Downgrading Win7 64-bit to Win XP 32-bit?

[MSgherzi]

I plan on buying a new laptop with the sole purpose of downgrading it from Windows 7 (64-bit) to Windows XP (32-bit). Obviously this is because you can't really find XP anymore on decent laptops.

My question is what issues will I most likely face in doing this? I know the past problems with users trying to downgrade from Vista to XP and how the HDD would not be detected and drivers had to be manually slip streamed onto the disc or some BIOS changes needed to be made. I want to know all of the possible issues I might face in doing this downgrade.

Thanks in advance.

 

[seedubya]

Obviously this is because you can't really find XP anymore on decent laptops.

One wholesaler over here (Computer 2000) has plenty of decent laptops with Windows 7 Pro \ XP Downgrade rights. If they're here I'm sure you've got them in the states.

You'll have a huge drivers problem if you go the other route without doing your homework. AFAIK no-one is writing XP drivers anymore.

 

[joydivision]

Not sure why you would want to this, I find Windows 7 64-bit far better than XP in every way. But then I have been using Vista 32 on my personal PC three years.

 

[Alan22]

Not sure why you would want to this, I find Windows 7 64-bit far better than XP in every way. But then I have been using Vista 32 on my personal PC three years.

I recently had to get 8 new computers with XP Pro for a client setting up a training office for his organization (he has 20 retail locations). The reason we needed XP Pro is because the point of sale software will not install on any other OS. Also, there are some older peripheral devices we used that do not have Windows 7 drivers. These systems came with Win 7 Pro, which gives downgrade rights to XP Pro. So, I have the option of upgrading to Win 7 Pro sometime in the future as software and equipment gets upgraded and replaced.

I could have installed XP Mode on all of the systems then install the POS software & peripherals (I've done it in the past), but I find that XP Mode has some quirks and the POS software doesn't really operate as well as it should.

To reply to the op, the biggest issue, as seedubya posted, is finding system drivers. What good is downgrading if half the system components don't have drivers? It can be very challenging to find a Windows 7 Pro system that is XP ready. Some manufacturers still sell systems with XP preinstalled (and a Windows 7 Pro disc for upgrading later), but the choices are very few.