subject: How To Downgrade From Windows 7 To Xp [print this page] Downgrade from Windows 7 to XP Downgrade from Windows 7 to XP
If you are trying to find a way to downgrade from Windows 7 to XP on your PC, then simply follow the steps below and you will be able to do it all by yourself.
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Steps to Downgrade from Win 7 to XP
STEP 1 Locate Windows folder
The first step is to open the Windows 7 drive and locate the Windows.old folder in the drive. This is essential to change from Windows 7 to XP and without it, this process would not be possible. Now you need to ensure that ample free space is available in the Windows 7 drive as all contents of Windows 7 is moved to a folder and the XP contents from the Windows.old folder is copied.
STEP 2 Reboot your PC
Now it is time to insert the windows 7 installation disk in the DVD drive. Once this is done, reboot your PC. When the first screen shows up select your language, time, keyboard type and then hit Next button to continue.
Step 3 Start Downgrading
Now the Install Windows window appears. Simply click on the Repair your computer option to launch System Recovery Options dialog-box. You now need to select your Window 7 OS and click the Next button again. Next you click on Command Prompt to start downgrading from Windows 7 to XP.
STEP 4 Move Windows 7 folders
In this step, you will type the following commands in a serial manner and hit Enter after typing each one of them. This action moves all the contents of Windows 7 to a new folder.
D:
Md Win7
Move Windows Win7Windows
Move "Program Files" "Win7Program Files"
Move Users Win7Users
Attrib h s r ProgramData
Move ProgramData Win7ProgramData
Rd "Documents and Settings"
Step 5 Copy Windows XP files
Again the same process is repeated with a different set of commands that are given below and this ensures that the contents from Windows.old folder are copied to the drive.
move /y d:Windows.oldWindows d:
move /y "d:Windows.oldProgram Files" d:
move /y "d:Windows.oldDocuments and Settings" d:
STEP 6 Restore the Boot Sector
You have to restore the boot sector of your XP OS by giving the following command.
E:ootootsect /nt52 d:
Finally restore the boot.ini file by executing the following commands:
Attrib h s r boot.ini.saved
Copy boot.ini.saved boot.ini
We have used the installation CD for Windows 7 to downgrade your OS from Windows 7 to XP as per your requirement. We recommend that you check the security settings of the newly installed XP and install antivirus software to protect your PC from external threats.
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