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Message
Downgrading a computer to Windows XP
Posted on 10/21/15 at 11:41 am
Posted on 10/21/15 at 11:41 am
I help take care of my elderly grandfather and his small business. His home computer was failing, and he had a repairman take a look at it. In the process of working out some of the hardware issues he upgraded the OS to Windows 7.
My grandfather has been frustrated that everything now looks unfamiliar, and that the version of Thunderbird handles his email differently than what he runs on his office computer. Admittedly these issues are all superficial, but he is old and stubborn. He keeps insisting that he can't handle these minor changes, and that he wants XP back on his home computer.
Typically when upgrading the OS, you can do so without having to start over with your files and software. He doesn't have much on his HDD, but I was wondering if I could simply downgrade the OS without having to reload everything.
My grandfather has been frustrated that everything now looks unfamiliar, and that the version of Thunderbird handles his email differently than what he runs on his office computer. Admittedly these issues are all superficial, but he is old and stubborn. He keeps insisting that he can't handle these minor changes, and that he wants XP back on his home computer.
Typically when upgrading the OS, you can do so without having to start over with your files and software. He doesn't have much on his HDD, but I was wondering if I could simply downgrade the OS without having to reload everything.
8
Posted on 10/21/15 at 11:56 am to Bmath
Have you tried to google this? At all?
Posted on 10/21/15 at 12:16 pm to Bmath
quote:
He keeps insisting that he can't handle these minor changes, and that he wants XP back on his home computer.
There are ways to skin everything to look like XP.
Make 7 look like XP
There are far too many security risks going forward for me to recommend a downgrade to below 7 at this point.
My bonafides? I have a triple boot XP/Ubuntu/7 Premium computer as my main PC at home and I set it up because I didn't drink the Windows 7 Kool Aid 5 years ago.
Make him comfortable and he'll fall in love with 7's stability.
Posted on 10/21/15 at 12:17 pm to Bmath
you can make 7 look like XP, but the answer to your question is no, you cannot downgrade
Posted on 10/21/15 at 12:42 pm to Ace Midnight
quote:
There are ways to skin everything to look like XP.
I've considered that, but the biggest hurdle right now is actually his email manager. Currently, I have the settings changed to "Windows Classic." I even installed the older version of Free Cell that he preferred.
Functionally everything works on Thunderbird at his house, but I'm not really sure how to get it to match the version he has at his office. He has trouble navigating his inbox, and consistently has issues figuring out how to forward emails. I have sat down with him and shown him several times, but it's as if he is too resistant to the changes to actually try.
quote:
There are far too many security risks going forward for me to recommend a downgrade to below 7 at this point.
The repairman and I have both made him aware of that issue. He maintains that if several companies are able to still run it with no problems, then he can too. When I get more time I'll try to work on the Thunderbird settings.
If he ultimately insists that the computer run XP, then perhaps I'll try this method: LINK
Posted on 10/21/15 at 12:58 pm to Bmath
quote:
If he ultimately insists that the computer run XP
Posted on 10/21/15 at 1:07 pm to Bmath
Sounds like your grandfather needs to stop being lazy and read up on shite and give shite a trial for at least a week before judging. I have a mother in law like that and I just gave up on her and said figure it out yourself. If they can't adapt and are unteachable, don't bother.
This post was edited on 10/21/15 at 1:09 pm
Posted on 10/21/15 at 1:53 pm to Hu_Flung_Pu
quote:
Sounds like your grandfather needs to stop being lazy and read up on shite and give shite a trial for at least a week before judging.
He's 91 and doesn't have great eye site. I suspect that actually is what is causing the most problems for him. Which is why having something more familiar looking is easier to use. Also, his computer was fixed a couple of months ago, so it's not like he hasn't had time to get used to the changes.
Posted on 10/21/15 at 1:58 pm to Hu_Flung_Pu
quote:
Sounds like your grandfather needs to stop being lazy and read up on shite and give shite a trial for at least a week before judging. I have a mother in law like that and I just gave up on her and said figure it out yourself. If they can't adapt and are unteachable, don't bother.
This is part of the reason I never pursued a career related to IT. I like to help, but I also like to have the ability to walk away when my patience runs out.
Posted on 10/21/15 at 2:11 pm to Bmath
quote:I think glasses are a better solution to this problem than continuing to use software that hasn't been supported for more than a year and a half.
He's 91 and doesn't have great eye site. I suspect that actually is what is causing the most problems for him. Which is why having something more familiar looking is easier to use.
quote:If he hasn't gotten used to it by now, then he just isn't even trying and probably needs to stop using computers.
Also, his computer was fixed a couple of months ago, so it's not like he hasn't had time to get used to the changes.
Windows is FOUR MAJOR VERSIONS PAST XP.
The dude has seen so much change in his lifetime that I can't even comprehend it. Tell him he needs to adapt one last time.
Posted on 10/21/15 at 2:19 pm to Korkstand
quote:
I think glasses are a better solution to this problem than continuing to use software that hasn't been supported for more than a year and a half.
He recently had cataract surgery, and has had too much swelling for a refraction to work. Unfortunately he is at the point that he could very well lose his driver license.
quote:
If he hasn't gotten used to it by now, then he just isn't even trying and probably needs to stop using computers.
That's a bit harsh. 70% of his computer usage involves Free Cell, and 25% of it is just light email usage. He has quick books, but typically has someone take care of it for him once a year.
Ironically he was a pretty brilliant electrical engineer in his prime, but time has passed him by on some of this.
Posted on 10/21/15 at 2:22 pm to Bmath
quote:
He's 91
Oh, well... that's different
Just provide fixes for him. Use the Windows 7 to XP skin. Posted on 10/21/15 at 2:24 pm to Bmath
quote:
Unfortunately he is at the point that he could very well lose his driver license.
I don't wanna be a dick but at 91 he shouldn't have that anyway.
quote:
electrical engineer in his prime,
That's even worse considering standards change with electricity all the time. He would have had to adapt quite a bit.
This post was edited on 10/21/15 at 2:25 pm
Posted on 10/21/15 at 2:27 pm to Hu_Flung_Pu
Also wanted to point out that just tell him that you can't backtrack to XP after going to 7. He can't help but believe you or he would be researching on Google and finding out for himself and therefore capable of learning new stuff.
Posted on 10/21/15 at 2:33 pm to Bmath
quote:Uhh, he's 91 and has bad eyesight. Why the frick is he still driving? He's going to kill someone.
He recently had cataract surgery, and has had too much swelling for a refraction to work. Unfortunately he is at the point that he could very well lose his driver license.
quote:Sometimes the truth is harsh. But in this case I take it back. If giving him a computer that he will use will keep him OFF THE ROAD, then do whatever it takes. Give him an XP box that will be immediately riddled with viruses and shite. Just set up a good backup system for when the inevitable ransomware hits him so he won't lose his quickbooks file.
That's a bit harsh.
Posted on 10/21/15 at 2:42 pm to Korkstand
quote:
Uhh, he's 91 and has bad eyesight. Why the frick is he still driving? He's going to kill someone.
I can't really argue with you here. Surprisingly he is in amazing health, and incredibly active. That is what has made his driving issues so difficult to manage. He got a letter from the state about having an eye exam before they would renew his license, that pushed him to finally get the surgery. Anyway, it's turned into a nightmare for our family.
Perhaps getting his home computer working better than the one at his office would indeed help keep him at home. Neither one of them have much on them, and he could easily do everything he needs to from his house.
Posted on 10/21/15 at 2:50 pm to Bmath
Could he not VPN to his work computer?
Posted on 10/21/15 at 2:59 pm to Hu_Flung_Pu
I want to keep it as simple as possible. My grandfather really only needs one computer. He mostly just goes to his office as part of a daily routine. The majority of his work is just taking care of bills the first week of the month. The rest of the time he goes up there and plays free cell and maybe mows the grounds when needed.
Posted on 10/21/15 at 3:17 pm to Zappas Stache
quote:
And you can use this work around to continue to get Windows XP security updates until 2019. I have an XP machine I made these changes to and got some security updates today.
I thought this was pretty awesome until I read the article.
quote:
Naturally, there’s no way of knowing how long this trick will work -- Microsoft could put a stop to it at any moment. Also, because you’re installing updates for a system other than Windows XP, there’s the possibility that not all updates will work as intended. But it’s still worth a shot.
They are for POS machines, it's not even XP updates, what a stupid thing to assume thinking it would work on XP machines.
Waste of time trying that.
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