Windows Vista Downgrade Rights
Down Grade Rights
Downgrade rights are an end-user right and are documented in the product License Terms or End-User License Agreement (EULA) and refer to the ability to acquire the most recent version of Microsoft® operating system software but continue to run a previous version until they are ready to move to the new operating system version.
When and Why Would You Use Downgrade Rights?
You are purchasing a new computer system and need to run the same operating system as your existing system — Windows XP Professional. An OEM may facilitate your downgrade rights from Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate to a qualified version of Windows XP Professional (noted below) on the new computer system. This process is further defined in the Desktop Operating System License Agreement (DTOS). The downgrade media must be supplied by you (the end user) and must come from a legally licensed version of Microsoft retail, OEM/System Builder, or Volume License channels.
What software versions qualify for downgrade rights?
Not all versions of software contain downgrade rights. The chart below shows the OEM desktop operating system software versions that contain downgrade rights in the product License Terms and the version of software the end user can downgrade to.
The OEM vesions of Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate include downgrade rights to Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. Customers may not downgrade to Windows 2000 Professional from Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate.
No downgrade rights are included in other Windows Vista products in the OEM channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who can install the downgrade software or reinstall the original software?
A. An OEM (when authorized by end user), or you (the end user).
Q. Can an IT Professional ship media for the downgrade software system as well as most recent version they are using to downgrade from?
A. No – downgrade media is provided by you (the end customer).
Q. What about product activation? When a previously licensed version of Windows XP Professional is used for the downgrade, won’t activation fail on the new PC?
A. When you are using your downgrade rights offered under the License Terms in Windows Vista Business and Ultimate versions and you use both Windows XP media and a product key that was previously activated, you will be unable to activate on-line over the Internet, due to the hardware configuration change when installing on the Vista system. In these cases you will be prompted to call the Activation Support Line and explain the circumstances to the Customer Service Representative. Once it is determined that you have a valid Vista Business or Ultimate License, the Customer Service Representative will then activate the software.
Q. Can I return to Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate software after the downgrade?
A. Yes. You may reinstall the original software when you are ready to migrate. For example, you downgrade to Windows XP Professional and may later return to Windows Vista Business software provided that you delete the Windows XP Professional software from the PC.
Q. How do I reinstall the original software after downgrading to a previous allowed downgrade version?
A. You must use the original OEM media or recovery software on the hard disk that was included with the PC for reinstallation. The downgrade software must be deleted from the hard drive before the original software is reinstalled.
Q. Where do I get the CD to install the downgrade software?
A. You must use a legally licensed version of the specified previous version of the Windows desktop operating system to install the downgrade software. The downgrade software may be from the retail, OEM/System Builder, or volume licensing channels.
This is an extract from a (pdf) document found on the Microsoft Website which can be downloaded here
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