How to obtain a XP product key with a Vista license

[irbk]

I didn't know if I should post this in the XP forum or the Vista forum. I hope I don't get in trouble for posting it in both. So we all know that any lic of Vista means that you have a "valid license" to run a previous OS rather then Vista. Ok, no problem. However, I've got here a Vista Business product key on this laptop, but I want to remove vista business, use my "downgrade rights" and run Windows XP on the laptop instead. How do I get a valid product key? If I try to plug in the Vista product key it won't work.

Thanks in advance.

 

[irbk]

Ok, I guess the forum won't let me post it in 2 places, it's only here. If anyone has any advice it would be much appreshated.

 

[CaptainCommandLine]

I believe you must request the media from your OEM...

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...cbd-699b0c164182/royaltyoemreferencesheet.pdf

 

[linney]

So we all know that any lic of Vista means that you have a "valid license" to run a previous OS rather then Vista".

I am not so sure about that comment, perhaps that only applies to OEM versions?.

"OEM downgrade rights for desktop PC operating systems apply to Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate as stated in the License Terms. Please note, OEM downgrade versions of Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate are limited to Windows XP Professional"

Microsoft Select License, Open License, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) License, and Full Packaged Product (FPP) License Downgrade Rights

http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache...downgrade+rights"+vista+xp&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1

Downgrading from Windows Vista Business / Ultimate Edition to Windows XP Professional

http://rahul.amaram.name/blog/2008/08/19/downgrading-from-vista-to-xp

http://www.google.com/search?q=How+to+downgrade+Vista+Business/Ultimate+to+XP+Pro&rls=com.microsoft:

How to downgrade Vista Business/Ultimate to XP Pro?

https://partner.microsoft.com/Malaysia/40042969

 

[cdogg]

No, I don't believe that assumption is correct. Some OEM's (like HP, Dell, etc.) offered downgrade options. However, Microsoft doesn't offer that for retail versions. At least I haven't heard anything about that.

It makes sense that they don't if you think about it. It is way too much trouble to disable/waste license keys and packaged software just to give the option for someone to use a different version of Windows. Way too much overhead there...

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[irbk]

I donno cdogg, seems to me like it *should* be easy. IMHO, you should be able to go online, plug in your Vista product key, select the previous OS you would like a license key for, and it generates a key for you based on your Vista product key. Theory doesn't sound all that complicated to me and it really seems like Microsoft is making the whole deal WAY more complicated then it needs to be. However, I also don't see the "big picture" that Microsoft is looking at. I'm sure they have conserns that doing something like that could lead to pirated software. Again, just IMHO, it should be simple.
Anyway, as to all the talk of if downgrade rights are for retail or business or both, this is a license of windows vista business, purchased from Dell, for a company, and yes, I have downgrade rights.
I found a workaround by using the Unattend.txt on the XP install CD that came from Dell. (I don't know if I mentioned it, but when we purchased the laptops from Dell, we purchased them with the downgrade pre-installed) In the unattend.txt is the PID. I checked 2 different CD's (we ordered several laptops all with the downgrade so I had several CD's to chose from) and they were the same key. So that is the key that I'm using.

Thanks to all for your posts.