Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with downgrade

Should I downgrade to a laptop or keep the 8-core?

phaedon — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:55:15 -0800

Can I edit in HD on the latest Macbook Pro without losing my mind? Strapped for cash, I decided to put my 8-core macpro up for sale. The idea was to use part of the money to buy a middle-of-the-road macbook pro and save the rest. I still need a computer and value the added mobility, but don't really need all that processing power.

So right when I find a buyer for my macpro system at a really good price, somebody offers me an editing gig.

Here's my question: do I have wildly optimistic expectations of what can be done on a laptop? Can I edit HD without going absolutely nuts? I am a relatively impatient person, and I have to say, part of me is embarassed at the thought of having a producer come over and find me working off a laptop.

If I decide to use all the proceeds from selling the macpro and get the top-of-the-line macbook pro, am I going to have an editing system that I can be reasonably happy with? Or should I back away from my decision to sell my 8core?

I work on Final Cut Studio 2.

Downgrading multiple Vista machines with one XP Professional license

danwalker — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:12:53 -0800

Can I "downgrade" multiple computers with Vista pre-installed using only one license of XP Professional? I need to purchase several computers, and it's getting more difficult where I am to find suitable hardware that comes with the Windows XP Pro downgrade pre-configured.

It's my understanding that, if Vista Business or Ultimate is pre-configured, I can "downgrade" to XP Professional if I have a copy of XP Pro (and am comfortable doing the downgrade myself, which I am). What I'm wondering is whether I need to own multiple licences of both Vista and XP, or if only one copy of XP is OK.

One would hope that one wouldn't need to purchase Vista AND XP for each machine, but I know this is not an area where reason rules. There's lots of reference online to doing the downgrade, but I'm having trouble finding specific mention of downgrading multiple machines with only one XP Pro license.

Your thoughts?

Ram with a View

Iteki — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:43:07 -0800

Going to try "downgrade" my new laptop from Vista to XP. Most painless method? Software to identify all drivers or other methods? The providor (Packard Bell) doesn't offer downgrade disks it would appear, and while the support page for the unit describes most (all?) the drivers they have for Vista, I am thinking there might be a simpler alternative? I googled for driver identifier software but what didn't seem dodgy seemed to be pay. I am terrified of missing something and not knowing what the yellow question mark refers to. For the actual install I am gathering that booting with the XP disk in is the business?
All hand-holding appreciated, and sorry for the lame title.

iTunes Downgrade Problem

vronsky — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 07:54:24 -0800

I'm having a problem downgrading from iTunes 7 to iTunes 6... I was running iTunes 6.0.4 on a G4 (733MHz, 1.5GHz RAM, 120GB HD) and received the prompt to upgrade to iTunes 7.0.2. I missed the system requirement for a 1GHz chip and sure enough, iTunes has been ABYSMALLY SLOW ever since. I followed several links and have downgraded to v6.0.4, however the archived 6.0.4 Library file has none of my songs, ratings, comments etc , since the v. 7 upgrade (naturally). All my songs are still in the iTunes Music folder of course...is there ANY WAY to simply have iTunes 6.0.4 scan the folder and build a new Library file?