Downgrading Win8 to Vista on a new computer

Hello,
I want to purchase a new Lenovo desktop computer, but it will come preinstalled with Windows 8. I want to downgrade to Vista but I have heard many reports that "I might not be able to do it, the computer might run in an unstable manner, you have a 50% chance of getting it right, etc"... all negative reports if I want to attempt this. I am not a total newbie and have reinstalled many previous computers in the past, with various OS's.
I have a Vista Home 32-bit disk with key that has always worked fine before. I don't see why I can't wipe the Win8 off the hard drive and clean-install this Vista Home disk.
The drivers for the graphics card I already have (I have an ATI Radeon card that I can install in the new unit that worked fine with Vista before) Then I have a Soundblaster Audigy sound card that worked fine with Vista before that I will install and there are plenty of drivers for that card.
What else will I have problems with? I called Lenovo tech support and they said I will have to change the Bios. What is involved with that?
Please tell me what is involved with that - Are there any problems that you think I will encounter after I install the Vista on a brand new Lenovo machine?
Is is just the graphics card and the sound card that I have to worry about? or other things?

Thanking you so much in advance.

 

It is far from just graphics and sound. What you will almost certainly lack is the set of Vista drivers for the motherboard chipset. If you aren't too sure what the motherboard chipset actually does you could have a read HERE. Suffice to say there is very little prospect of this project actually being successful, not to mention the regressive step of moving to an operating system for which mainstream support has already ended.

 

You would have to check the manufacturer website to see if they even have drivers available for Vista, for that model. Most likely all you will find if you can, are drivers for Windows 7.

Vista was meant to be a Transition OS from XP to 7, not meant to be long term, which is why it was never really adopted by the masses. Personally just use 8, load something like Start8 from Stardock Software, and you will have a Windows 7 machine.

I know that there are people like myself that hate the Metro interface, but that is why everyone is installing the third party desktop add-ons to bypass Metro, on both the Server and Desktop versions of Win8.

 

To each his or her own; however I'd strongly consider downgrading to Windows 7 instead of Vista. The desktops and operation are almost identical, but Windows 7 has fewer glitches and will be supported by Microsoft for at least a few years longer than Vista.

If you can't find a notebook you like with Win 7 preinstalled, you may want to look for a PC that has Windows 8 Professional (not Premium) and check with the manufacturer to see if they offer a Windows 7 downgrade DVD. This may save you the cost of paying for a license for Windows 7 and is legally permitted by Microsoft as noted here. This article also contains important information on BIOS settings if you are doing a downgrade to 7 or Vista.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2832566/en-us

Hope this helps.

 

Hello!
Thank you all for such quick and fantastic help. It's not that I mind going forward to a more modern OS rather than Vista, it's just that financially I'd have to end up buying more apps and peripherals to match win 7 or 8 and after I buy the computer at $875 or so, I'd be totally out of cash.

I already have the printer that works with Vista, the Nero, etc, etc. I wouldn't be able to buy these things all over again.

Brownizs recommended that I check for Vista files for one or another model new Lenovo on their website. I was surprized that ALL the models seem to have some sort of Vista "System Update". After hours and hours hunting on their merciless website, I even found system updates for XP!! and 2000!!
Now, tell me if I'm wrong, but I am going to give you a typical page of drivers for the M82 - a current lenovo desktop unit that they are currently selling.
Is is my mistake or are they giving me the Vista drivers for this unit? Please see page..... wouldn't this System Update give me the chipset and bios updates that I need?
I would really love to help all the other folks out there with the same problem too.
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/default.page#

If the link doesn't work, it would be Lenovo > Drivers & Software > ThinkCentre M82 (2697 - CTO) > ThnkVantage Technology (on bot of the pg)

You folks are so smart - I know you can come up with the answers for this Vista sticky=ness. I just don't have the money to go forward after the $875 outlay for another printer, etc, etc.
With this Vista System Update, doesn't it seem possible?

 

If you're thinking about Win 7, check the mfrs' websites for your printer, software, etc. In most (but not all) cases, anything that works on Vista should also work with Win 7.

On software, keep in mind you'll need the license codes for paid stuff (Word, Excel, etc.) to reinstall it on the new PC regardless of what version of Windows you're using.

 

Hello,
It look like Lenovo computers are able to downgrade from Win 8 to Vista and others. I haven't tried it yet, but their websites contain "System Updates".

Here's a link to what they can do with "rights" to Microsoft's licensing if you downgrade to certain OS's
http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/lic...owngrade_rights.aspx#fbid=wz7LNedCuWA?windows

When I try the downgrade, I will let everyone know how it turns out. I have Vista 32 bit, not one of the chosen few for free licensing, but nonetheless, it may work fine for me.

 

Have you tried installing your printer with Windows 8? Oh, you don't have the computer yet, right? What make and model printer do you have? How old is it?

What version of Nero do you have? What do you use Nero for?

newegg.com has 148 Lenovo computers listed, starting below $300. So, many are available below $850. Why do you need an $875 machine? If you spend several hundred less for the computer, would the difference cover the software you think you'd need to replace? Exactly what software do you think you'd need to replace, other than Nero?

 

USAFveteran,

I checked out the Newegg Lenovos there. Your point is well taken. Actually I did have the Lenovo M82 as of last week ($875). I only had it a few days and I had problems with it. I had to return it to Lenovo unfortunately. I did like the machine a lot. I'm planning on getting the same unit again (I think). Just bad luck last week, was all.

I had time to check out the Win8, my printer will never work with it or Win 7 for that matter. I've checked out all the drivers, everywhere. It is a Canon iP1600. Didn't even like the Win8 - would like to downgrade if possible to Vista.

And you are right - if I got a cheaper unit, I would indeed have money to spare for a new printer, Nero or whatever I needed. I will consider that advice in earnest.

There are cheaper Lenovos - by the time you add an extra CDRom, and a few other goodies that I want, the price is right up there to $875.

I don't want to have any problems in the 5 years that I plan on keeping the tower. Buying cheaper always amounted to cheaper parts and all that. I've got a 5 year old Lenovo here (with Vista on it) that is humming right along, but I foresee it deteriorating as the next years move on. It's 5 years, then it will be 6, then I'll need another HD, so I felt it was time to buy another one. I actually think I can get $150 for this used Lenovo, still in excellent shape. This will help cover the cost of the new unit as well.

Buying cheaper always meant "problems" sooner than if I spent just a little more and got a more expensive machine. Better Intel chip, more ram, etc. - all brings the price up.

 

As it seems you are intent on downgrading this new machine to Vista I'd like to make one final suggestion - that you absolutely ensure that you have the means to restore the computer to the state it was in when bought. There are numerous ways this can be done but the most obvious is to ensure that if it has a recovery partition that you know how to use it, and if it does not that you create the recovery DVDs you would need to achieve the same end.

There are other ways too, so ask if you want to know about those.

I have $500 on your downgrade failing so please consider carefully what I have said.

 

Earthling,

You scare the Big Gees out of me by betting against me. Wow.

I'm not sure of anything, that is why I am writing to you folks. I wouldn't mind "trying" to downgrade... I don't see the harm in that, in particular. It might scare me even more, to see the mess I've made! :-o

Along with the hefty $875 price tag on the Lenovo, I get free reinstallation disks for the Win8.
No, I don't know how to use a recovery partition. I would need help with that and would love to learn about it. I always just "wiped the entire HD clean" and started fresh, in years past.

I can just pop the reinstallation disks back in and redo the Win8, right? If I have to?

Now I'm scared.

 

Lenovo is one of the few left, that still allows downgrade to XP, since the majority of its government and healthcare sector clients still use XP. I work for the State of Illinois, and even though everything we use could work in Windows 7, they still refuse to upgrade to it.

Same goes for my wife's workplace, that they could move to 7, but still are sticking with XP, due to IT refuses to move upwards to 7, which everything they use, and my state uses, has compatible programs for 7.

 

That would be good enough for me. Good luck with it!

 

Brownizs,
I'm going to have to think about everything I have heard and everything that is available if I want to go for a Vista downgrade from Win8. The Lenovo unit I would like to buy has chipset drivers for XP and Windows 7, not Vista, on their website. I found them.
I don't really want to go back to XP and I'd have to get another Nero if I get windows 7 and probably some other programs.
In your case, even your workplace and your wife's has XP - imagine that. It's an antique, but it really does everything a computer is supposed to do. XP gets the job done. It's probably not worth the grief and expense to retrain the entire staff to a new OS, get new apps, etc.
Thank you for your time and effort. I appreciate it and will reconsider my options and even though Vista is what I want, I'm probably not going to get it. No chipset available.

 

You will be fine with Windows 7, you will be fine with Windows 8. Personally it is not worth the effort to go through all of this, just because you do not like the metro interface. As already has been mentioned, third party software such as Start8, takes you directly to the desktop, so you do not have to deal with Metro.

 

Canon does, indeed, have drivers for your Pixma iP1600 printer for Windows 8. You get it at http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/suppo...xma_ip_series/pixma_ip1600#DriversAndSoftware

 

Thank you all.
Earthling, the page on chipsets was informative. I have a better idea of what a chipset does, thanks.