MS-Next

Perhaps someone got this question, if they purchased Windows Vista and not satisfied with it “Can I go back to Windows XP?”. Then talking about downgrade right. According to ‘Microsoft Select License, Open License, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) License, and Full-Packaged Product (FPP) License Downgrade Rights‘ document provided by Microsoft, only OEM user of Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate who grants downgrade right to Windows XP Professional but not for retail customer and Home versions.

Rights to OEM versions of systems software are granted in the OEM License Terms. The OEM License Terms for most OEM versions of systems software do not grant downgrade rights. The exception is the OEM License Terms for the Windows® XP Professional operating system and the Windows Vista™ Business and Windows Vista Ultimate operating systems, which grant downgrade rights. See the full text of the OEM License Terms for the specific downgrade rights.

And:

Downgrade rights are not granted under FPP (Full Packaged Product) system licenses.

An example from FAQs provided by the document:

Can I downgrade my OEM version of Windows Vista Business to Windows XP Professional?

Yes. 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 (including Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP x64 Edition). End users can use the following media for their downgrade: Volume Licensing media (provided the end user has a Volume Licensing agreement), retail (FPP), or system builder hologram CD (provided the software is acquired in accordance with the Microsoft OEM System Builder License). Use of the downgraded operating system is governed by the Windows Vista Business License Terms, and the end user cannot use both the downgrade operating system and Windows Vista Business. There are no downgrade rights granted for Windows Vista Home Basic or Windows Vista Home Premium.

So, if you purchased an OEM version of Windows Vista Business and Ultimate you have that rigth.

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 17th, 2007 at 6:09 am and is filed under Article/Analysis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.