Can I "upgrade" Vista to XP Pro using XP Pro Upgrade package

I have an unopened XP Pro Upgrade package I got long ago for a project but
never used.

Is there some way I can take a new over-the-counter desktop with Vista, and
convert it to XP Pro using this disc? (Or laptop for that matter.)

On a related note, is there anything suspicious, any real gotchas, about the
super-cheap XP Pro full version offers that come with a disclaimer like:
"...you are purchasing the software that does NOT include any COA label or a
sticker from the manufacturer & comes on a CD ,There is no technical support
provided by the software manufacturer. You can still get automatic updates.
You will receive the Full version on CD & a volume license key number
only..."

Of course it's suspicious. Blatant pirated copy, where the volume license
key will most likely not work.

:
: On a related note, is there anything suspicious, any real gotchas, about
the
: super-cheap XP Pro full version offers that come with a disclaimer like:
: "...you are purchasing the software that does NOT include any COA label or
a
: sticker from the manufacturer & comes on a CD ,There is no technical
support
: provided by the software manufacturer. You can still get automatic
updates.
: You will receive the Full version on CD & a volume license key number
: only..."
:
:

No, Vista cannot be "downgraded" to Windows XP. You will have to
install XP cleanly and you will need a cd from a previous Windows
version to be able to cleanly install XP. As for the software without a
COA label you are purchasing XP without a license, you would not be able
to activate this software, the VLK is probably bogus, especially if it
is sold as a single key product, VLK licensing is meant to be used by
users who have to install or upgrade Windows on many pc's, these aren't
meant to be sold individually or for users who have just a few pc's to
upgrade, it smells fishy.

John

ggull wrote:
> I have an unopened XP Pro Upgrade package I got long ago for a project but
> never used.
>
> Is there some way I can take a new over-the-counter desktop with Vista, and
> convert it to XP Pro using this disc? (Or laptop for that matter.)
>
> On a related note, is there anything suspicious, any real gotchas, about the
> super-cheap XP Pro full version offers that come with a disclaimer like:
> "...you are purchasing the software that does NOT include any COA label or a
> sticker from the manufacturer & comes on a CD ,There is no technical support
> provided by the software manufacturer. You can still get automatic updates.
> You will receive the Full version on CD & a volume license key number
> only..."
>
>

"ggull" wrote in <news:#X2LVXctIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl>:

> "...you are purchasing the software that does NOT include any COA label or a
> sticker from the manufacturer & comes on a CD ,There is no technical support
> provided by the software manufacturer. You can still get automatic updates.
> You will receive the Full version on CD & a volume license key number
> only..."

That is an illegal sale. Someone is slicing up a volume license. All
licenses withing a volume license are to be use within the same
organization that purchased the volume license. If this is an eBay
seller, report them to eBay for pirating software (same if they are
using Craigslist or some other online auction or sales site). If this
is their site then report them to their domain's registrar and to their
upstream provider.

"John John (MVP)" wrote in <news:e58qugctIHA.5832@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>:

> No, Vista cannot be "downgraded" to Windows XP.

Not completely true. The following Microsoft document shows which
versions of Windows Vista (OEM) have downgrade rights.

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rencesheet.pdf

Yes, that is true, there are certain downgrade rights available, but
will the OP be able to take his upgrade XP cd and stick it in the
computer and have it see the Vista installation and actually install XP
without supplying further previous proof of ownership of a qualifying
product, will Vista qualify? I'm not sure how that would work with
Vista already installed.

John

VanguardLH wrote:

> "John John (MVP)" wrote in <news:e58qugctIHA.5832@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>:
>
>
>>No, Vista cannot be "downgraded" to Windows XP.
>
>
> Not completely true. The following Microsoft document shows which
> versions of Windows Vista (OEM) have downgrade rights.
>
> http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rencesheet.pdf

Thanks, guys. This is illuminating, and I had wondered myself how the
upgrade XP disc would recognize Vista.

It seems like the crux may be that rather than a simple XP Pro disc, what I
have is a system with manufacturer installed XP Home, and the upgrade XP Pro
disc (which I had gotten to upgrade an Me system, but went for a new system
instead and never used). So I don't really have the full "downgrade media".
And XP Home is not one of the allowable downgrades, even if I were to try
installing it from system recovery discs (the link provided is a bit unclear
on exactly how you downgrade using an OEM or Volume License copy that
doesn't come with full installation media, as most of them don't).. only XP
Pro. Hmm.. I wonder if it would work to upgrade the current XP Home
system to XP Pro; then if I could make system recovery/restoration discs for
this upgraded system, and use them to downgrade the Vista? Yikes.

But now I'm wondering what, exactly, is the difference between "downgrade
rights" and simply installing XP anew, and then reinstallilng Vista Business
when you do want to migrate? Is it that you can use a previously activated
OEM license, for instance, from another machine? (And would the previous XP
computer then be unusable?)


"John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:OJebTIdtIHA.1436@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Yes, that is true, there are certain downgrade rights available, but will
> the OP be able to take his upgrade XP cd and stick it in the computer and
> have it see the Vista installation and actually install XP without
> supplying further previous proof of ownership of a qualifying product,
> will Vista qualify? I'm not sure how that would work with Vista already
> installed.
>
> John
>
> VanguardLH wrote:
>
>> "John John (MVP)" wrote in <news:e58qugctIHA.5832@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>:
>>
>>
>>>No, Vista cannot be "downgraded" to Windows XP.
>>
>>
>> Not completely true. The following Microsoft document shows which
>> versions of Windows Vista (OEM) have downgrade rights.
>>
>> http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rencesheet.pdf
>

see in line:

"ggull" <ggullNOSPAMONI@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:%23X2LVXctIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I have an unopened XP Pro Upgrade package I got long ago for a project but
>never used.
>
> Is there some way I can take a new over-the-counter desktop with Vista,
> and convert it to XP Pro using this disc? (Or laptop for that matter.)

You will need a "qualifying version of Windows" in order to do a clean
install with your Upgrade version of XP. Vista is not a qualifying product.
Only previous versions of Windows i.e. Windows 9x, Windows Me, Windows 2000
or Windows XP Home Edition will satisfy the XP Pro Upgrade installer.
Getting your hands on an old Windows 98 CD for a few dollars would be a good
option. You will need to delete the partition that houses Vista, reformat as
NTFS and install XP. During setup the XP installer will ask for a qualifying
version of Windows, briefly insert the Windows 98 (or other qualifying
version) and the request will be satisfied. Installation should complete
normally. Be forewarned that you may find it a bit troublesome to find XP
drivers for the new desktop. If you know how to search for drivers and help
forums you should be able to find drivers though.


> On a related note, is there anything suspicious, any real gotchas, about
> the super-cheap XP Pro full version offers that come with a disclaimer
> like: "...you are purchasing the software that does NOT include any COA
> label or a sticker from the manufacturer & comes on a CD ,There is no
> technical support provided by the software manufacturer. You can still get
> automatic updates. You will receive the Full version on CD & a volume
> license key number only..."

The Volume License Key belongs to the company or organization that
originally purchases the license. A Volume License is non-transferable.
Enough said on that matter.

--

Xandros

ggull wrote:
> I have an unopened XP Pro Upgrade package I got long ago for a project but
> never used.
>
> Is there some way I can take a new over-the-counter desktop with Vista, and
> convert it to XP Pro using this disc? (Or laptop for that matter.)
>


Only if you have an older (than WinXP), qualifying OS assigned to the
computer to qualify for the use of the WinXP Upgrade license. And then
it'll require you to format the hard drive and start afresh.


> On a related note, is there anything suspicious, any real gotchas, about the
> super-cheap XP Pro full version offers that come with a disclaimer like:
> "...you are purchasing the software that does NOT include any COA label or a
> sticker from the manufacturer & comes on a CD ,There is no technical support
> provided by the software manufacturer. You can still get automatic updates.
> You will receive the Full version on CD & a volume license key number
> only..."
>
>


Considering that the CD is useless without the CoA (except as a
replacement for a lost of broken CD, yes. Without a CoA, you have no
license to use the software. Add the fact that the very expensive (and
never legitimately sold in lots of less than 5) Volume License is
mentioned in the same blurb, and you have a glaringly obvious scam.


--

Bruce Chambers

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~ Denis Diderot

"Xandros" <arron.neus*remove*@gmailcom> wrote
> "ggull" <ggullNOSPAMONI@comcast.net> wrote
>>I have an unopened XP Pro Upgrade package I got long ago for a project but
>>never used.
>> Is there some way I can take a new over-the-counter desktop with Vista,
>> and convert it to XP Pro using this disc? (Or laptop for that matter.)
>
> You will need a "qualifying version of Windows" in order to do a clean
> install with your Upgrade version of XP. Vista is not a qualifying
> product. Only previous versions of Windows i.e. Windows 9x, Windows Me,
> Windows 2000 or Windows XP Home Edition will satisfy the XP Pro Upgrade
> installer. Getting your hands on an old Windows 98 CD for a few dollars
> would be a good option. You will need to delete the partition that houses
> Vista, reformat as NTFS and install XP. During setup the XP installer will
> ask for a qualifying version of Windows, briefly insert the Windows 98 (or
> other qualifying version) and the request will be satisfied. Installation
> should complete normally. Be forewarned that you may find it a bit
> troublesome to find XP drivers for the new desktop. If you know how to
> search for drivers and help forums you should be able to find drivers
> though.

Thanks! .. this may prove very useful. I have an old computer collecting
dust that I believe came with an actual Windows 98 disc (is OEM ok?) instead
of 'restoration' discs. I'll have to check, and if not, as you say, I see
thay can be picked up cheaply on ebay, or at least cheaply compared to a new
XP Pro. .
Any references for the "search for drivers and help forums" part?
I consider any new computer project without a learning curve to be hardly
sporting.


>> On a related note, is there anything suspicious, any real gotchas, about
>> the super-cheap XP Pro full version offers that come with a disclaimer
<snip>
> The Volume License Key belongs to the company or organization that
> originally purchases the license. A Volume License is non-transferable.
> Enough said on that matter.

Thanks to you and the many others who confirmed my doubts.