Downgrading Vista Business OEM to XP Pro OEM, Possible?

[Guest]

My uncles business has an old machine running XP Pro SP2 OEM that simply
cannot handle old software anymore, so I'll be building him a new modern
machine.

The problem is the software he needs to run doesn't run on Vista, it's a
known issue.

We'd like to buy Vista Business OEM for the new machine for future use (when
the software finally works on Vista), but use his XP Pro SP2 OEM disk and key
on the new machine, and also on the old.

I know this is in effect using the same key on two completely different
machines, however two licences have been purchased so I'd think this should
be OK with Microsoft.

Does anyone know if this is legit legally and if is, from a Windows
Update/Validation point of view?

Thanks either way!

Chuck

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

My uncles business has an old machine running XP Pro SP2 OEM that simply
cannot handle old software anymore, so I'll be building him a new modern
machine.

The problem is the software he needs to run doesn't run on Vista, it's a
known issue.

We'd like to buy Vista Business OEM for the new machine for future use (when
the software finally works on Vista), but use his XP Pro SP2 OEM disk and key
on the new machine, and also on the old.

I know this is in effect using the same key on two completely different
machines, however two licences have been purchased so I'd think this should
be OK with Microsoft.

Does anyone know if this is legit legally and if is, from a Windows
Update/Validation point of view?

No... not legal. Buy a second OEM copy of XP.... it's only $99.
Build an XP system and there will be no driver or software issues.
I'd wait until VISTA has been around for a while longer and is further
de-bugged before committing.

IMHO, you're better off running XP until VISTA is out of Beta, or as
long as you don't care to have a user profile built on your machine's
activities.

 

[John Barnes]

If you have a second license you have a second key, use it. The license for
an OEM product is tied to the computer it came on or is first installed on.
Since the activation algorithm will be different for each machine,
activation will be required each time the computer checks it, which isn't as
often with XP as Vista, but do really want that? Buy another OEM product
key or use the key that came with your second license.

 

[Kerry Brown]

My uncles business has an old machine running XP Pro SP2 OEM that simply
cannot handle old software anymore, so I'll be building him a new modern
machine.

The problem is the software he needs to run doesn't run on Vista, it's a
known issue.

We'd like to buy Vista Business OEM for the new machine for future use
(when
the software finally works on Vista), but use his XP Pro SP2 OEM disk and
key
on the new machine, and also on the old.

I know this is in effect using the same key on two completely different
machines, however two licences have been purchased so I'd think this
should
be OK with Microsoft.

Does anyone know if this is legit legally and if is, from a Windows
Update/Validation point of view?

Thanks either way!

Yes, that's possible and legal. Vista Business has downgrade rights to XP
Pro. Even though you installed XP using a key from another computer the
license is actually from the copy of Vista you have. You will have to phone
in for activation of XP and explain that you are exercising your downgrade
rights from Vista.

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...cbd-699b0c164182/royaltyoemreferencesheet.pdf

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

If you have a second license you have a second key, use it.

Interesting. You're saying that a VISTA license will activate XP ?

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

Yes, that's possible and legal. Vista Business has downgrade rights to XP
Pro. Even though you installed XP using a key from another computer the
license is actually from the copy of Vista you have. You will have to phone
in for activation of XP and explain that you are exercising your downgrade
rights from Vista.

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...cbd-699b0c164182/royaltyoemreferencesheet.pdf

So the actual VISTA key will NOT activate XP ?

And if the key is used for such by phone, then VISTA can no longer be activated?

 

[John Barnes]

No. You didn't say what 2 licenses you had. Kerry says you can downgrade
with your vista license, so follow his advice.

 

[Guest]

Hey Kerry, Thanks!

That's exactly what I was looking for!

Chuck

 

[Kerry Brown]

Hey Kerry, Thanks!

That's exactly what I was looking for!

Chuck

One thing I forgot to mention. If your OEM version of XP came is BIOS locked
you won't be able to install it.

 

[Kerry Brown]

So the actual VISTA key will NOT activate XP ?

And if the key is used for such by phone, then VISTA can no longer be
activated?

The XP install won't finish unless you provide an XP key. Keys are specific
to the version, i.e. an OEM XP Pro US English key will only work with that
exact version of XP.

The Vista key never gets used or entered anywhere. If at some later point
you wish to install Vista on the same computer it will work. The key point
is that as you are using OEM software you can run Vista or a downgrade to XP
Pro on that computer with that license. Keys are not licenses and vice
versa. You have a license to run Vista business on that computer. Part of
that license says that you can downgrade to XP Pro on that computer. You
can't install XP Pro and Vista at the same. It's one or the other and only
on that computer. My advice is to take an image of all the partitions on the
disk and store it away for future use. Format the drive and install XP Pro
using the key from the other computer. Phone to activate it and explain what
you've done. It should be activated. If they won't point them to the link I
posted. When you want to return to Vista restore the image you created. Note
that the downgrade rights are very specific. You can only downgrade from
Vista Business or Ultimate to XP Pro, Tablet, or Pro x64. You can't
downgrade to XP Home or media Center. Nor can you downgrade from Vista Home
basic or Premium.

 

[Guest]

Cool, thanks for that extra info...won't have that problem as the HP
originally came with 98SE, XP Pro SP2 OEM full version was something I'd put
on to gain stability, which worked.

Thanks again for all the info, I think we're good to go!

Chuck

 

[Guest]

You should post how your experience goes with the activation. Microsoft's
phone activation for downgrades has been "problematic" in the past. It would
be good to know if it has gotten easier.

 

[Guest]

I have been on the phone for over an hour so far. I am a microsoft
registered partner and have logged an official complaint.

For something that should be very straight forward, MS have really let us
down here!!

I have 18 of these to do for a customer and i am still on my first!!!

 

[Guest]

Ouch, I figured this was still a royal pain. I have 61 PC's and 7 laptops to
order. I'm debating whether to just buy them with XP and forgo this complete
Vista downgrade nightmare. Did they let you activate all of your systems at
once, or do you have to call separately for each one? I know I sure as heck
am not calling them 68 times.

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

Ouch, I figured this was still a royal pain. I have 61 PC's and 7 laptops to
order. I'm debating whether to just buy them with XP and forgo this complete
Vista downgrade nightmare. Did they let you activate all of your systems at
once, or do you have to call separately for each one? I know I sure as heck
am not calling them 68 times.

Buy the PCs with XP or build them yourself and install XP.... it will be on the
retail shelves for some time to come. Demand XP from the laptop builder
or try a different builder until one will accomodate you. This is not that
difficult.... if you don't want VISTA (and I can't blame you), then don't buy
it.

 

[Guest]

The problem really is our applications simply won't work on it yet. This is a
common issue with many companies. I'd stay with XP forever if it were up to
me, but eventually, someday, the company will have PC's running Vista. Anyone
that's lived though a supporting a mixed environment knows what a joy it is.
I'd like to have the ability a year from know to go to Vista, once SP1 for it
is out, and our apps are compatible. This is the central purpose of MS
downgrade rights. Too bad they make it such a pain in the arse.

And there's no way I'm signing up to be complete hardware tech support for
61 office PC's by building them myself. That's the job of the Dell on-site
tech, and he can have it.

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

The problem really is our applications simply won't work on it yet. This is a
common issue with many companies. I'd stay with XP forever if it were up to
me, but eventually, someday, the company will have PC's running Vista. Anyone
that's lived though a supporting a mixed environment knows what a joy it is.

It would appear that MS is making certain that VISTA does not go the way of
Millenium Edition by saturating the OEM marketplace in a big way. It's an
NT -and a specialized one at that- OS, and there were 4 service packs for
WIN2K before the bugs were adequately addressed.

I'd like to have the ability a year from know to go to Vista, once SP1 for it
is out, and our apps are compatible. This is the central purpose of MS
downgrade rights. Too bad they make it such a pain in the arse.

Indeed... but from reading below, isn't that a job for the DELL tech ????

And there's no way I'm signing up to be complete hardware tech support for
61 office PC's by building them myself. That's the job of the Dell on-site
tech, and he can have it.

What kind of "hardware" do you need that isn't either built onto current
motherborads or isn't plug and play? Either it works or it doesn't... if the
latter, it get replaced. How long is your Dell 'on-site' tech support... one
year?

If you were in my market, I'd offer to build and support 61 PCs at probably
65% of the cost of a Dell package... but that's just my humble ego. ;-)

IIRC, Dell is one of the few that offer XP systems, so I think you're in good
shape... just pay the blanket upgrade fee at the appropriate time. (Which
might be both further off and less expensive than you imagine).

VISTA, IMHO, is the next thing to the human implanted chip, in-so-far-as
building reportable profiles on its users. It might not last. Although it has
already outlived M.E. for retail shelf life, there's still a chance that it may
not make the grade... though you're probably correct in assuming that it is
here to stay.

Personally, I stayed with 98SE and 2K until just two years ago.. and now that
I'm getting a grip on controlling XP instead of being controlled BY it, I'm coming
no closer to VISTA that I have already been by experimenting with two of the OS'
for 29 days each. It ain't ready for 'prime time' and I don't know a serious tech
(or even too many PC salesmen) that will tell you otherwise. <g>

Cheers & good luck,

DM

 

[Guest]

I also have same issue.
I contacted Microsoft, Dell, and HP.
I got same answers. Use a XP Pro OEM key that cannot be activated anymore
(previously activated on other machine), so when you click activation, XP
prompt and you to call MS activation center.
I am suppose to "the OS will prompt the customer to call the Activation
Support Line and explain the circumstances to the Customer Service
Representative. Once it is determined that the Vista Business or Ultimate
license is valid, the Customer Service Representative will manually activate
Windows XP".

Ya, right. Activation center told me I still need valid XP Pro OEM key and
they did not even want to know my valid Vista Business key. Maybe activation
center is not up to date with MS downgrade rights policy. I yelled at them
and at the end I got SP Pro activated. They just want to deal with me
anymore.

I contacted Dell and HP again. Will see what they have to say.

 

[Guest]

I really like to know if anybody actually tried this method.
I was told same thing by HP, Dell and MS representitives.

I installed XP pro on Vista Business sticker workstation. I used old XP Pro
key to installation and click on the activation key, which failed as
expected, and called activation center as stated in the Vista downgrade
right's policy.

Lady at activation center naver heard of it, insist I need a valid XP key.
I even told them MS web site has information on how to down grade. At the
end she gave me a activation ID and try to get rid of me.

I really want to hear if anybody actually try the doengrade activation.

My division activate about 100 XP Pro a month to sent to customers.