How to Downgrade from Vista to XP without losing programs?

I have Vista and do not like it. I want to downgrade back to XP. How can I do this? Will I lose all my existing programs, like the DVD copier, etc? The Vista came preinstalled on my computer so all these other programs were already installed. However, I can use free XP from my university if I want. I just don't want to permanently erase anything.

How to Downgrade from Vista to XP without losing programs?virus protection software

This cannot be done. If you had started with XP and used the upgrade option to Vista (which is not recommended anyway), then you may have a chance, but since you started with Vista, there's no way for you to downgrade without losing your programs and data. So you should backup all your stuff to an external hard drive, black CDs or DVDs, then wipe the hard drive clean and do a complete install of XP.

How to Downgrade from Vista to XP without losing programs?adware

i wanted to change back to xp too but instead i used little programs from all over the web to make in more like xp for all the things i wanted. i think its better to do this as you get the best from vista and xp. however id does take a bit of time to find all the little programs and plugins you need.

hope this helps.
Well this is tough, As long as you want to downgrade this means that you have to format and sure you will lose the programs, but if it is preinstalled check the DVD that came with it (if there is any) it should carry all the preinstalled programs, if there is no CD then the preinstalled programs are located on the hard drive (Dell and IBM does that), if this is the case then I don't think that you can get the preinstalled items from the hard disk.

Or you can download some backup program that works on vista and XP then make a backup, and format the computer and restore the backup on XP when done.

Hope it helps