Using Vista Product Key for XP

G

Guest

Is it possible to use the product key from Vista on an XP install. I could
have sworn this worked for me at work when using a VLK key through our open
license.

Would the same be possible for a retail or oem copy of vista working on the
respective version of XP?

If any of this is possible, I have an oem product key for Vista Home Basic
on a newly purchased toshiba laptop. I would like to put XP on their
instead. Which version of XP would my oem vista home basic key work on if at
all?
 
P

PvdG42

tronsr71 said:
Is it possible to use the product key from Vista on an XP install. I
could
have sworn this worked for me at work when using a VLK key through our
open
license.

Would the same be possible for a retail or oem copy of vista working on
the
respective version of XP?

If any of this is possible, I have an oem product key for Vista Home Basic
on a newly purchased toshiba laptop. I would like to put XP on their
instead. Which version of XP would my oem vista home basic key work on if
at
all?


It won't work.
 
B

Bruce Chambers

tronsr71 said:
Is it possible to use the product key from Vista on an XP install.


No. Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of
CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are
purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any
retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice
versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full version CD,
and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to install a retail
product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an English CD.
Bottom line: Product Keys and CD types cannot be mixed & matched.

I could
have sworn this worked for me at work when using a VLK key through our open
license.


You're most likely misremembering something else. It certainly
shouldn't have worked.

Would the same be possible for a retail or oem copy of vista working on the
respective version of XP?

No.


If any of this is possible, I have an oem product key for Vista Home Basic
on a newly purchased toshiba laptop. I would like to put XP on their
instead. Which version of XP would my oem vista home basic key work on if at
all?


None, whatsoever. You'll have to purchase a license (Product Key) to
go with that WinXP CD.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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
 
X

XS11E

You're most likely misremembering something else. It
certainly shouldn't have worked.

Hmmmm, don't know about that, I seem to recall a VLK license allows
downgrading Vista to XP. Could that possibly what made it work?
 
B

Bruce Chambers

XS11E said:
Hmmmm, don't know about that, I seem to recall a VLK license allows
downgrading Vista to XP. Could that possibly what made it work?


The *license* permits a downgrade, but one is still required to use a
valid WinXP Product Key. (In affect, the Volume License's downgrade
rights permits the licensee to use one WinXP Product Key on multiple
machines.)



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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
 
X

XS11E

The *license* permits a downgrade, but one is still required
to use a valid WinXP Product Key. (In affect, the Volume
License's downgrade rights permits the licensee to use one WinXP
Product Key on multiple machines.)

Aha! I didn't know that, thanks!
 
G

Guest

Bruce Chambers said:
The *license* permits a downgrade, but one is still required to use a
valid WinXP Product Key. (In affect, the Volume License's downgrade
rights permits the licensee to use one WinXP Product Key on multiple
machines.)
Yes, this is essentially what I recall now. I must have have been mistaken,
as you said, and used a different product key. I did, however, reserve my
right to downgrade from vista to xp pro. With this in mind, I did a search
on "downgrading from vista to xp" and came across this helpful thread:
http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1425295&SiteID=17

Basically, I can do the same thing for an OEM version of vista, but it may
be a struggle obtaining a "new key" from microsoft when I call to activate xp.
 
B

Bruce Chambers

XS11E said:
Aha! I didn't know that, thanks!


You're welcome.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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
 

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