What they DON'T tell you about Vista Downgrading
...Is the phone number to call to get an activation code.
The steps to Downgrade Vista Business, Vista Enterprise, or Vista Ultimate are as follows:
Find yourself an original Install disk for whichever version of Windows you plan on downgrading to (I will assume it will be XP Pro). You must have the product key for that disk as well. It DOES NOT matter if it has been previously installed or not.
Install that version of Windows. Type in the product key for that product, NOT Vista.
When you are prompted to type in the activation code to activate the software (required to activate XP)call THIS number, NOT the one that the installation program gives you:
1-800-652-7514 (I am assuming this number is only for the US. It may or may not be usable from other countries.)
Explain to the human that answers that you need to exercise your right to downgrade to a prior version of windows. They will ask you to read off the long series of numbers that the activation program gave you. They will give you an activation code to type in, then they will ask you for the Vista product key to attach to that call log. Type the number they give you in and you are set.
UPDATE: I forgot to mention that Vista Home edition does not have the changes in it's EULA that allow for downgrading. The only versions that allow for downgrading are Vista Business, Vista Enterprise, and Vista Ultimate. Neither Vista Home or Vista Premium do.
The steps to Downgrade Vista Business, Vista Enterprise, or Vista Ultimate are as follows:
Find yourself an original Install disk for whichever version of Windows you plan on downgrading to (I will assume it will be XP Pro). You must have the product key for that disk as well. It DOES NOT matter if it has been previously installed or not.
Install that version of Windows. Type in the product key for that product, NOT Vista.
When you are prompted to type in the activation code to activate the software (required to activate XP)call THIS number, NOT the one that the installation program gives you:
1-800-652-7514 (I am assuming this number is only for the US. It may or may not be usable from other countries.)
Explain to the human that answers that you need to exercise your right to downgrade to a prior version of windows. They will ask you to read off the long series of numbers that the activation program gave you. They will give you an activation code to type in, then they will ask you for the Vista product key to attach to that call log. Type the number they give you in and you are set.
UPDATE: I forgot to mention that Vista Home edition does not have the changes in it's EULA that allow for downgrading. The only versions that allow for downgrading are Vista Business, Vista Enterprise, and Vista Ultimate. Neither Vista Home or Vista Premium do.
posted by Rorschach at
1/01/2008 10:14:00 PM
3 Comments:
I'll have to pass this along to my brother. He bought a laptop that that features Vista, and hasn't been able to install a printer on it. Thanks for the tip!
Only Vista Bus and Ult can only be downgraded to XP Professional. Just spoke with Activation trying to activate a copy of XP Home.
Yep, and I said that up top too. (actually Vista Enterprise can be as well)
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home