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If you are one of the many computer users who have been using Windows Vista only to find yourself unhappy with it's features and your computer's performance, you still have the ability to downgrade to Windows XP. As long as you own your own Windows XP version on a CD, the process is simple.

The first step you should always take when you are considering upgrading or downgrading your operating system, is to backup all of your files.

Since you are running Windows Vista, you have a feature that you can use in the Windows Backup and Restore Center that will allow you to back up all of your files and data to a writable CD. In the control panel, click on System and Maintenance and then Backup and Restore Center. To backup your files click on the button that says "Back up files". You can choose to backup onto a CD or backup to a network if one is available to you. Click "Next" and then choose which type of files you'd like to backup, once you have selected everything click "Next" again and choose what time you'd like to back everything up. Depending on the amount of data you need to save, this may take minutes or several hours.

Once you have everything you need saved to a CD, get your Windows XP CD and license information ready. Put your XP CD into your CDROM drive and restart. Your computer should boot to the CD and ask you if you want to format your computer. As long as your have saved everything you want to save, choose yes. If you are able to think of anything that you've forgotten to save, choose no and exit out of the XP setup and follow the backup instructions again. Once your computer has been successfully formatted, it will begin installing XP to your computer. Simply follow the prompts on your screen and fill in information when XP asks for it. At the end of the installation, which can take as long as an hour depending on the speed of your computer, your computer will restart and you'll be able to login to your XP desktop.

Now that you've installed Windows XP, there are just a few more steps you'll need to take to ensure your computer and XP can work together in harmony. The most important step after you've installed a new Windows operating system is to visit Microsoft's website and download any security patches and updates they have released. This will ensure your computer is running the most stable and up-to-date version of Windows XP. Next, you'll want to install any drivers for devices such as printers, Bluetooth devices, mice and keyboards and then any programs you use on a regular basis. Finally, you are ready to add all of the files you had previously saved from Windows Vista.

Many of us are on our computers for hours a day, so it's important that you choose the operating system that's right for you. If you ever find yourself needing to upgrade back to Windows Vista, you'll already be a pro at following Windows directions and getting yourself going!

Learn more about this author, Marie J Kelley.
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