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

> "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.

I suspect you are about to do a lot of finagling and in the end won't be
able to activate your XP. In fact, there is even a fair possibility
that by now or shortly if not yet done, any related COA you find will
be reported as pirated on top of that and ONLY a good COA is going to do
you any good. I'd check the illegal COA list before submitting it if I
were you; but even so I suspect activation problems are goign to stop
you.
IMO you need to get your money back and spend it honestly elsewhere.

ggull wrote:
>
>
> 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?)


Only if that's the same computer on which you're planning to install
WinXP Upgrade. An OEM version must be sold with a piece of hardware
(normally a motherboard or hard rive, if not an entire PC) and is
_permanently_ bound to the first PC on which it's installed. An OEM
license, once installed, is not legitimately transferable to another
computer under _any_ circumstances.



--

Bruce Chambers

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"ggull" <ggullNOSPAMONI@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:OvrGdGptIHA.2292@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> "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.
>

As Bruce stated an OEM version has restrictions however it will satisfy the
request for your XP Upgrade installer. It will not pose any problems with
activation or the like. If you can sleep at night for this illegal action
then live with it. Of course some folks can't.

As for finding drivers do a google search for "XP drivers <yourhardware>" or
visit the manufacturer's site to see if they have them.


--

Xandros

"Twayne" <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote
>>>> 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.
>
> I suspect you are about to do a lot of finagling and in the end won't be
> able to activate your XP. In fact, there is even a fair possibility that
> by now or shortly if not yet done, any related COA you find will be
> reported as pirated on top of that and ONLY a good COA is going to do you
> any good. I'd check the illegal COA list before submitting it if I were
> you; but even so I suspect activation problems are goign to stop you.
> IMO you need to get your money back and spend it honestly elsewhere.

Sorry if I gave the impression I had purchased this product.
In casting about for a way to get upgraded hardware without going to Vista I
checked on the price of new XP Pro full version, and noticed a link to this
vendor, and wondered if it really were too good to be true or if it were
somehow legitimate. (I notice Amazon is selling an OEM version of XP HE for
half the price of full XP, which seems legitimate subject to the licensing
restrictions.) I would be very cautious before handing them my credit card
number!

"Xandros" <arron.neus*remove*@gmailcom> wrote
>
> As Bruce stated an OEM version has restrictions however it will satisfy
> the request for your XP Upgrade installer. It will not pose any problems
> with activation or the like. If you can sleep at night for this illegal
> action then live with it. Of course some folks can't.

Thanks for all the advice, guys. As to this old computer, I found the
paperwork (haven't located the actual disc yet) and it looks like it came
with a full version .. of the latest, hottest system, Win 95, which
according to the box, the XP Pro upgrade won't work with.

I think I'm set for now, but will post back if I have further questions
later.

"ggull" <ggullNOSPAMONI@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:%23Y4k$M2tIHA.5168@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> "Xandros" <arron.neus*remove*@gmailcom> wrote
>>
>> As Bruce stated an OEM version has restrictions however it will satisfy
>> the request for your XP Upgrade installer. It will not pose any problems
>> with activation or the like. If you can sleep at night for this illegal
>> action then live with it. Of course some folks can't.
>
> Thanks for all the advice, guys. As to this old computer, I found the
> paperwork (haven't located the actual disc yet) and it looks like it came
> with a full version .. of the latest, hottest system, Win 95, which
> according to the box, the XP Pro upgrade won't work with.
>
> I think I'm set for now, but will post back if I have further questions
> later.


Actually XP Upgrade will accept a Windows 95 CD to satisfy the request for a
qualifying product.

--

Xandros

"ggull" <ggullNOSPAMONI@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:%23y0c841tIHA.1316@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> "Twayne" <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote
>>>>> 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.
>>
>> I suspect you are about to do a lot of finagling and in the end won't be
>> able to activate your XP. In fact, there is even a fair possibility that
>> by now or shortly if not yet done, any related COA you find will be
>> reported as pirated on top of that and ONLY a good COA is going to do you
>> any good. I'd check the illegal COA list before submitting it if I were
>> you; but even so I suspect activation problems are goign to stop you.
>> IMO you need to get your money back and spend it honestly elsewhere.
>
> Sorry if I gave the impression I had purchased this product.
> In casting about for a way to get upgraded hardware without going to Vista
> I checked on the price of new XP Pro full version, and noticed a link to
> this vendor, and wondered if it really were too good to be true or if it
> were somehow legitimate. (I notice Amazon is selling an OEM version of XP
> HE for half the price of full XP, which seems legitimate subject to the
> licensing restrictions.) I would be very cautious before handing them my
> credit card number!


I never got that impression from you. Your post was clear.

--

Xandros

"Xandros" <arron.neus*remove*@gmailcom> wrote ...
>
> "ggull" <ggullNOSPAMONI@comcast.net> wrote
As to this old computer, I found the
>> paperwork (haven't located the actual disc yet) and it looks like it came
>> with a full version .. of the latest, hottest system, Win 95, which
>> according to the box, the XP Pro upgrade won't work with.
>
> Actually XP Upgrade will accept a Windows 95 CD to satisfy the request for
> a qualifying product.

Good to know. Thanks.