Unistalling VISTA

I would like to uninstall VISTA Home Premium from my HP laptop (which is almost three years old). I had loaned it to a student of mine, and when it was returned it had this OS on it. To make things short, I was not very happy. Has anyone been able to successfully uninstalled VISTA and return it to Windows XP without having to do a complete destructive reformat of the HD? I would like to save myself several hours of reinstalling everything.

Thank you,
MacFriar

I would expect that the install (upgrade) of an OS is pretty much a one-way trip. Probably not what you wanted to hear, but TBH I don't think I would trust a machine that had been "downgraded" - too much potential for breaking other apps etc. further down the road.

It is really what I did not want to hear, but was prepared for. I am locating the original system disks that came with the laptop and am prepared to do the complete destructive reformat and reload in a little while, though I am not thrilled about the time it will involve. Good thing I have all files backed up.

Thanks for your reply.

MacFriar

You could get the student to do it, by way of punishment. But you probably want to make sure it's done properly.

Well, the XP reload took only about an hour along with the Office reinstall. The updates have been going for almost three hours. I may have to simply go in tomorrow, and take the poor student out of his misery if you get what I mean. That will send a message not to mess with my laptop. My only consolation is that he spent all that money on a legal upgrade of VISTA, and now has no computer for it.

MacFriar

Re:...My only consolation is that he spent all that money on a legal upgrade of VISTA, and now has no computer for it.

I take it that he's not one of your brightest students?

are you sure it was legal?

probably not haha.

Yes, I was quite sure it was legal.

MacFriar