I like my old desktop with Windows XP. My new computer with Windows 7 is not compatible with the printer, scanner, copier and some software I have. It's stressful because I need to use those machines and don't want to buy new ones for the new computer.
One mysterious and unfortunate thing happened when I performed a system recovery on my computer with Windows XP. The operating system changed to Windows 2000. All my other machines are not compatible with 2000 either. How did Windows XP become Windows 2000? It's perplexing to me. Now I want to get my Windows XP back. How do I do it? Buy the software and install it in the old desktop? Please help me.
By ZiZi from Newton, MA
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
If you buy the software and it doesn't work, you are out all that money. Stores will not give you a refund on software. Look in the yellow pages and find several computer repair shops then give them a call and find out the rates to fix your computer.
Staples, Office Depot, and Best Buy all have programs where they will re-install system software for not too much money. They might also be able to help you get the computer to work with Windows 7 and all the peripherals you own.
This page has some information about what versions of Windows can be officially downgraded to XP, but it's a little hard to make heads or tails of.
www.microsoft.com/
Go to the windows website and look for help setting up the virtual xp in windows 7. otherwise check out a site like pc mag for help.
Okay, I think I can answer what happened with your reinstall of the Operating System on your old PC. If you used a stored backup on your computer (meaning a seperate partition eith your OS) it sounds like your PC was originally Windows 200 and was upgraded to XP. If you were going to work with this PC and get it back to an XP version of the OS I would recommend you buy an XP upgrade disk. It is alot cheaper than buying a full version of Windows XP and installing it.
Now, concerning your Windows 7 PC. I am not sure everything you would have to go through to get all your extras working but Windows 7 has what is called a compatibility mode.
Let's start with installing some software. If you have the software on a CD put it in your drive and look at it through windows explorer. Don't let anything auto start. Find the install executable and right click on it. This should give you a menu where you can select properties. This will open up a small screen with different information and tabs across the top. One of those tabs should be compatibility. Make the selection under that tab to run the program as Windows XP. Now I have to be honest some of what I am saying may be a little off. I don't use Windows 7 but compatibility mode was introduced in XP I believe. And one of the good things about Microsoft (usually good) is that once they introduce something they don't take it away. If my directions to compatibility mode are not correct it will be somewhere close. Once the software is installed you will probably have to find the executable for the program itself and change it to run in compatibility mode as well.
As for your printer and other devises you should find the necessary drivers for Win 7 on the appropriate website for the product. If not you may be able to use compatibility mode for them as well.
I had the same problem when i went to vista, where i couldn't upload from my camera and couldn't print. do a search for something like, "can't print to (your printer make and model, such as hp 2200) from (your computer software, such as windows vista)" and you should be able to find a solution.
Don't buy a new program. Take it to Staples and they will restore your system. Anything these days can be brought back I think. I have had mine in there several times.
Make sure you have updated all the drivers for your printer, scanner, etc. I had the same problem with my HP printer from windows XP to windows7. I went to the HP website, typed in my printer version and number, and checked for compatability for windows7. HP actually automatically updated the drivers during the installation of the printer into the new windows7 computer, but if you have a problem, you can update the drivers yourself from the website of whatever machine you intend you add to your windows7 computer.
Oh, by the way, my HP printer is seven years old and it still worked fine with windows7!
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
