Design, London: Protest Pictures
Microsoft Security Essentials
Chromium Pre-Alpha on CrunchBang Linux
Safari 4 Beta
10 Firefox themes that don't suck
IE8 RC1
Download Squad at the Crunchies After-Party
Download Squad at the Crunchies
WordPress 2.7
Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals
Windows 7 Hands On
Comodo Internet Security
Android First-look: Amazon.com MP3 Store
Android First-look: Twitroid
Google Reader Android
Android Hands-On
Twine 1.0
Photoshop Express Beta
Mozilla Birthday Cake
Palm stuff
Adobe Lightroom 1.1

 


Follow us on Twitter!

Flickr Pool

www.flickr.com

More Tech Coverage

AOL Radio