How to downgrade Vista to XP

Hi Everyone,

Here's what we have been doing to deploy XP Prof. PC's. Setup a new PC with
all the required apps and settings, sysprep it and take the image using
ghost. The image would be copied to all new PC's and during the Mini Setup
you would be prompted for the XP license key. I would have purchased OEM XP
licenses and a new key would be inserted at this point. All worked just
fine.

Until, I can no longer buy anymore XP OEM Licenses.

I'm told by MS I can purchase Vista Business OEM Licenses and downgrade them
to XP
Professional.

Given the way we are presently deploying our XP machines what are the steps
required to use our existing XP images and to have the Vista OEM Licenses
downgraded? I'm sure it's just not a matter of using the Vista OEM License
key in place of the XP OEM License key during the Mini Setup, or is it?

TIA

Greg

Greg Hines wrote:
Hi Everyone,

Here's what we have been doing to deploy XP Prof. PC's. Setup a new PC with
all the required apps and settings, sysprep it and take the image using
ghost. The image would be copied to all new PC's and during the Mini Setup
you would be prompted for the XP license key. I would have purchased OEM XP
licenses and a new key would be inserted at this point. All worked just
fine.

Until, I can no longer buy anymore XP OEM Licenses.

I'm told by MS I can purchase Vista Business OEM Licenses and downgrade them
to XP
Professional.

Given the way we are presently deploying our XP machines what are the steps
required to use our existing XP images and to have the Vista OEM Licenses
downgraded?


For Vista Business or Ultimate, it depends entirely upon the specific
type of license you have; in general, you'd need to have one of the Open
or Select Volume (sometimes mistakenly called "Corporate") license.
"The OEM License Terms for most OEM versions of systems software do not
grant downgrade rights. The exception is the OEM License Terms for the
Windows® XP Professional operating system and the Windows Vista™
Business and Windows Vista Ultimate operating systems, which grant
downgrade rights. See the full text of the OEM License Terms for the
specific downgrade rights."

Downgrade Rights Chart
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rade_chart.doc

Downgrade Rights Chart 2
http://download.microsoft.com/docume...ade-rights.doc


I'm sure it's just not a matter of using the Vista OEM License
key in place of the XP OEM License key during the Mini Setup, or is it?


No, the Vista Product Keys would not work for WinXP. The *license*
permits a downgrade, but one is still required to use a valid WinXP
Product Key. (In affect, the Volume License's downgrade rights permits
the licensee to use one WinXP Product Key on multiple machines.)


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

Greg Hines wrote:
Hi Everyone,

Here's what we have been doing to deploy XP Prof. PC's. Setup a new
PC with all the required apps and settings, sysprep it and take the
image using ghost. The image would be copied to all new PC's and
during the Mini Setup you would be prompted for the XP license key. I
would have purchased OEM XP licenses and a new key would be
inserted at this point. All worked just fine.

Until, I can no longer buy anymore XP OEM Licenses.

That is an incorrect assumption. :-)

How many licenses do you need?

OEM XP Pro (and Home, for that matter) licenses are still available,
provided you purchase the accompanying CD:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-515-_-Product

"Bruce Chambers" wrote in message
...
Greg Hines wrote:
Hi Everyone,

Here's what we have been doing to deploy XP Prof. PC's. Setup a new PC
with
all the required apps and settings, sysprep it and take the image using
ghost. The image would be copied to all new PC's and during the Mini
Setup
you would be prompted for the XP license key. I would have purchased OEM
XP
licenses and a new key would be inserted at this point. All worked just
fine.

Until, I can no longer buy anymore XP OEM Licenses.

I'm told by MS I can purchase Vista Business OEM Licenses and downgrade
them to XP
Professional.

Given the way we are presently deploying our XP machines what are the
steps
required to use our existing XP images and to have the Vista OEM Licenses
downgraded?


For Vista Business or Ultimate, it depends entirely upon the specific type
of license you have; in general, you'd need to have one of the Open or
Select Volume (sometimes mistakenly called "Corporate") license. "The OEM
License Terms for most OEM versions of systems software do not grant
downgrade rights. The exception is the OEM License Terms for the Windows®
XP Professional operating system and the Windows Vista™ Business and
Windows Vista Ultimate operating systems, which grant downgrade rights.
See the full text of the OEM License Terms for the specific downgrade
rights."

Downgrade Rights Chart
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rade_chart.doc

Downgrade Rights Chart 2
http://download.microsoft.com/docume...ade-rights.doc


I'm sure it's just not a matter of using the Vista OEM License
key in place of the XP OEM License key during the Mini Setup, or is it?


No, the Vista Product Keys would not work for WinXP. The *license*
permits a downgrade, but one is still required to use a valid WinXP
Product Key. (In affect, the Volume License's downgrade rights permits
the licensee to use one WinXP Product Key on multiple machines.)


--

Bruce Chambers

Bruce,

Thanks for the links, very helpful.

Let's say I have purchased either Vista Business VLK or OEM and I deploy my
XP image on a new PC. The mini setup starts and it's asking for an XP
Product Key. At this point I can either enter a valid XP Product Key or
Cancel to continue with the mini setup. As I don't have a valid XP Product
key I cancel.

Mini setup completes. How now do I use my Vista VLK or OEM Keys to activate
XP? Can this be done over the Internet or phone? What steps must I take?

Thanks again for your help.

Greg

"Daave" wrote in message
...
Greg Hines wrote:
Hi Everyone,

Here's what we have been doing to deploy XP Prof. PC's. Setup a new
PC with all the required apps and settings, sysprep it and take the
image using ghost. The image would be copied to all new PC's and
during the Mini Setup you would be prompted for the XP license key. I
would have purchased OEM XP licenses and a new key would be
inserted at this point. All worked just fine.

Until, I can no longer buy anymore XP OEM Licenses.

That is an incorrect assumption. :-)

How many licenses do you need?

OEM XP Pro (and Home, for that matter) licenses are still available,
provided you purchase the accompanying CD:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-515-_-Product


Yes, there still are places where you can still buy a license, but as MS is
not supplying anymore you will not be able to get them once present stock is
sold.

Greg

Greg Hines wrote:
"Daave" wrote in message
...
Greg Hines wrote:
Hi Everyone,

Here's what we have been doing to deploy XP Prof. PC's. Setup a new
PC with all the required apps and settings, sysprep it and take the
image using ghost. The image would be copied to all new PC's and
during the Mini Setup you would be prompted for the XP license key.
I would have purchased OEM XP licenses and a new key would be
inserted at this point. All worked just fine.

Until, I can no longer buy anymore XP OEM Licenses.

That is an incorrect assumption. :-)

How many licenses do you need?

OEM XP Pro (and Home, for that matter) licenses are still available,
provided you purchase the accompanying CD:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-515-_-Product


Yes, there still are places where you can still buy a license, but as
MS is not supplying anymore you will not be able to get them once
present stock is sold.

Does it matter that MS is not supplying them? A license is a license.
How many do you need? Sorry to be obtuse, but I'm not following you!

Greg Hines wrote:

Bruce,

Thanks for the links, very helpful.



You're welcome.


Let's say I have purchased either Vista Business VLK or OEM and I deploy my
XP image on a new PC. The mini setup starts and it's asking for an XP
Product Key. At this point I can either enter a valid XP Product Key or
Cancel to continue with the mini setup. As I don't have a valid XP Product
key I cancel.

Mini setup completes. How now do I use my Vista VLK or OEM Keys to activate
XP?


You can't use a Vista Product Key to activate WinXP. You must have a
valid WinXP Product Key.

Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of CD/license
(OEM, Volume, retail, or full) with which they are purchased. For
example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any retail version
of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice versa. An OEM
Product Key will not work to install a retail product. An Italian
Product Key will not work with an English CD. Bottom line: Product Keys
and CD/license types cannot usually (it's been reported that the Product
Key for a full license will work with an Upgrade CD) be mixed & matched.


Can this be done over the Internet or phone? What steps must I take?

That, I don't know.

Also, I should have mentioned:

There could be a couple possible adverse repercussions of which you
should be aware. First and foremost, if the specific computer model in
question was designed specifically for Vista, there may well be no
WinXP-specific device drivers available to make the computer's diverse
components work properly. Consult the computer's manufacturer about the
availability of device drivers. Secondly, removing an OEM-installed
operating system and replacing it with another will almost invariably
void any and all support agreements and, sometimes, even the warranty.
You would, at the very least, have to re-install Vista before getting
any support from the manufacturer. Again, consult the computer's
manufacturer for specifics.







--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot