How can I change from windows vista to XP in a toshiba satelite A200 part no PSAE3E-05V01KAR ?

How can I change from windows vista to XP in a toshiba satelite A200 part no PSAE3E-05V01KAR without loosing other software like camera assistant, toshiba manual etc?

Listen================

You CAN downgrade. You can. Believe me. You can. Microsoft is offering to give you a valid key for XP is you validate that you bought Vista and don't want it. They are keeping it quiet, but you CAN.

Download XP from the internet (not illegal, your getting a valid key, you just need the software first) and call microsoft for the key. Done.


Actually you can downgrade to XP. Microsoft will allow you to change your Vista to XP but anytime you install a new operating system, all your programs will be lost.

Here's the article:
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/3401...

And another:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/arti...

Unfortunately you can't. Microsoft allows you to upgrade from an older version of Windows (like XP) to a new one like Vista. But they do not have a process to downgrade from an newer version to an older version of Windows (Vista to XP).

You would have to repartition and then reformat the hard drive to completely clear Vista (and everything else) then install Windows XP from an original XP disc.

Sorry.

well you can't go backwards. You can upgrade but not downgrade. If you want to install XP your going to have to wipe your drive and start from scratch.

Backup your programs and files to a DVD or another media and put them back on when your done. you can use Nero to burn a data DVD.

With out loosing software is going to be next to impossible. Installing XP will require you to reformat your hard drive(you can not down grade the same as you can upgrade a operating system), so the only way to retain the software is if Toshiba offers the software as a download so you may reinstall it. Also since Vista is newer it will come standard with software XP does not have. Most of this software can be substituted for good free applications. Check out download.com, it is one of the best download sights out there.

Another problem you may run into is that because your computer is newer there may or may not even be drivers availiable for your hardware. Odds are there will be, once again you will have to go to Toshiba's home page and see if there are drivers availiable for your product and XP, you may also check driversguide.com as they have almost any driver you could dream of. For a little $$ driversguide.com has software to help you locate the drivers for your computer.

The next problem is XP does not nativly support SATA drives, and as new as your computer is it probably has SATA drives. In your bios the computer may have the option to show your hard drive to the computer as a legacy drive, but you will have to check to find out. If this is not an option you may need to use the SATA drivers durring the Windows install, to do this you will need to place the drivers on a floppy (if you do not have a floppy you will need to make a custome Windows install cd useing a product like nlite)

Finally the only good news I can offer you is when you purchase XP look for an OEM copy. OEM is aimed at computer manufactures, but is a perfect solution for you and me as it is about half price. The only difference between the retail version and the OEM version is that OEM does not come with all of the fancy packaging. I know Fry's Electronics carries OEM software(www.outpost.com)