MS-Next

I went along to Microsoft’s Cardinal Place today to sit in with a few familar faces (you know who you are!) and listen to the team talk about a number of OEM topics such as Windows Server 2008, Office Ready PC, and combatting illegal licensing.

One of the Partners wanted to ask about an issue which I and the licensing team at work have been answering more often than not so I thought I would take the time to walk you through it. The question was about downgrading Vista to XP and here’s how you do it.

Remember, a license isn’t the physical disc; it’s the sticker which has the unique code to activate the software. Oh, and also, you can only downgrade Vista at the specific request of your customer; downgrade rights are an end-user right and are documented in the product End User License Agreement (EULA) and refer to the ability of your customer to acquire the most recent version of Microsoft software but continue to run a previous version until they are ready to upgrade.

You cannot uninstall a copy of OEM Windows Vista, but you can reinstall a previous operating system, which then replaces Windows Vista. To reinstall your old operating system, you must have the original installation disc (either the user has a copy or you could use your MAPs copy if you are a System Builder). Back up your programs and files, insert the installation disc into your computer, and then reinstall the old operating system. To regain the hard disk space used by Windows Vista, reformat the disk during the reinstallation process. After reinstalling your previous operating system, reinstall your programs and files.

When an end user is using their downgrade rights offered under the EULA in Windows Vista Business and Ultimate versions and they use both Windows XP media and a product key that was previously activated, they will be unable to activate online over the Internet, due to the hardware configuration change when installing on the Vista system. In these cases the end user will be prompted to call the Activation Support Line on 0800 018 8345 (UK) and explain their circumstances to the Customer Service Representative.

You will need to explain to them what you are doing so have the COA (Certificate of Authenticity) to hand. Once it is determined that the end user has a valid Vista Business or Ultimate license, the Customer Service Representative will help them activate their software.

Continue at Source.