Downgrade Vista to XPP - Need XPP Key???

Hope someone can explain the 'downgrade Vista to XP' program that I thought was available by MS....

I got Vista on my new TZ150N and asked P1 for XPP discs so I could downgrade....however, didn't think about key issue....so did recovery and then XPP asked me for key. Of course, the only key I had with me was the Vista key on the sticker on TZ...which didn't work...

P1 said to call MS for new key....

After 20 minutes on phone with 2 different MS groups, no key...as they wanted info from an actual XP CD...which I didn't have, so no key...they said get key from P1, which they said they don't have....

So, wondering what kind of downgrade program is this????

It seems that you need to have an XPP CD in order to downgrade which means you should already have a key, right???

Although I guess it means that they'll give you another key if you've already used that one on a machine and activated right?? So, in that case you're saving the cost of buying another CD just to get a key....

Meanwhile, I found that I have an OEM XP Home CD/key but not a XPP CD...

Any suggestions??? Just buy another copy of XP???



Thanks!

 

the "downgrade" program means simply that sony offers xp drivers for download.

what is not included: xp cds. valid xp license. money back for unused vista licence.

if you have a previous laptop not beeing used anymore you can use the license key from that one. that's how i did it. if you only have a single machine and no spare xp-license available then "downgrade" is useless for you... legally you would have to buy an additional xp license.

i contacted sony a week ago about getting back some money for the never activated and never used vista license - no response so far...

has someone else here tried this as well - what was the response you got? anyone actually got money back for the vista license?

 

I actually have a hard time believing you would be getting your money back as MS has sold the oem to sony who then sold it to you. Same thing you cant refund the say harddrive just because you happened to buy a 7200 one and the original hd is left useless.

 

You can ofc sell your vista cd key on ebay or smth if your sure you wont be needing it.

 

Thanks, smartinick and Hinningolla....

So, shouldn't MS have called this the 'XP Driver Program for Dissatisfied Vista Users' program????

Seems that would avoid a lot of this confusion....

 

there are already some court rulings in italy (against HP) and i believe in france (against Acer) where they had to pay back for unwanted software.

the one how sued Acer got some hundred euros as he not only "gave back" windows but also all the bundled software.

the license agreement says that the hardware-vendor is liable for giving back the money as - you already stated that - MS sold the license to them and they sold it to you.

so to get me right - i am not talking about getting money back from MS, but in this case from Sony.
as they leave us no option but vista it is on them to deal with that now.

many people already have valid licenses from older/broken pcs, they do not need any new license with the hardware. some do not need it as they use linux. and some might want to sit with a more stable, combatible and power (therefore battery saving!) "old" OS like xp pro.

what sony calls "downgrade" is simply a joke. ok. they provide drivers. at least. but you can pay for another os-license? and still get no money back for the one you do not use?

the minimum i would expect from a company taking their customers serious is to give back the money for unused vista or as another option - provide a valid xp license if you choose to "downgrade"

 

correct. but it should read Sony instead of MS... Sony provides the drivers.

leading to the weird thing: when using the preinstalled OS the hardware-vendor - sony - is liable for giving you support.
when using the "downgrade" option - the hardware-vendor only supplies the drivers for his hardware. MS is liable for giving you support then.

and to dig a little more into this, i just remember to have read an article yesterday on MS offering the Vendors to offer "real" downgrades. meaning that you pay for a vista license and when wanting to "downgrade" you need to have a xp-key in your hands. but MS allows for 2 simultanaes activation on 2 machines.

so with this downgrade-program from MS you are allowed to use your XP license on a 2nd machine when you payed for but do not use a vista-license.
that only goes for vista business and a downgrade to xp pro. not for any home edition and in some cases also for the ultimate editions.

nice try/trick from MS here... how much is a xp pro oem license compared to a vista business license...? that would be the amount i would expect to get back from MS when using this program.

 

anyone use xp on 650 nc ? no problem ?