Vista licensing - does it allow XP install instead?

[Vroomparrot]

I've just been asked by someone who has just purchased a new laptop which has an OEM version of Vista Home Premium preinstalled whether the Vista license will allow an installation of XP instead? I can't find anything on the microsoft site. I'm guessing with a Home edition the answer is probably no - but I thought I'd check.

Cheers

[directhex]

I've just been asked by someone who has just purchased a new laptop which has an OEM version of Vista Home Premium preinstalled whether the Vista license will allow an installation of XP instead? I can't find anything on the microsoft site. I'm guessing with a Home edition the answer is probably no - but I thought I'd check.

Cheers

downgrade rights apply for oem vista business or oem vista ultimate - but not home premium

see http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rade_chart.doc - especially the FAQ:

Can I downgrade my OEM version of Windows Vista Business to Windows XP Professional?

Yes. OEM downgrade rights for desktop PC operating systems apply to Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate as stated in the License Terms. Please note, OEM downgrade versions of Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate are limited to Windows XP Professional (including Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP x64 Edition). End users can use the following media for their downgrade: Volume Licensing media (provided the end user has a Volume Licensing agreement), retail (FPP), or system builder hologram CD (provided the software is acquired in accordance with the Microsoft OEM System Builder License). Use of the downgraded operating system is governed by the Windows Vista Business License Terms, and the end user cannot use both the downgrade operating system and Windows Vista Business. There are no downgrade rights granted for Windows Vista Home Basic or Windows Vista Home Premium.

[Sinizter]

What serial would you have to use if you wanted to downgrade from one of those Vista version to WinXP Pro ?

[kalniel]

By serial do you mean key? You use the Vista key I think.

[Sinizter]

By serial do you mean key? You use the Vista key I think.

They are the exact same format then ?

[mark19632]

You can't use a oem vista key to install XP. You need to use a valided XP cd and when you phone to activate it explain that you are down grading from vista to XP and they will give you a new XP liecence.

We asked the same quation at work as we have new kit supplied with Vista keys but we wanted XP on for a whole longer.

I have tried Vista Business OEM key with XP Pro and it didn't work.
HTH

[Vroomparrot]

downgrade rights apply for oem vista business or oem vista ultimate - but not home premium

Thanks - it's what I thought but good to have it confirmed.

[RickK101]

I just bought a Dell XPS with Vista Home Premium, but I REALLY want to run XP Pro instead.

I can buy a completely new XP Pro for $300 and do a clean install (I assume).

But, can I instead upgrade Vista Home Premium to Vista Ultimate for around $160, then get a free downgrade to XP Pro?

If so, who do I contact or what do I do to downgrade?

[dave87]

If I'm honest buy an OEM license - should be about $200 probably less. Then you get 2 licenses

[RickK101]

I'll be honest - I did purchase an OEM license for Win XP Pro SP2, but it gets to "Starting Windows" then goes to blue screen. So I figure some driver in the OEM version isn't agreeing with my new Dell.

So now I'm trying to figure out the cheapest way to get a clean copy of XP.

That's it... I'm crossing Bill Gates off my Christmas list.

[directhex]

upgrade versions aren't entitled to downgrade rights

[dave87]

Boot into safe mode and update drivers.

If you are having problems with OEM you will have trouble with retail.

[RickK101]

Thanks very much for the help, folks.

Alas, it crashes to blue screen before I can get to safe mode. And I can't run XP install from within Vista, of course. And the Dell bios startup (I think) only allows loading drivers from floppy drive A:\, which doesn't exist on this computer. So.... If I'm going to have the same problem with a commercial copy of XP, then I simply don't know how to get XP onto this computer.

Little frustrated here. I just want to install the same OS at home that I have at work. Is that really so unreasonable?