A
Angelo
Hello!
can I use VISTA product key to activate XP???
can I use VISTA product key to activate XP???
A
ANONYMOUS
Angelo,
You can't because Vista is a completely different product from XP as far
as Microsoft is concerned and that is why there are two different
names. Both products share identical functionalities but and do almost
identical things but product name is the distinguishing feature. I
don't know why you don't like Vista but I will not ask you here as it is
not my business to do so. I leave that to Pig-Bear who has nothing else
to do and who has no respect for Microsoft customers.
Hope this helps.
You can't because Vista is a completely different product from XP as far
as Microsoft is concerned and that is why there are two different
names. Both products share identical functionalities but and do almost
identical things but product name is the distinguishing feature. I
don't know why you don't like Vista but I will not ask you here as it is
not my business to do so. I leave that to Pig-Bear who has nothing else
to do and who has no respect for Microsoft customers.
Hope this helps.
P
PA Bear [MS MVP]
No, nor is your 2009 Ford's warranty good for repair work done on a used
2002 Chevy.
2002 Chevy.
S
Shenan Stanley
Angelo said:
Simple answer: No.
Just like most things that bear the same name (key), it works with a single
thing (or type of thing.) In this case - a Windows Vista key works with
Windows Vista. It goes even further than that. A Windows Vista Product key
is made to work with a specific edition and type of Windows Vista (editions
like Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate; types like OEM,
Retail, Upgrade, MSDN and Volume Licensed.)
Just because you own the 2007 model of a vehicleo des not mean your key will
fit the 2001 model of the same vehicle. ;-)
Now - you could have purchased (possibly) 'downgrade rights' when you
purchased the computer with Windows Vista (edition and current service pack
level unknown.) If you did - then you should have received a copy of
Windows XP and an associated product key to utilize. If you did not - then
you would have to purchase a copy/license for Windows XP in order to install
it - and that would come with its own product key.
Seems pretty late in the game to consider a downgrade to Windows XP. Is
this a new machine (bought in the last 6 months to a year?) Do you know if
the hardware in it even has drivers available for Windows XP so that you
could use it with the older operating system? Is it still under any
manufacturer's warranty that might be breached if you installed a different
OS on it?
For what reasons (if you do not mind answering this) are you considering a
downgrade to Windows XP from Vista?
For the sake of further discussion and more focused assistance...
Please provide Operating system (edition and service pack level,
the more detail, the better.):
Start button --> RUN
(no "RUN"? Press the "Windows Key" + R on your keyboard)
--> type in:
winver
--> Click OK.
The picture at the top of the window that opens will give you the general
(Operating System name) while the line starting with the word "version" will
give you the rest of the story. Post _both_ in response to this message
verbatim. ;-)
A
Angelo
Thanks a lot. I don't like vista has many problems with programs I'm using at
work...
work...
S
Shenan Stanley
<conversation as a whole>
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...p.general/browse_frm/thread/9b2541dfabd4a979/
</conversation as a whole>
In another response to this conversation, you volunteered this; "I don't
like vista has many problems with programs I'm using at work..." and I would
like to follow-up on that with you and see if these problems do not have
simple work arounds.
First - I believe, despite what it looks like - you gave two answers there.
1) You do not like Vista.
2) Vista has many problems with programs I am using at work.
There's either some assuming that has to happen - or better yet - some
clarification asked for.
For (1) - why do you not like Vista?
Is it a look/feel and familiarity thing? A lot of Vista's features can be
turned off and it can look and feel very similar to Windows XP (and that
even increases its speed significantly in some cases.)
Is it a speed thing? as there is no guarantee that Windows XP will run any
better on the system without more information on the hardware - and as I
mentioned before - there is a slight possibility Windows XP won't run at all
with some of your hardware (or more precisely - WIndows XP may not be able
to use certain components of your machine because the manufacturers of said
components have chosen not to provide the hardware drivers for Windows XP to
communicate with those parts.)
Or is it just 'group think' - everyone has told you Windows Vista is the
worst OS Microsoft has ever produced (kindly skipping over Windows ME) and
so everything that goes wrong - you just instantly blame on the OS instead
of trying to figure out exactly why it is happening?
For (2) - is this a 'work' machine? If so - have you taken up your issues
with your IT department? If not - what applications are having trouble
(application name and version, please) and why are you running them on this
machine if it is not a work machine? Can you not remote into your work
machine and use the resources the IT department has provided (for
compatibility and productivity) in that manner?
The big thing here is to figure out what applications are giving you trouble
and why. It could be a simple fix (a patch from the software manufacturer
of said application, running it in compatibility mode, etc) or there may be
a newer version you could be using of the application that works fine and is
still supported by the manufacturer of said application or you may actually
have a program or two that is incompatible with Windows Vista (but works
fine with Windows XP); although that list is not all that extensive.
Hope to hear from you soon so we might help you sort this out!
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...p.general/browse_frm/thread/9b2541dfabd4a979/
</conversation as a whole>
Shenan said:
In another response to this conversation, you volunteered this; "I don't
like vista has many problems with programs I'm using at work..." and I would
like to follow-up on that with you and see if these problems do not have
simple work arounds.
First - I believe, despite what it looks like - you gave two answers there.
1) You do not like Vista.
2) Vista has many problems with programs I am using at work.
There's either some assuming that has to happen - or better yet - some
clarification asked for.
For (1) - why do you not like Vista?
Is it a look/feel and familiarity thing? A lot of Vista's features can be
turned off and it can look and feel very similar to Windows XP (and that
even increases its speed significantly in some cases.)
Is it a speed thing? as there is no guarantee that Windows XP will run any
better on the system without more information on the hardware - and as I
mentioned before - there is a slight possibility Windows XP won't run at all
with some of your hardware (or more precisely - WIndows XP may not be able
to use certain components of your machine because the manufacturers of said
components have chosen not to provide the hardware drivers for Windows XP to
communicate with those parts.)
Or is it just 'group think' - everyone has told you Windows Vista is the
worst OS Microsoft has ever produced (kindly skipping over Windows ME) and
so everything that goes wrong - you just instantly blame on the OS instead
of trying to figure out exactly why it is happening?
For (2) - is this a 'work' machine? If so - have you taken up your issues
with your IT department? If not - what applications are having trouble
(application name and version, please) and why are you running them on this
machine if it is not a work machine? Can you not remote into your work
machine and use the resources the IT department has provided (for
compatibility and productivity) in that manner?
The big thing here is to figure out what applications are giving you trouble
and why. It could be a simple fix (a patch from the software manufacturer
of said application, running it in compatibility mode, etc) or there may be
a newer version you could be using of the application that works fine and is
still supported by the manufacturer of said application or you may actually
have a program or two that is incompatible with Windows Vista (but works
fine with Windows XP); although that list is not all that extensive.
Hope to hear from you soon so we might help you sort this out!
K
Ken Blake, MVP
That's like asking whether you can use the key to your 2008 Toyota
Camry to start your 1995 Ford.
The answer in both cases is no.
K
Ken Blake, MVP
Oops (and LOL!) I just said almost the same thing before noticing your
reply. I guess great minds think alike.
Sorry.
B
Bruce Chambers
Angelo said:
No, of course not.
--
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
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
D
Daave
Are you *absolutely* sure there are no exceptions, Ken? The reason I ask
is that in a thread I recently started:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt....hread/ec1388c3f4d52e2c/8fc46d5bbc9682f4?hl=en
one poster (William R. Walsh) answered me that it can occur in a
situation where there are downgrade rights. Unfortunately, no one
corroborated this so far.
Of course, in my example, the key isn't that important as long as a
person has the correct XP installation CD (Dell-branded). But in the
event the Dell CD is lost and someone has access to a generic OEM XP
installation CD, the claim was made that the Vista Product Key on the
Dell COA sticker would work.
S
Shenan Stanley
Angelo said:
Without a Windows XP Product Key, you cannot activate a valid Windows XP
installation. The OEM (Dell-Branded, Gateway-branded, HP-branded,
Lenovo-branded, etc) installation media just has a key built in (which can
be removed/changed if you know what you are doing.) In any case - even the
downgrade rights option was mentioned in this conversation, just not this
thread of it.
I believe my example (using the same theme) might be more accurate than
Ken's in this case...
(You can see my vehicular type comparison in the entire conversation...
*grin*)
<conversation as a whole>
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...p.general/browse_frm/thread/9b2541dfabd4a979/
</conversation as a whole>
K
Ken Blake, MVP
I just hate to be *absolutely* sure of anything, but as far as I know,
there are no exceptions. I wouldn't bet the farm on my being right,
but I would wager a few dollars on it.
P
PA Bear [MS MVP]
Great minds do think alike. I prolly stole that comparison from you years
ago!
ago!
D
Daave
According to this article:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9040318/FAQ_Giving_up_on_Vista_Here_s_how_to_downgrade_to_XP
the Vista Product key *is* supposed to be used if a non-SLP-enabled OEM
XP installation CD is used in a supported downgrade situation. And
telephone activation would be necessary, too. And now I do seem to
recall this discussion on the Net from two years ago.
But here's the problem: If the Micorosoft CSR doesn't know about the
protocol (which is to listen to your explanation that you are
downgrading and you do indeed have downgrade righs [I wonder how you
prove this without faxing or scanning/uploading the receipt!] and then
issue you an *activation* ID), good luck, Charlie!
R
Roger Hunt
Out of fascinated interest ... why do you top post?PA Bear said:
I would have thought that an MS MVP would be the first to set an example
of good netiquette.
G
Guest
Angela,
No you cannot use the same product key
In the UK it is possible to buy a Vista Business machine with an XP Pro SP 3
downgrade licence but not sure in other countries. Then again, you could
have Home Premium which cannot be downgraded
No you cannot use the same product key
In the UK it is possible to buy a Vista Business machine with an XP Pro SP 3
downgrade licence but not sure in other countries. Then again, you could
have Home Premium which cannot be downgraded
K
Ken Blake, MVP
What that says is that you can activate by telephone, and in that
situation the telephone rep will accept the Vista key. But it does
*not* say that you can activate over the internet yourself by using
the Vista key.
It's perhaps just a difference of semantics, but to me, that's not at
all what I thought the OP meant.
K
Ken Blake, MVP
Like everyone else, MVPs are individuals, and as individuals, we have
different views on many things, including what constitutes good
netiquette. Although I disagree with PA Bear's view in this instance,
I will defend his right to have a view that's different from mine.
P
PA Bear [MS MVP]
Out of fascinated interest ... why do you top post?
1. Because this is a Microsoft newsgroup and the MS newsreaders Outlook
Express, Windows Mail, and Windows Live Mail are configured to top-post by
default. (When in Rome...)
2. Because I choose to do so.
3. Because it annoys nosey, obsessive-compulsive, alt.* & uk.rec.* people
like you.
1. Because this is a Microsoft newsgroup and the MS newsreaders Outlook
Express, Windows Mail, and Windows Live Mail are configured to top-post by
default. (When in Rome...)
2. Because I choose to do so.
3. Because it annoys nosey, obsessive-compulsive, alt.* & uk.rec.* people
like you.
D
Daave
If I'm not mistaken, when these Microsoft newsgroups first appeared and
for quite a while afterward, top-posting was almost always the case
(perhaps because so many people used Outlook Express and its default
composing behavior). I happen to prefer the readability of contextual
inline posting. Obviously, many others don't, though!
I would imagine the longer an MS MVP (or *any* poster to these Micorosft
newsgroups) has been around, the more likely they prefer to stick to the
old way of doing things. Although I think it's not the best way to do
things, in all honesty, it's not that much more work to scroll up and
down. Of course if half the people top-post and the other half
bottom-post, that makes for more up-and-down zigzag scrolling! So far,
*this* particular sub-thread has been well behaved but once you start
seeing more top-posts, that will necessitate more scrolling for
newcomers. Oh, well!
I'm not sure top-posting goes against Netiquette. Arguably, if only one
percent did top-posting, you could make that case.