Is it possible to Downgrade From Vista To XP Pro?

jbloggs

jbloggs

jbloggs

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My brother has a Windows XP Pro (Upgrade) CD which he had put on his 98 OS to get XP Pro installed.

Is it possible with a Vista (32bit) installation for him to install his Windows XP Pro (Upgrade) CD onto the Vista OS to get XP Pro, ie. downgrade from Vista to XP pro?

Hopefully you follow what I mean.

Thanks...:)
 
Does your brother have a full 98 disk you could use to validate the XP pro upgrade - or even a 95 disk might do. I'm pretty sure i read that 95 to XP is a valid upgrade path.
 
vince said:
Does your brother have a full 98 disk you could use to validate the XP pro upgrade - or even a 95 disk might do. I'm pretty sure i read that 95 to XP is a valid upgrade path.
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He would just do a clean install of 98 (he has the full 98 disk), then install his XP Pro Upgrade CD to get his XP Pro. When buying his copy of XP Pro, I suggested he get Windows XP Pro OEM CD, however, for some reason he got the Upgrade version.

And why would he want to, anyway?
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Because XP is his preference over Vista....

He is buying a new desktop, so rather than get it with XP Pro installed, he will get Vista installed (so that he has it for a later date), but then when he gets it home, he can do his 98/XP Pro install/upgrade....
 
If you have a 'full' 98 disk, you don't have to install first it to be able to install the XP upgrade. Just start to install from the XP upgrade disk, then you will be asked to insert the 98 disk - just to prove you have it - then you remove it when instructed and the upgrade installation carries on.
 
vince said:
If you have a 'full' 98 disk, you don't have to install first it to be able to install the XP upgrade. Just start to install from the XP upgrade disk, then you will be asked to insert the 98 disk - just to prove you have it - then you remove it when instructed and the upgrade installation carries on.
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Right, handy to know, originally 98 had already been installed for a number of years when he got XP Pro (Upgrade), so he just put the Upgrade CD into the CD-rom and installed it over 98....
 
I think there's a trick that allows you to install full Vista by just getting Vista upgrade and installing it without activating, and upgrading the installed Vista. Not that helps you, but it's handy to know.
 
jbloggs said:
He (my brother) hasn't got his new desktop yet, but when he does I would think he would get either Vista Home Premium or Business pre-installed...
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YOu need to read up on the licencing issues - especially if you are buying a PC with OS pre-installed. There are two parts to this - the legal licencing which might affect activation, and the technical wisdom of actually downgrading Vista. The licence agreement for some versions of some OSs to some customers allows a legitimate downgrade (thinking mostly Microsoft here).

Might be still possible to get a PC with no OS and get a small cash discount if buying through the high street. Used to be a possibility and your legal right. Not sure now. If buying from someone like OC UK you have more choice what OS is installed - they may even still be able to do XP.

Best solution would seem to be for you to try to get hold of a second hand XP retail licence and installation media (NOT OEM!)
 
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jbloggs said:
He (my brother) hasn't got his new desktop yet, but when he does I would think he would get either Vista Home Premium or Business pre-installed...
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Vista business has downgrade rights to XP pro, home premium does not. Therefore yo can only downgrade a HP or business machine under the vista licence.
 
Burnsy2023 said:
Vista business has downgrade rights to XP pro, home premium does not. Therefore yo can only downgrade a HP or business machine under the vista licence.
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Are these downgrade rights not granted under Select licenses only? i.e. larger corporate type businesses?

don't think you can downgrade the Vista Business OEM for example..
 
Downgrade rights are available for Business and Ultimate OEM.
However getting a valid key/install media might be a little more difficult.
 
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