Windows & Downgrade Help

[tracker101]

I am trying to downgrade my Windows 7 Pro system to XP-Pro. I know it can be done cause we got three Dell PC in our office with that set up. They have a Windows 7 sticker but run on full XP-Pro and I don't mean XP "mode". Can some one direct me to a site that can give me step-by-step instructions on how to do this? Please don't quote an Microsoft site, they are useless. Thanks

 

[vacunita]

1. insert XP setup disk into PC
2. Boot Pc form Setup disk
3. Run XP setup, and format drive, install XP.


Make sure you have all the drivers required for your machine for XP available.

You may also need some SATA HD drivers or set the SATA drive to legacy, or IDE mode in BIOS so the XP setup can see it and us it.

That's basically It.

However, this may void the warranty unless the Manufacturer explicitly allows for this, which usually means they gave you a downgrade CD for it.

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Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/

 

[tracker101]

Well that sounds simple enough but I have a Windows 7 Pro CD not an XP Pro. To do this you mentioned, I'd have to get an XP CD. Why bother with Windows 7, which I paid for if I also have to buy an XP OS?

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
They are separate products so separate disks (and cost).

If I buy a Buick and then decide I want a Cadillac instead, GM will also make me buy one even though I own one of their products.

( Of course, trade-ins don't usually work for OS disks)



To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[tracker101]

Turkbear, if you can't add to the solution, please don't add to the confusion. Per MS website, some Windows 7 version come with "downgrade rights" which means you can buy Windows 7 but have your machine run on XP-Pro. The process of how to accomplish this is what I need help with, not your car stories, please.

 

[SgtJarrow]

vacunita has already answered your original question. You will need some sort of Windows XP media in order to "downgrade". If you purchased a new PC and the downgrade was included, you will need to contact Microsoft or the company you purchased the PC from in order to get the media you need.

Not all purchases of new computers and/or Windows 7 come with this downgrade option. But you must have valid media and a valid registration key in order to do the downgrade.

=======================================
People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realize how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world. (Calvin from Calvin And Hobbs)

Robert L. Johnson III
CCNA, CCDA, MCSA, CNA, Net+, A+, CHDP
C#.NET Programmer

 

[tracker101]

Thank you for the reply Robert. This is what I'm working on now, I have removed Windows 7 from the system's hard drive, I'm installing Windows XP-Pro now and when it comes time to activate it, I plan on using the Windows 7 OEM number, hopefully this will trigger some sort of issue with it and grant me a chance to call MS's activation number and hopeful, too, talk with a human about my issue. Wish me luck.

 

[vacunita]

To do this you mentioned, I'd have to get an XP CD. Why bother with Windows 7, which I paid for if I also have to buy an XP OS?

As said above, if the downgrade was offered with the PC, an XP install disc should have been included with it.

Otherwise, you purchased a Win 7 machine and simply want to get XP on it by yourself, which requires a disc and valid license key.

That's the way it works. but again if the downgrade was not provided by the manufacturer then downgrading may void your warranty if its still active.

Now, the question is: Why do you want to downgrade? Windows 7 is a superior OS to XP, and at this point there's very little reason to still want to run XP.







----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/

 

[tracker101]

Thanks again Vacunita.

I am the computer manufacturer. Reason for the downgrade is that some of the software and hardware being used is set to run on XP-Pro and since it, XP is going out of production, we are trying to take advantage of this Downgrade Rights over looking all over the web for XP-Pro Software and at some points, very expensive.

To update Software and hardware to work with Win 7, is too much of a cost in resources.

 

[vacunita]

If you built the machine why did you install 7 on it then when you wanted XP? Paying for 7 just to get XP for free makes very little sense. Instead of paying for XP directly which would have been much cheaper now.

Anyway, you still need to get an XP install CD. After that when you are activating XP you can call Microsoft and tell them you own a license copy of Windows 7 that has downgrade rights, and you want to activate your Windows XP.

http://oem.microsoft.com/public/worldwide/licensing/downgrade_windows7_flyer_sept_10.pdf

----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/

 

[tracker101]

Simple, XP-Pro is no longer in production and so what is out in the market is either too expensive or could be a fake. So, since we'll be using more computers in the future, I need to know how to accomplish this since more and more systems will be required by our shop.

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Sorry if my car analogy was unhelpful.
From your later postings it seems you want a way to create an XP Pro system without using ( or having) any XP Pro OS disk(s) available - Can't really see how that could be done, but maybe someone else will be more helpful.

If you want, there are XP Pro system disks available on EBay.

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...xp+professional+sp3&_sacat=See-All-Categories

To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[tracker101]

Sorry, didn't mean to sound insulting. I do have a Windows XP-Pro but it is for an already activated system in our office. Per MS upgrade rules, to downgrade to XP-Pro from Windows 7, the steps are very unclear and I was hoping that someone in here had overcome this hassle and had a more clear process.

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
No problem, I didn't find it insulting, I was a little flppant in my response.

I am sure you have been here It is where the PDF cited by Vacunta is located:

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/downgrade_rights.aspx#windows7

but it does seem to be the only real explanation of the process



To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[vacunita]

According to the PDF from Microsoft, which to me seems pretty clear, it only needs to be a valid XP Pro CD, with a valid key. If it has already been activated before is irrelevant. As the whole purpose is to use the Downgrade rights license from the Win7 to activate it, and not the original license key. Which is why you need to call Microsoft. As per the PDF I linked to from Microsoft:

Type the product key.
[b]If the software was previously activated[/b], you will not be able to activate it online. In this case, the appropriate local Activation Support phone number will be displayed. Call the number and explain the circumstances. When it is determined that the end user has an eligible Windows license, the customer service representative will provide a single-use activation code to activate the software. Please note that Microsoft does not provide a full product key in this scenario.

Note however that not all versions of Windows 7 are eligible for the Downgrade Rights. So make sure you have an eligible version before proceeding.


----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/