I have two legal Windows XP machines that do not run needed applications. I need to downgrade the machines to Win2K. Where can I get install keys for Win2K for these machines?

I've never looked into this, but I'd say, depending on your licensing
agreement, WinXP licenses may not permit you to run Win2k - contact whomever
you purchased the licenses from. If they're OEM / bundled, you will need to
purchase Win2k Pro.

Perhaps if you can describe the problems you're having with your
applications, someone can help you resolve them and make a "downgrade"
unnecessary....

Mike R. wrote:
> I have two legal Windows XP machines that do not run needed
> applications. I need to downgrade the machines to Win2K. Where can
> I get install keys for Win2K for these machines?

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

> I've never looked into this, but I'd say, depending on your licensing
> agreement, WinXP licenses may not permit you to run Win2k - contact whomever
> you purchased the licenses from. If they're OEM / bundled, you will need to
> purchase Win2k Pro.

Hi

If you have OEM WinXP Pro, you can downgrade to Win2k or NT 4.0, but with WinXP
Home you can't.


A "Downgrade Rights Chart" is found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/LICENSING/r...s/volbrief.asp

It is legal to "downgrade" a WinXP Pro OEM license (but not Home, and not a
retail version of Pro either). The downgrade option goes for Select License
and Open License Agreement as well.

From the "Downgrade Rights Chart" found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/LICENSING/r...s/volbrief.asp

<quote>
System licenses acquired via the OEM channel follow rights granted in the OEM
license. PCs licensed for Windows XP Professional OEM are licensed to use
identified previous versions of Windows Operating System Product(s) in lieu of
Windows XP Professional (Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Microsoft
Windows NT 4.0 or Microsoft® Windows 98 (Second Edition).
</quote>


Note this from the "Windows OEM EULA Changes" at the same Web page:

<quote>
If you choose this option, neither Microsoft nor the PC Manufacturer is
obligated to supply you with copies of previous versions and neither Microsoft
nor the PC Manufacturer is responsible to provide product support for PCs on
which these previous versions are installed.
</quote>

I would think that in this case it is ok to use whatever Win2k CD/license key
(from work/friend/neighbor) you can get hold of, because the Win2k license is
covered by the WinXP license anyway.


--
torgeir
Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of the 1328 page
Scripting Guide: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter

Ah - thanks, Torgeir - good to know. As mentioned I've never looked into
this - :-)

Torgeir Bakken (MVP) wrote:
<snip>

Hi
>
> If you have OEM WinXP Pro, you can downgrade to Win2k or NT 4.0, but
> with WinXP Home you can't.
>
>
> A "Downgrade Rights Chart" is found here:
> http://www.microsoft.com/LICENSING/r...s/volbrief.asp
>
> It is legal to "downgrade" a WinXP Pro OEM license (but not Home, and
> not a retail version of Pro either). The downgrade option goes for
> Select License and Open License Agreement as well.
>
> From the "Downgrade Rights Chart" found here:
> http://www.microsoft.com/LICENSING/r...s/volbrief.asp
>
> <quote>
> System licenses acquired via the OEM channel follow rights granted in
> the OEM license. PCs licensed for Windows XP Professional OEM are
> licensed to use identified previous versions of Windows Operating
> System Product(s) in lieu of Windows XP Professional (Microsoft
> Windows 2000 Professional, Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 or Microsoft®
> Windows 98 (Second Edition). </quote>
>
>
> Note this from the "Windows OEM EULA Changes" at the same Web page:
>
> <quote>
> If you choose this option, neither Microsoft nor the PC Manufacturer
> is obligated to supply you with copies of previous versions and
> neither Microsoft nor the PC Manufacturer is responsible to provide
> product support for PCs on which these previous versions are
> installed. </quote>
>
> I would think that in this case it is ok to use whatever Win2k
> CD/license key (from work/friend/neighbor) you can get hold of,
> because the Win2k license is covered by the WinXP license anyway.