Where can I get Win2K install keys for downgrading from WinXP

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Guest

I have two legal Windows XP machines that do not run needed applications. I need to downgrade the machines to Win2K. Where can I get install keys for Win2K for these machines?
 
I've never looked into this, but I'd say, depending on your licensing
agreement, WinXP licenses may not permit you to run Win2k - contact whomever
you purchased the licenses from. If they're OEM / bundled, you will need to
purchase Win2k Pro.

Perhaps if you can describe the problems you're having with your
applications, someone can help you resolve them and make a "downgrade"
unnecessary....
 
Lanwench said:
I've never looked into this, but I'd say, depending on your licensing
agreement, WinXP licenses may not permit you to run Win2k - contact whomever
you purchased the licenses from. If they're OEM / bundled, you will need to
purchase Win2k Pro.
Click to expand...

Hi

If you have OEM WinXP Pro, you can downgrade to Win2k or NT 4.0, but with WinXP
Home you can't.


A "Downgrade Rights Chart" is found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/LICENSING/resources/volbrief.asp

It is legal to "downgrade" a WinXP Pro OEM license (but not Home, and not a
retail version of Pro either). The downgrade option goes for Select License
and Open License Agreement as well.

From the "Downgrade Rights Chart" found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/LICENSING/resources/volbrief.asp

<quote>
System licenses acquired via the OEM channel follow rights granted in the OEM
license. PCs licensed for Windows XP Professional OEM are licensed to use
identified previous versions of Windows Operating System Product(s) in lieu of
Windows XP Professional (Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Microsoft
Windows NT 4.0 or Microsoft® Windows 98 (Second Edition).
</quote>


Note this from the "Windows OEM EULA Changes" at the same Web page:

<quote>
If you choose this option, neither Microsoft nor the PC Manufacturer is
obligated to supply you with copies of previous versions and neither Microsoft
nor the PC Manufacturer is responsible to provide product support for PCs on
which these previous versions are installed.
</quote>

I would think that in this case it is ok to use whatever Win2k CD/license key
(from work/friend/neighbor) you can get hold of, because the Win2k license is
covered by the WinXP license anyway.
 
Ah - thanks, Torgeir - good to know. As mentioned I've never looked into
this - :-)

Torgeir Bakken (MVP) wrote:
<snip>

Hi
 
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