from vista to xp problem.

[Guest naukki]

i have windows vista in my computer but i would like to change it to xp we

have xp in our second computer. i have the xp cd but i don't have another

product key. so my question is: were can i get new product key to the xp cd

and is it free?

[Guest Mike Hall - MVP]

Re: from vista to xp problem.

 

"naukki" <naukki@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:F5D7DEB2-C0D3-4B5A-BFF6-273928802307@microsoft.com...

>i have windows vista in my computer but i would like to change it to xp we

> have xp in our second computer. i have the xp cd but i don't have another

> product key. so my question is: were can i get new product key to the xp

> cd

> and is it free?

 

 

The rule is one installation per key. You will have to purchase the version

of XP that you want, and then do a clean install..

 

 

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Mike Hall - MVP

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[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: from vista to xp problem.

 

On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:10:02 -0700, naukki

<naukki@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> i have windows vista in my computer but i would like to change it to xp we

> have xp in our second computer. i have the xp cd but i don't have another

> product key. so my question is: were can i get new product key to the xp cd

> and is it free?

 

 

It is certainly not free.

 

The rule is quite clear. It's one copy (or one license) for each

computer.

 

There's nothing new here. This is exactly the same rule that's been in

effect on every version of Windows starting at least with Windows 3.1.

The only thing new with XP is that there's now an enforcement

mechanism.

 

If yours is a retail version, not an OEM one, you can buy extra

licenses (see

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp). But it's

not generally a good deal. The problem is that Microsoft sells

additional licenses at only a small savings over the list price.

You're almost certainly better off just buying a complete second copy

from a discount source.

 

When you buy a copy, you have a choice of a generic OEM version, a

Full Retail copy, or a Full Upgrade copy. I recommend against the OEM

copy because it comes with the severe restriction that once installed

in a computer, it can never be moved to another. I recommend the

Upgrade (usually only slightly more expensive than the OEM version)

over the Full version, because it's considerable less expensive, and

despite what some people think, *can* do a clean installation as long

as you own a CD of a previous qualifying version to show it as proof

of ownership when prompted. Most people have a Windows 98 CD around,

but worst case, if you don't, you can buy one inexpensively on eBay.

 

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest DL]

Re: from vista to xp problem.

 

And of course you would need to ensure your Vista PC's hardware supports

winxp, not all do, and it may invalidate any warranty or support

 

"naukki" <naukki@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:F5D7DEB2-C0D3-4B5A-BFF6-273928802307@microsoft.com...

>i have windows vista in my computer but i would like to change it to xp we

> have xp in our second computer. i have the xp cd but i don't have another

> product key. so my question is: were can i get new product key to the xp

> cd

> and is it free?

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: from vista to xp problem.

 

naukki wrote:

> i have windows vista in my computer but i would like to change it to xp we

> have xp in our second computer. i have the xp cd but i don't have another

> product key. so my question is: were can i get new product key ...

 

 

By purchasing a new WinXP license.

 

>... to the xp cd

> and is it free?

 

 

No, of course not.

 

It's your computer, so the choice is, ultimately, yours. (Although it

would have been a lot simpler to have just purchased a computer with

WinXP installed, to start with.)

 

However, there could be a couple possible adverse repercussions of

which you should be aware. First and foremost, if the specific computer

model in question was designed specifically for Vista, there may well be

no WinXP-specific device drivers available to make the computer's

diverse components work properly. Consult the computer's manufacturer

about the availability of device drivers. Secondly, removing an

OEM-installed operating system and replacing it with another will almost

invariably void any and all support agreements and, sometimes, even the

warranty. You would, at the very least, have to re-install Vista before

getting any support from the manufacturer. Again, consult the

computer's manufacturer for specifics. Thirdly, there may be the

additional cost involved in purchasing a WinXP license for this new

computer.

 

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS

installation, simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be

offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part

of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of

boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

 

HOW TO Install Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

 

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

 

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

 

Then, assuming you were successful in obtaining WinXP-specific

device drivers so that the computer can be made to work with WinXP, the

backed up data can be restored and applications (those that are

WinXP-compatible, that is) re-installed.

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

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