If you have Vista Ultimate or Business you can now install XP instead,
before the company who you got the PC needed to give you the OK, now
everyone can do it (New process below.. read on)

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windo...ia-75757.shtml


Enlarge pictureWith the advent of Windows Vista, the issue of downgrading to
Windows XP came into the limelight and got a consistent amount of play
throughout 2007. Initially, Microsoft had a complex downgrading process in
place that forced Windows users to go from Vista to XP through unnecessary
activation pains. As a direct consequence of user feedback, the company
simplified the downgrading process, in order to streamline the
implementation of an older Windows iteration in place of Vista.

Here was the old process of downgrading from Vista to XP, courtesy of
Microsoft: "when an end user is using their downgrade rights offered under
the License Terms in Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate
editions, and they use both Windows XP media and product keys that were
previously activated, they cannot activate online over the Internet, due to
the hardware configuration change when installing on the Windows Vista
system. In these cases, the end user is prompted to call the Activation
Support Line for assistance. Once it is determined that the end user has a
valid Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate license, the support
representative can help them activate their software."

This is no longer the case at this point, and downgrade users do not have to
manually activate each copy of Windows. The move from Microsoft helped made
downgrades more mainstream, but at the same time generated a negative aura
around the entire process. However, due to the mixed reviews associated with
Vista, and because Microsoft is allowing select customers to go back to XP
from the latest release of the Windows client, downgrading became virtually
an antonym to upgrading. And this is not the case. Not even by far.

Customers and, especially, businesses have the option of acquiring new
computers, as a part of the process of upgrading their hardware
infrastructure, while also buying licenses for the latest Windows version
available on the market. This is not to say that their environment is ready
for a migration to Vista, and in this context, Microsoft is offering
business customers the alternative of running an older variant of Windows
until transition plans are complete.

"If your license of Windows has downgrade rights, then you can use: '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)'. So
any media for the qualifying downgrade version that the customer owns
through another license already can be used", revealed Eric Ligman,
Microsoft US Senior Manager, Small Business Community Engagement.

Where does the media come from? Well, Ligman offered the answer: "the
downgrade media must be supplied to you from the end user and must come from
Microsoft retail, OEM/system builder, or Volume Licensing channels." This
actually means that the customer will have to deliver the media for the
downgrade, in order for the OEM to take care of the process. The obvious
alternative is for the user to perform the downgrade and to take the OEM out
of the equation.

" non flammable on Vista" <not@say.here> wrote in message
news:4785cf02@newsgate.x-privat.org...
> If you have Vista Ultimate or Business you can now install XP instead,
> before the company who you got the PC needed to give you the OK, now
> everyone can do it (New process below.. read on)
>
> http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windo...ia-75757.shtml
>
>
> Enlarge pictureWith the advent of Windows Vista, the issue of downgrading
> to Windows XP came into the limelight and got a consistent amount of play
> throughout 2007. Initially, Microsoft had a complex downgrading process in
> place that forced Windows users to go from Vista to XP through unnecessary
> activation pains. As a direct consequence of user feedback, the company
> simplified the downgrading process, in order to streamline the
> implementation of an older Windows iteration in place of Vista.
>

Fujitsu-Siemens have been offering Dual Boot Vista/XP for a little while
now.

" non flammable on Vista" <not@say.here> wrote in message
news:4785cf02@newsgate.x-privat.org...
> If you have Vista Ultimate or Business you can now install XP instead,
> before the company who you got the PC needed to give you the OK, now
> everyone can do it (New process below.. read on)
>
> http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windo...ia-75757.shtml
>
>
> Enlarge pictureWith the advent of Windows Vista, the issue of downgrading
> to Windows XP came into the limelight and got a consistent amount of play
> throughout 2007. Initially, Microsoft had a complex downgrading process in
> place that forced Windows users to go from Vista to XP through unnecessary
> activation pains. As a direct consequence of user feedback, the company
> simplified the downgrading process, in order to streamline the
> implementation of an older Windows iteration in place of Vista.
>

Fujitsu-Siemens have been offering Dual Boot Vista/XP for a little while
now.

non flammable on Vista wrote:
> If you have Vista Ultimate or Business you can now install XP instead,
> before the company who you got the PC needed to give you the OK, now
> everyone can do it (New process below.. read on)
>
> http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windo...ia-75757.shtml
>
>
>
> Enlarge pictureWith the advent of Windows Vista, the issue of
> downgrading to Windows XP came into the limelight and got a consistent
> amount of play throughout 2007. Initially, Microsoft had a complex
> downgrading process in place that forced Windows users to go from Vista
> to XP through unnecessary activation pains. As a direct consequence of
> user feedback, the company simplified the downgrading process, in order
> to streamline the implementation of an older Windows iteration in place
> of Vista.
>
> Here was the old process of downgrading from Vista to XP, courtesy of
> Microsoft: "when an end user is using their downgrade rights offered
> under the License Terms in Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista
> Ultimate editions, and they use both Windows XP media and product keys
> that were previously activated, they cannot activate online over the
> Internet, due to the hardware configuration change when installing on
> the Windows Vista system. In these cases, the end user is prompted to
> call the Activation Support Line for assistance. Once it is determined
> that the end user has a valid Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista
> Ultimate license, the support representative can help them activate
> their software."
>
> This is no longer the case at this point, and downgrade users do not
> have to manually activate each copy of Windows. The move from Microsoft
> helped made downgrades more mainstream, but at the same time generated a
> negative aura around the entire process. However, due to the mixed
> reviews associated with Vista, and because Microsoft is allowing select
> customers to go back to XP from the latest release of the Windows
> client, downgrading became virtually an antonym to upgrading. And this
> is not the case. Not even by far.
>
> Customers and, especially, businesses have the option of acquiring new
> computers, as a part of the process of upgrading their hardware
> infrastructure, while also buying licenses for the latest Windows
> version available on the market. This is not to say that their
> environment is ready for a migration to Vista, and in this context,
> Microsoft is offering business customers the alternative of running an
> older variant of Windows until transition plans are complete.
>
> "If your license of Windows has downgrade rights, then you can use:
> '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)'. So any media for the qualifying downgrade version that the
> customer owns through another license already can be used", revealed
> Eric Ligman, Microsoft US Senior Manager, Small Business Community
> Engagement.
>
> Where does the media come from? Well, Ligman offered the answer: "the
> downgrade media must be supplied to you from the end user and must come
> from Microsoft retail, OEM/system builder, or Volume Licensing
> channels." This actually means that the customer will have to deliver
> the media for the downgrade, in order for the OEM to take care of the
> process. The obvious alternative is for the user to perform the
> downgrade and to take the OEM out of the equation.
>

Couldn't you order it here?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246/en-us

--
Priceless quotes in m.p.w.vista.general group -
Submit your nomination at the link below:
http://protectfreedom.tripod.com/kick.html

View nominations already submitted:
http://htmlgear.tripod.com/guest/con...dom&i=1&a=view

"Fair use is not merely a nice concept--it is a federal law based on
free speech rights under the First Amendment and is a cornerstone of the
creativity and innovation that is a hallmark of this country. Consumer
rights in the digital age are not frivolous."
- Maura Corbett

non flammable on Vista wrote:
> If you have Vista Ultimate or Business you can now install XP instead,
> before the company who you got the PC needed to give you the OK, now
> everyone can do it (New process below.. read on)
>
> http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windo...ia-75757.shtml
>
>
>
> Enlarge pictureWith the advent of Windows Vista, the issue of
> downgrading to Windows XP came into the limelight and got a consistent
> amount of play throughout 2007. Initially, Microsoft had a complex
> downgrading process in place that forced Windows users to go from Vista
> to XP through unnecessary activation pains. As a direct consequence of
> user feedback, the company simplified the downgrading process, in order
> to streamline the implementation of an older Windows iteration in place
> of Vista.
>
> Here was the old process of downgrading from Vista to XP, courtesy of
> Microsoft: "when an end user is using their downgrade rights offered
> under the License Terms in Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista
> Ultimate editions, and they use both Windows XP media and product keys
> that were previously activated, they cannot activate online over the
> Internet, due to the hardware configuration change when installing on
> the Windows Vista system. In these cases, the end user is prompted to
> call the Activation Support Line for assistance. Once it is determined
> that the end user has a valid Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista
> Ultimate license, the support representative can help them activate
> their software."
>
> This is no longer the case at this point, and downgrade users do not
> have to manually activate each copy of Windows. The move from Microsoft
> helped made downgrades more mainstream, but at the same time generated a
> negative aura around the entire process. However, due to the mixed
> reviews associated with Vista, and because Microsoft is allowing select
> customers to go back to XP from the latest release of the Windows
> client, downgrading became virtually an antonym to upgrading. And this
> is not the case. Not even by far.
>
> Customers and, especially, businesses have the option of acquiring new
> computers, as a part of the process of upgrading their hardware
> infrastructure, while also buying licenses for the latest Windows
> version available on the market. This is not to say that their
> environment is ready for a migration to Vista, and in this context,
> Microsoft is offering business customers the alternative of running an
> older variant of Windows until transition plans are complete.
>
> "If your license of Windows has downgrade rights, then you can use:
> '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)'. So any media for the qualifying downgrade version that the
> customer owns through another license already can be used", revealed
> Eric Ligman, Microsoft US Senior Manager, Small Business Community
> Engagement.
>
> Where does the media come from? Well, Ligman offered the answer: "the
> downgrade media must be supplied to you from the end user and must come
> from Microsoft retail, OEM/system builder, or Volume Licensing
> channels." This actually means that the customer will have to deliver
> the media for the downgrade, in order for the OEM to take care of the
> process. The obvious alternative is for the user to perform the
> downgrade and to take the OEM out of the equation.
>

Couldn't you order it here?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246/en-us

--
Priceless quotes in m.p.w.vista.general group -
Submit your nomination at the link below:
http://protectfreedom.tripod.com/kick.html

View nominations already submitted:
http://htmlgear.tripod.com/guest/con...dom&i=1&a=view

"Fair use is not merely a nice concept--it is a federal law based on
free speech rights under the First Amendment and is a cornerstone of the
creativity and innovation that is a hallmark of this country. Consumer
rights in the digital age are not frivolous."
- Maura Corbett