2011-01-08, 06:23 AM
Downgrading requires several things...
1. Check and make sure your hardware has up to date Windows XP drivers. This is REQUIRED before you even think about it. Some hardware might not have drivers for Windows XP (mainly some modern video cards, sound cards, network adapters, motherboards, and modems) that fall into "Designed for Windows Vista/7" category. "Works with Windows Vista/7" is different.
2. You'll have to wipe out your hard drive. Dual-booting XP and Vista requires you install XP prior to Vista (if you are attempting a dual-boot). There's actually no getting around this due to the problems with the Windows Boot Loader trying to detect a legacy OS installed after a newer one. Trust me, it's a headache attempting this.
3. Downgrading to XP is ill advised anymore. I would actually recommend upgrading to Windows 7 and getting some minor hardware upgrades like extra RAM, faster CPU, and a newer video card. Getting a copy of Windows XP that is legal is now harder to do. Windows XP was removed from retail stores months ago and most OEMs don't even carry disks anymore to support it. Finding a working copy may actually cost you a lot more, or might be impossible.
Overall, I'd actually suggest avoiding this endeavor and going the opposite direction and get an upgrade into Windows 7 and beefing up your hardware slightly if possible and if needed. Windows XP, even SP3, had a lot of issues even I would avoid now. It's a good OS, well it "was" good to a point, but compared to Windows 7, it's almost as big a headache as Vista was at times.
And if MapleStory is the only thing giving you a headache with crashes like at Zakum, Scarlion, and such, well just disable the sound card in Device manager and restart Maple. No issues.
1. Check and make sure your hardware has up to date Windows XP drivers. This is REQUIRED before you even think about it. Some hardware might not have drivers for Windows XP (mainly some modern video cards, sound cards, network adapters, motherboards, and modems) that fall into "Designed for Windows Vista/7" category. "Works with Windows Vista/7" is different.
2. You'll have to wipe out your hard drive. Dual-booting XP and Vista requires you install XP prior to Vista (if you are attempting a dual-boot). There's actually no getting around this due to the problems with the Windows Boot Loader trying to detect a legacy OS installed after a newer one. Trust me, it's a headache attempting this.
3. Downgrading to XP is ill advised anymore. I would actually recommend upgrading to Windows 7 and getting some minor hardware upgrades like extra RAM, faster CPU, and a newer video card. Getting a copy of Windows XP that is legal is now harder to do. Windows XP was removed from retail stores months ago and most OEMs don't even carry disks anymore to support it. Finding a working copy may actually cost you a lot more, or might be impossible.
Overall, I'd actually suggest avoiding this endeavor and going the opposite direction and get an upgrade into Windows 7 and beefing up your hardware slightly if possible and if needed. Windows XP, even SP3, had a lot of issues even I would avoid now. It's a good OS, well it "was" good to a point, but compared to Windows 7, it's almost as big a headache as Vista was at times.
And if MapleStory is the only thing giving you a headache with crashes like at Zakum, Scarlion, and such, well just disable the sound card in Device manager and restart Maple. No issues.