Windows Vista: Epic Failure
This shiny new operating system was released to the general public on January 2007. Initially known as Windows Longhorn during its development stage, Vista promised a system that was more secure, easier to use, and generally better than its predecessor, Windows XP. In spite of all these promises, Vista failed to impress and meet the expectations of many people. Heck, even Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates admitted that Vista is their worst product. Proof of this failure is the low adoption rate of individuals and businesses, as well as the huge number of Windows users who prefer to stick it out with the XP operating system. There are many reasons why Vista failed to deliver. First of all, it was very expensive and it had so many editions that it confused a lot of consumers. In comparison, Windows XP had only a few editions, like XP Home Edition, XP Professional, and XP Media Center Edition. Among the other reasons why Vista failed are:
•Annoying UAC (User Account control), a supposed security feature that ended up as a nagging feature.
•Confusing system requirements. With a lot of editions, adding different system requirements for each made it a lot more confusing.
•Incompatibilities with pre-Vista Hardware. Older hardware usually did not work or did not function properly when used with the OS. Drivers were either unavailable or were incompatible.
•No ground-breaking improvements. Sure Vista is really pleasing to the eyes, but all in all, everything was more or less cosmetic, making it not worth the switch.
•Slow file operations. A lot of users reported having to wait several minutes or even hours to copy or delete files, burn CDs or DVDs. Some users also reported that booting up to the system even took longer, even if their system requirements exceeded the recommended specifications.
•Restrictive DRM or Digital Rights Management. Vista supports DRM technology, and supports it really strictly, making it difficult for users to copy DRM-protected media files to other devices like MP3 players.
•Too different from previous versions of Windows. It is nice to have a new look, but Vista changed so many features that simple tasks in previous versions became harder to do in Vista.
Getting Rid of Vista
A lot of users who were curious enough to try Vista now want to switch back to XP or even other operating systems like Linux. Though it's very simple and intuitive to switch or upgrade to Vista from Windows XP and the like, it is quite tedious, if not difficult, to go back to the previous operating system. The problem is, the longer you use Vista, the harder it is to get rid of it because of the files and other media you now have in that operating system. Now, if you really hate Vista that much and want to get back to that comfy old system you had, you don't have to wait any longer. Though it is possible to revert to Windows XP, it is too technical and takes a lot of time. You are better off reformatting your hard drive and starting a fresh install of Windows XP or any other operating system of your choice. If you really want to get rid of Windows Vista, your only options are reformatting your hard drive (learn how to format a hard drive) or dual booting to a different operating system. Dual booting means having two or more operating systems in one computer. Option 1:
Reformatting and Reinstalling
Since most installations of operating systems are automated, this option is not difficult at all. Just remember that formating your hard drive means erasing everything on it, including your documents, mp3 collection, photos, and your movie files. Before you start, back up everything onto your spare hard drive or burn it onto a blank CD or DVD. If you will be burning to DVD, it is more convenient to use DVD-9 recordable DVDs because they hold twice the amount of data than a standard DVD. After making sure you have backed up all of your important files, you can proceed to the next steps (Tips on how to get rid of computer files). Now, you must have the CD of that operating system you will install. If you will be using Windows XP, here is what you should do:
•Insert the Windows XP CD in the CD drive. Make sure you also have the license key with you. It is usually located on the back of the CD case. Make sure that the CD you will be using is not used by a different computer; otherwise, the other computer will be deactivated once you activate the new computer.
•Now boot into the XP installation program. You will have to set BIOS to boot first using the CD. To access the BIOS, press the key displayed in the first screen you see when you open your computer, usually DEL, F2, or F1 keys, depending on the type of BIOS you have. You will enter a menu-like interface. Look for “Boot Priority” or “Boot Options” there, or simply refer to your computer's manual on how to change boot priority. Set the CD/DVD drive to boot first. After that, save the settings and exit the BIOS menu.
•You will enter XP's Setup program. Wait a few minutes as it prepares the files needed then input the information asked.
•You will then reach a menu that asks you to select the drive you will install XP on. Select the drive where you installed Vista.
•It will ask you to reformat. Choose NTFS as your file system and choose quick format. You may use the regular format, but that may take a long time, especially on large hard drives. The regular format is only good for new hard drives or damaged hard drives.
•After the formatting process, XP will start copying files. You can leave your computer now and come back after 30 to 45 minutes, to a maximum of one hour.
•After that, you will be asked to input the license and CD key. Type it in and make sure you input it correctly. Input the other settings like language, time and date, time zone, and keyboard settings.
•A few minutes later, the process is done. You can start using Windows XP again. Open your backup and copy your saved files. Customize the system to your liking, and install all your software.
Option 2: Dual Booting Vista and Another OS
The advantage of dual booting Vista is that you can keep your files there and there is no immediate reason to backup. You also do not need additional software because Vista is capable of detecting other operating systems. Dual booting to Windows XP is very easy. Simply follow the instructions in option one, except you have to install XP on a different drive or partition. Though you can install XP on the same drive you installed Vista, you may run into a lot of problems. If you will be installing other operating systems like Linux, you will have to create the right partitions. Refer to the manual or instructions on how to dual boot other operating systems with Vista. Most Linux distros can be easily set up to dual boot with other operating systems. Whichever option you choose, you will be rid of Windows Vista in less time than it might've taken your computer to boot up with it.