Windows XP Pro to Windows 2000 downgrade

[Andrew Magee]

Hi,
We buy PC's preloaded with Windows XP Pro for
resale to our customers. Can we downgrade the PC to
Windows 2000 without buying additional Windows 2000
licences?
If so, where can I find a Microsoft agreement?

Best Regards
Andrew

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

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).

Ref: http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbrief.mspx

Read your Windows XP End-User License Agreement:

Start > Run and type: WINVER , and hit enter.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Hi,
| We buy PC's preloaded with Windows XP Pro for
| resale to our customers. Can we downgrade the PC to
| Windows 2000 without buying additional Windows 2000
| licences?
| If so, where can I find a Microsoft agreement?
|
| Best Regards
| Andrew
|

 

[Yves Leclerc]

But they still need to buy the Windows 2000 media and licenses.

Y.

 

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

But they still need to buy the Windows 2000 media and licenses.

Hi

Actually, no. The license is covered by the Windows XP Pro OEM license,
so you don't need to buy a Windows 2000 license (there would really be
no point having downgrade rights if that had been the case).
You only need to have the Windows 2000 media available to do this, so
if you have a Windows 2000 CD laying around, you can use that one to
install the OS.

--
torgeir
Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of the 1328 page
Scripting Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/scriptcenter/default.mspx

 

[Andrew Magee]

Hi Carey,
Many thanks for the great help.


Best Regards
Andrew