Re: Microsoft's Ballmer Touts Vista-To-XP Downgrade Program

"journey" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:10:53 -0500, RnR <> wrote:
>
>>Finally some ' WOW ' comes outa Vista !! <grin>
>
> I don't understand how people would get Vista downgrades. Does a
> person have to have a prior XP install disk? Does this mean that if a
> person has 3 Vista computers and 1 XP computer that the 1 XP disk can
> be used to downgrade the other 3? If I have a stand-alone copy of XP
> Pro (I do, bought it using my student discount when it came up), can I
> install that on multiple computers, and will it pass the MS genuine XP
> test?

The downgrade program is not new and yes you are supposed to use your own
media to instal the older version.
If you have trouble with activation then you ring up and explain what you
are doing. Vista Ultimate and Business are the qualifying versions that
include downgrade rights.

>
> Or, is this aimed more at corporations and not individuals?

The program has been aimed at businesses that need to keep all of their
computers at the same OS level but has recently been used by Dell and others
to offer downgrades to home and small business users.
They might preinstall XP but include only Vista media.
Locally Dell Austalia offer a downgrade program which is at odds with the
wording of this Downgrades Rights document
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rencesheet.pdf
so they must have negotiated their own terms with Microsoft. Note they don't
offer this on all available computers.

Here they do this.
Windows Vista® Downgrade Service
With Windows Vista® Downgrade Service from Dell, you get a simple way to
migrate to Windows Vista on your schedule. Dell will automatically
factory-install Windows XP Professional and give you the DVD to install
Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate when you're ready (you will
also receive the DVD for Windows XP Professional). Dell will also support
both operating systems on your PC throughout the limited warranty period.


>
> I'm glad to see some clarity from MS about what can be done. Too bad,
> if a consumer can downgrade to XP and it's OK with MS, that new
> computers couldn't come with an install disk for Vista but have the
> "XP downgrade" already installed on the PC.

Locally Dell do just that with their Vista Downgrade Service for some new
pc's


>
> One problem with the downgrade is if a PC uses components that don't
> have XP drivers. I don't think there are many of those however.