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Microsoft to Simplify Downgrades From Vista to XP

Posted by Zonk on from the where-do-you-want-to-go-today-besides-down dept.

castrox writes "Microsoft has noted that many corporate users want to run XP instead of Vista. They are now simplifying the downgrade process for top OEMs. Currently, all OEMs must call Microsoft whenever a downgrade is done. After the new procedure is put into place, OEMs may submit batches of keys to Microsoft online. According to the Microsoft blog on ZDNet, the 'downgrade software' will still need to be supplied by the end user. The deal is rather perplexing — it does not seem like you can convert the license since the only eligible versions for downgrading is Ultimate and Business. The company has more details available in a pdf document online."

5 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. The downgrade installation manager... by Skevin · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...will probably be named:

    Turbo Debuggerer

    Solomon

    --
    "Twice half-assed makes an ass whole." --Solomon K. Chang
    1. Re:The downgrade installation manager... by neoform · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Why's it called a down-grade anyway?

      Seems like an up-grade or at least a non-grade to me.

      --
      MABASPLOOM!
  2. Leave it to Microsoft... by amuro98 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Only Microsoft can make otherwise simple activities into tortorous affairs.

    Why do the companies have to tell Microsoft everytime they "downgrade" a PC from Vista to XP? Does the company receive some sort of credit for being forced to buy an OS they don't want/need?

    Why can't they just buy the PCs with XP already on them without having to uninstall Vista, then re-install XP, then beg for Microsoft's forgiveness, THEN apply all the hundreds of patches - each of which also requires a reboot, and then...

  3. Corporate licensing... by HerculesMO · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is a huge reason we dread getting Vista here. Compatibility isn't too much of an issue, we have been doing preliminary testing and found a reasonable expectation with it to work with our software.

    However, having to set up an activation server, have users log back in every 180 days... is just idiotic.

    If we get audited, we get screwed anyway. So why make it so difficult?

    --
    The price is always right if someone else is paying.
  4. Home users get to buy XP again. by twitter · · Score: 5, Informative

    My friends tell me that what the summary reports is accurate:

    it does not seem like you can convert the license since the only eligible versions for downgrading is Ultimate and Business.

    This is true for home users. Your Vista license can not be used for XP, even if you simply upgraded. When you transfer your XP license to Vista, M$ won't give it back to you with their "Please let me use my OS" validation page. So, if you make the mistake of "upgrading" XP to Vista, you will have to buy XP again if you don't like Vista. Let's just say that people have not been happy with that and hope that M$ fixes it real soon.

    Business users, I'm sure, get the usual double M$ tax. They pay the M$ tax when they buy the computer and they pay it again when they buy the OS and actual software, assurance plans and other nonsense.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.