Upgrade to Windows XP pro from Vista Business

Is it possible to purchase Windows XP Pro update and install it on a laptop
running Vista Business, or do you have to purchase the Full version on XP?

On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:16:01 -0800, Mrc
<Mrc@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Is it possible to purchase Windows XP Pro update and install it on a laptop
> running Vista Business, or do you have to purchase the Full version on XP?


No, you can not do a downgrade to Windows XP.

However, if you want to do a *clean* installation of XP, you can do it
with an Upgrade CD, as long as you have a CD of a previous qualifying
version (Windows 95, 98, Me, or 2000). The requirement to use an
upgrade version is to *own* a previous qualifying version's
installation CD (with an OEM restore CD, see below), not to have it
installed. When setup doesn't find a previous qualifying version
installed, it will prompt you to insert its CD as proof of ownership.
Just insert the previous version's CD, and follow the prompts.
Everything proceeds quite normally and quite legitimately.

You can also do a clean installation if you have an OEM restore CD of
a previous qualifying version. It's more complicated, but it *can* be
done. First restore from the Restore CD. Then run the XP upgrade CD
from within that restored system, and change from Upgrade to New
Install. When it asks where, press Esc to delete the partition and
start over.

But note that, especially with a laptop, you face another potential
problem. Are XP drivers available for all the laptop's hardware. You
should make sure that the answer is yes, and that you have everything
you need before you begin.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Thanks for the info.


"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:16:01 -0800, Mrc
> <Mrc@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> > Is it possible to purchase Windows XP Pro update and install it on a laptop
> > running Vista Business, or do you have to purchase the Full version on XP?
>
>
> No, you can not do a downgrade to Windows XP.
>
> However, if you want to do a *clean* installation of XP, you can do it
> with an Upgrade CD, as long as you have a CD of a previous qualifying
> version (Windows 95, 98, Me, or 2000). The requirement to use an
> upgrade version is to *own* a previous qualifying version's
> installation CD (with an OEM restore CD, see below), not to have it
> installed. When setup doesn't find a previous qualifying version
> installed, it will prompt you to insert its CD as proof of ownership.
> Just insert the previous version's CD, and follow the prompts.
> Everything proceeds quite normally and quite legitimately.
>
> You can also do a clean installation if you have an OEM restore CD of
> a previous qualifying version. It's more complicated, but it *can* be
> done. First restore from the Restore CD. Then run the XP upgrade CD
> from within that restored system, and change from Upgrade to New
> Install. When it asks where, press Esc to delete the partition and
> start over.
>
> But note that, especially with a laptop, you face another potential
> problem. Are XP drivers available for all the laptop's hardware. You
> should make sure that the answer is yes, and that you have everything
> you need before you begin.
>
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>

On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:56:02 -0800, Mrc
<Mrc@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Thanks for the info.


You're welcome. Glad to help.


> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
> > On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:16:01 -0800, Mrc
> > <Mrc@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Is it possible to purchase Windows XP Pro update and install it on a laptop
> > > running Vista Business, or do you have to purchase the Full version on XP?
> >
> >
> > No, you can not do a downgrade to Windows XP.
> >
> > However, if you want to do a *clean* installation of XP, you can do it
> > with an Upgrade CD, as long as you have a CD of a previous qualifying
> > version (Windows 95, 98, Me, or 2000). The requirement to use an
> > upgrade version is to *own* a previous qualifying version's
> > installation CD (with an OEM restore CD, see below), not to have it
> > installed. When setup doesn't find a previous qualifying version
> > installed, it will prompt you to insert its CD as proof of ownership.
> > Just insert the previous version's CD, and follow the prompts.
> > Everything proceeds quite normally and quite legitimately.
> >
> > You can also do a clean installation if you have an OEM restore CD of
> > a previous qualifying version. It's more complicated, but it *can* be
> > done. First restore from the Restore CD. Then run the XP upgrade CD
> > from within that restored system, and change from Upgrade to New
> > Install. When it asks where, press Esc to delete the partition and
> > start over.
> >
> > But note that, especially with a laptop, you face another potential
> > problem. Are XP drivers available for all the laptop's hardware. You
> > should make sure that the answer is yes, and that you have everything
> > you need before you begin.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
> >

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup