from vista to xp problem.

[naukki]

i have windows vista in my computer but i would like to change it to xp we
have xp in our second computer. i have the xp cd but i don't have another
product key. so my question is: were can i get new product key to the xp cd
and is it free?

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

i have windows vista in my computer but i would like to change it to xp we
have xp in our second computer. i have the xp cd but i don't have another
product key. so my question is: were can i get new product key to the xp
cd
and is it free?

The rule is one installation per key. You will have to purchase the version
of XP that you want, and then do a clean install..


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

i have windows vista in my computer but i would like to change it to xp we
have xp in our second computer. i have the xp cd but i don't have another
product key. so my question is: were can i get new product key to the xp cd
and is it free?

It is certainly not free.

The rule is quite clear. It's one copy (or one license) for each
computer.

There's nothing new here. This is exactly the same rule that's been in
effect on every version of Windows starting at least with Windows 3.1.
The only thing new with XP is that there's now an enforcement
mechanism.

If yours is a retail version, not an OEM one, you can buy extra
licenses (see
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp). But it's
not generally a good deal. The problem is that Microsoft sells
additional licenses at only a small savings over the list price.
You're almost certainly better off just buying a complete second copy
from a discount source.

When you buy a copy, you have a choice of a generic OEM version, a
Full Retail copy, or a Full Upgrade copy. I recommend against the OEM
copy because it comes with the severe restriction that once installed
in a computer, it can never be moved to another. I recommend the
Upgrade (usually only slightly more expensive than the OEM version)
over the Full version, because it's considerable less expensive, and
despite what some people think, *can* do a clean installation as long
as you own a CD of a previous qualifying version to show it as proof
of ownership when prompted. Most people have a Windows 98 CD around,
but worst case, if you don't, you can buy one inexpensively on eBay.

 

[DL]

And of course you would need to ensure your Vista PC's hardware supports
winxp, not all do, and it may invalidate any warranty or support

 

[Bruce Chambers]

i have windows vista in my computer but i would like to change it to xp we
have xp in our second computer. i have the xp cd but i don't have another
product key. so my question is: were can i get new product key ...

By purchasing a new WinXP license.

... to the xp cd
and is it free?

No, of course not.

It's your computer, so the choice is, ultimately, yours. (Although it
would have been a lot simpler to have just purchased a computer with
WinXP installed, to start with.)

However, 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. Thirdly, there may be the
additional cost involved in purchasing a WinXP license for this new
computer.

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS
installation, simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be
offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part
of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of
boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Then, assuming you were successful in obtaining WinXP-specific
device drivers so that the computer can be made to work with WinXP, the
backed up data can be restored and applications (those that are
WinXP-compatible, that is) re-installed.


--

Bruce Chambers

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