Downgrading from Vista to XP

[Guest]

I recently bought an ACER 5580WXMi preloaded with Vista Home Premium. After
spending a few days with it I find I much prefer XP. Is it possible for me to
downgrade from Vista to XP for FREE?

 

[Guest]

Depends !

Usually your OEM OS is tied to your computer.

However, if you have a XP disc, and you were to
format the hard drive and do a clean install of XP, I should think
it would work.
Having it validated is another question !

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[Mike Brannigan]

I recently bought an ACER 5580WXMi preloaded with Vista Home Premium. After
spending a few days with it I find I much prefer XP. Is it possible for me
to
downgrade from Vista to XP for FREE?

Read the End User License Agreement (EULA) for your specific copy of Windows
Vista (just run winver and click the link to view the license).
The Home Premium license does NOT have downgrade rights.
If you wish to use Windows XP on that system then you will either have to
purchase a copy or contact your OEM and discuss this with them

 

[David Hearn]

I recently bought an ACER 5580WXMi preloaded with Vista Home Premium. After
spending a few days with it I find I much prefer XP. Is it possible for me to
downgrade from Vista to XP for FREE?

Nope. As far as I'm aware, the only license which has downgrade rights
is the Volume License users who have the Software Assurance option.

David

 

[Mike Brannigan]

Nope. As far as I'm aware, the only license which has downgrade rights is
the Volume License users who have the Software Assurance option.

David

Actually it is also allowed under Vista Ultimate too (both retail and OEM) -
it is covered in the EULA

 

[Conor]

I recently bought an ACER 5580WXMi preloaded with Vista Home Premium. After
spending a few days with it I find I much prefer XP. Is it possible for me to
downgrade from Vista to XP for FREE?

No.

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

No doubt you felt the same way when moving from Win 9x to XP way back when..
I would suggest that you give it more of a chance before taking the
retrograde step of returning to XP..

I recently bought an ACER 5580WXMi preloaded with Vista Home Premium. After
spending a few days with it I find I much prefer XP. Is it possible for me
to
downgrade from Vista to XP for FREE?

--


Mike Hall
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/

 

[David Hearn]

Actually it is also allowed under Vista Ultimate too (both retail and
OEM) - it is covered in the EULA

Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate share the same EULA (with bits
specific to each edition covered)

http://download.microsoft.com/docum...lish_d16c019b-fa71-4fc9-a51d-a0621bddb153.pdf

I see nothing in that EULA that states downgrade rights are provided.

However, looking at
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...9d-4996-b198-7b9d3fe15611/downgrade_chart.doc

I see:

OEM license of Systems Software:
"Rights to OEM versions of systems software are granted in the OEM
License Terms. 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
Vistaâ„¢ 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."

FPP (Full Packaged Product - aka Retail) Systems Software:
"Downgrade rights are not granted under FPP system licenses."

So, I was wrong. Downgrade rights exist for OEM copies of Vista
Business and Vista Ultimate - no downgrade rights exist for retail products.

David

 

[Mike Brannigan]

I too was in error - no downgrade rights on Retail but they are there on
Ultimate OEM in the EULA.