How to Downgrade Vista to XP Legally and for FREE

/* Posted March 21st, 2008 at 10:22am */
/* Filed under Microsoft, Windows */
/* */

Vista to XP

Fed up with Vista yet? Wishing that new desktop you bought shipped with good old trustworthy Windows XP? Well you’re in luck! You can, with these instructions, legally and freely downgrade your Vista license to XP from Microsoft directly. Before you get into any of that though, I recommend you write down a list of all the hardware installed on your system. As you know, the drivers you got with your Vista desktop are Vista drivers, meaning they don’t work on XP. If you’re going to be downgrading, make sure you’ve got all the XP drivers ready to install so all your hardware works. Heck even if some of it didn’t, it’d probably still be better than using Vista, known more for its lack of driver support than anything else.

Now here’s the key, any OEM or retail version of Vista Business and Vista Ultimate (or any flavor of volume-licensed Vista) comes with the right to downgrade to an earlier Microsoft operating system all the way from Windows XP to 2000 to NT 4.0 to 98 to 95. 95? Yeah Windows 95. So how to install? You’ll need a copy of the Windows XP setup CD and a valid activation key. The key you can get from Microsoft support as written in the Vista license terms. Near the end of the XP install, you’ll get the option to activate your copy of Windows XP. Choose the telephone option to get your key.

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(satoshis) @TERRAZI Vista Home じゃなければ、ダウングレードは無償で可能です。 http://www.microsoft.com/japan/windows/products/Windowsvista/buyorupgrade/downgrade/default.mspx
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:45:52 +0000 | Reply | View Tweet

2 Responses to “How to Downgrade Vista to XP Legally and for FREE”

Comment from Logan

/* October 22, 2008 at 9:09 pm */

I heard its only “do-able” if it is the Vista Business or Ultimate editions. Can anyone verify this at all?

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Comment from gamertag

/* October 23, 2008 at 7:30 am */

ya u are correct only business and ultimate have downgrade clauses in the eula

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