Does Dell Still Ship XP Downgrade Disk?

I'm getting a Vostro and I have the option of getting XP or Vista. I have Vista on my new one but I do have some compatibility issues I've run into and my other 2 desktops are running XP as well.

I had read that if you get Vista, Dell will ship you an XP downgrade disk if you request it. But those posts are a year old.

Anyone have any insight?

 

From what I remember, it was Microsoft that gave out XP downgrade disks, but only if you had Vista Ultimate or Business.
But I could be wrong about that. I don't remember Dell ever offering this though.

 

What compatibility issues do you have with Vista?

 

My understanding was that MS gives you downgrade rights, but you need to get the XP disc from somewhere else. I don't know if Dell gives out the XP discs for this purpose or not. I also don't know if this program is still in effect, although I'm guessing it is. But I do know that it was only ever for Business and Ultimate editions... not the home editions of Vista.

Do you have XP discs for your desktops? If they're non-OEM, generic OEM, or Dell OEM, then they might work on a Dell laptop. If they're recovery discs or another brand's OEM discs, then they probably won't work.

Here's a slightly dated article about it:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9040318

 

I don't think the program is still in effect.

 

Mainly network and and a couple of older pieces of equipment that work great so I'm not quite ready to retire them just yet for one computer running Vista.

With the network, Vista won't use the wireless router at all. It will only work if I use a WAP plugged into the wireless router. LOL I posted about it a couple of months ago but the only help I got was to buy a new router. Another piece of equipment that I'm just not ready to retire for one computer.

I'm not saying Vista sucks. I really do like it and I'd like to move on to the new OS but the option of getting XP is enticing me. If it wasn't an option, I'd be none the wiser.

I know. I live in the past. I still jam to my 80s music too but I did manage to put away my parachute pants.


Edited: swarmer, I have no idea if I have my XP disks or if they were just shipped with a recovery partition. I'll have to do some digging. And honestly, I don't know how that works. Do you install and then buy a license after the install so it's legal?

I usually take the easy (and more fun way) out of upgrading the OS -- I just buy a new computer.