Windows XP downgrading to WIN2K experiences

06-18-03 | Dale Chiusano

[dalec]

After researching the Good the Bad and the Ugly about Windows XP and reading all the horror stories from users about the product activation, security holes, installation restrictions, Passport privacy violations etc I decided to blow away Windows XP off the two new state of the art Powerspec PCs that I just purchased from a large chain Computer OEM distributer and install WIN2K. The PCs were both working fine and but based on what I was reading I could see trouble ahead. Apparently Microsoft did not get the message even after 8 years of litigation with the Justice Dept. They have gone from bad to worse. Windows XP represents everything I can't stand about Microsoft. Windows 2K on the other hand still would allow me to control the PC the way I like to the most part, and reprentes the lesser of two evils.

My experiences performing this downgrade were very interesting. First, I could hardly even find a vendor willing to sell WIN2K to a private users. I found one for $175 and bought my own copy. I installed it over the XP blowing that bloated operating system away and now I was back in business. At least I thought so. Problems mounted. First the video drivers didn't work and I had to run back to the computer store to get the WIN2K drivers. Then the Zip drive didn't work with the USB port and neither IOMEGA nor the store could figure how to get it to work. I gave up and had the store install an internal IOMEGA disk drive. That worked fine. Next, I tried to get connected to the Internet and found the Modem which worked with XP didn't with WIN2K. I went back to the computer store and got the so called WIN2K drivers, tried them out that evening and they didn't work. I replaced the internal modems with external U.S. Robotics modems reinstalled the harware using the existing drivers supplied with WIN2K and it worked. Finally, the Internet software supplied by Earthlink called Total Access 2003 didn't work with WIN2K and I had to created a manual dial up connection. Finally, after two weeks of hassle I was up and running on Windows 2000. Its worth it in the long run rather than sticking with Windows XP and being hostage to Microsoft's insane software policies

I wonder if any users out there have had similar experiences downgrading from WINDOWS XP to Windows 2000

[Lazamataz]

I stand corrected.

[Scythian]

XP rocks, you're nutz

[TSgt]

Big time. I think XP still runs a DOS kernal, whereas 2000 is a straight 'clean' OS from the metal to the keyboard.

WRONG!

Windows XP is based on NT/2000 technology and has its own kernel. It does NOT run over DOS like the Windows 9x OS's did.

I personally use Windows XP and have never used a more stable OS.

It is very configurable if you know what you are doing...

In any case, upgrading or downgrading is a very bad thing. ALWAYS do a clean install with any OS.

The writer hasn't a clue and shouldn't be writing computer commentaries until he knows what he is talking about.

[TheStickman]

I would never consider going from XP to win2k a *downgrade*. What I would have suggested before hand was using your functioning XP install to download all the drivers you needed for your hardware prior to installing win2k.

I keep up-to-date drives saved on a hard drive and on CD's just for this very purpose. I swap between win2k and XP frequently cuz I'm goofy for the most part. Actually, I prefer Win2k and once SP4 comes out in a couple of weeks I will most likely be going back to win2k permanently, or until I read of a new/better way to disable/tweak XP to kill all the spyware and improve performance.

[Woodman]

You’re Stuttering ;) But thanks. I didn't come to this thread to argue the merits of one OS over another. However like a few others on this thread I have worked extensively with DOS, Windows 2 - ME, and the NT Family. I have also worked with UNIX (AIX, HP/UX and Solaris) and some IBM Mainframe Stuff. I currently have about 50 PC's assigned to me at Work (no this is not a typo) and work with many different flavors of MS. I have a pretty good idea what works and what doesn’t. I also know that there are enough tweaks to XP that you could make it look and feel just like Win2K except for the registration. But Hey I'm not in business to tell people what do to make their lives easier, just to make sure that whatever piece of crap they load on the computer doesn't mess our my near perfectly functioning software.

[Hinoki Cypress]

"I simply turned off the visual eye candy portions of XP
that slow it down. Now, those PCs look and feel just like Windows 2000."

How do you do that? I'd like to give it a kick in the pants, too.

[jimt]

You did the right thing.

XP is a bloated piece of crap that needs 128 megs of memory to barely kick over. Performance with that much memory is incredibly slow and unstable. My wife's laptop, furnished from work, runs XP and even with added memory and careful maintenance, it regularly locks up tighter than a gnat's posterior.

If you want USB Win 2K is the way to go. Here at work most of our machines still run NT, even though we have Win 2K licenses.

My only quibble with your installation was that you should have wiped the hard disk prior to installing Win 2K to insure no vestiges of it remained.

[Lazamataz]

I stand corrected.

(To everyone else: Is there anything more annoying than a technogeek who has a winning point in a conversation? "WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!" they will shriek, dancing around your chair, like you have committed the crime of Felony Aggravated Misstatement in the Second Degree... and this is said as a technogeek, myself....)

(I mean, let's forget the fact that I said I think _____fill in fact_____... I choose my words carefully. If I insert the words "I think" it is because I am not 100% sure....)

[Lazamataz]

You’re stuttering ;)

I did so because I got mugged by the pencil-necked slide-rule crowd all at once. ;^)

[Woodman]

Laz, stop groveling. I like you too much to watch it and I want to enjoy the thread.

[BullDog108]

Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Click on "Adjust for Best Performance"

This really improves performance for older systems.

[dalec]

• Better Security?
• Increased Stability?
• Interoperability?
• Increased Performance?
• Ease of Use?

Most of the features added to XP are things I don't want.
All the software I installed worked with XP as well as WIN2K
I'll let you know in a few weeks after I've used it more but if you read my original Post and the articles on Free Republic archives you get the picture. I made a decision based on the information from other informed users who were
not Microsoft moles. Once all the software is installed it becomes very time consuming to change operating systems.
It took two weeks of hassle but thats better that sticking with an operating system that has the "big brother" features
of XP.

[KKing]

Excellent points. We have about 3000+ systems on our network that run NT 4.0 Wks, 2K Pro, and XP Pro. I run the hell out of XP Pro at home and finally loaded it on my laptop and glad I did. I'd been running 2K since the summer of 2000 and I still have it on an IBM Stink Pad at home. My little Dell L400 maxes out at 256MB of RAM and with minor tweaks (basically looks more like 2K) it boots and runs faster than when it had 2K.

I could not stand Win ME and I'll tell people my only experience with it is Un-installing it. I think the only feauture still alive from ME is the Rollback...which is easy to turn off.

One tip - When bringing up a new system, ensure that you have another system close by that is still capable of getting on the Internet. Even drivers that are sold with hardware can be outdated by the time you buy them.

[Lazamataz]

I didn't come to this thread to argue the merits of one OS over another.

Good, cuz it's a religion to some people. I mean, seriously. You might as well go to the gun club and shout that Glocks (or 1911 A-frames) are pieces of s***. You'll get a Palestinian-style rushing. :o)

If you don't believe me on the Religion angle to this:

/.click the slash-dot.

[Woodman]

I've had the Gun Club experience as well...

[Woodman]

Good luck, BTW I am no way an MS Mole. I have worked closely, but never for them over the years. If you want, I will back up all of the various patches and Driver for Win2K and sell them back to you in an emergency about 3 years from now...

[KKing]

LoL

I don't know why those of us in the industry get so attached. Its the PC v Mac, Linux v Windows, etc.

What ever happened to arguing over XT Gold over PC Tools?

I think I just aged myself.

[New Horizon]

There is absolutely no advantage in downgrading to 2K from XP. I run XP on many systems and have had almost zero problems...plus the speed increase in XP over 2K is incredible.

I wonder how many of the XP bashers are actually using the "Home Edition" version as opposed to XP Professional? I know from experience that a lot of "friends" who usually only call when they have system problems have Home Edition. First order of business? Upgrade to Windows XP Professional. Problem usually solved. For my servers, however, Windows 2000 Server is the choice. I plan on upgrading to .NET (2003) in the near future. Very nice...it looks like XP!!!

[drc43]

I run both systems on a home network. I have had repeated problems losing dsl connectivity to the web. Last episode, I was on phone wit SBC for over two hours. No solution.

I gave up for now, and reloaded all dsl connection software on my XP machine, then set up the network again.

Short of reformating and reloading Win2000, I don't know how to fix that problem.

[dalec]

Sounds like propaganda from one of Microsoft's ads word for word, along with ShaggyBrown's response.