Vista May Invalidate Your XP Key. Here's How To Get Around It

Thu Feb 1, 2007 3:01AM EST

See Comments (28)

Judging from your emails and comments, a number of you are interested in upgrading to Vista from XP, but are worried about what might happen along the way.

You're right. Never mind the fact that you shouldn't upgrade from XP, there's something else to worry about: If you run your Vista upgrade the normal way, your Windows XP key may no longer work if you decide you want to go back. That's right: The upgrade version of Vista just might be a one-way trip.

Now the good news, there's a workaround. Detailed instructions are located here, but mainly it involves not entering your product key when you first install, though unfortunately you will have to install Vista a second time later in the procedure. It's a hassle, but I think it's worth it: This is a small price to pay to be able to go back to XP should you decide Vista just isn't for you, or if, more likely, you find out your computer isn't able to handle Vista's hefty system requirements.

In other news, there are conflicting reports online as to whether this is actually true or just a draconian term in Vista's license. I'll update this post once more details shake out (if they ever do)...

Comments on Vista May Invalidate Your XP Key. Here's How To Get Around It

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  • 7 Posted by joaosantos123 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm getting really annoyed with this company. Are they trying to push people away?

  • 8 Posted by lutherbrowning@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thanks for the advice, "Don't upgrade to Vista". That's been my opinion since the first review I read of the official release of Vista. No benefits, it's slower, has trouble running current programs, and it's main claim to fame, security, is poor to mediocre. Too bad if you buy a new computer, you have to take Vista. If Mac would run the programs I have, and sold for a reasonable price, I would switch.

  • 10 Posted by lil_cutie4ever2001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    I bought a new pc, it came with vista. I HATE IT !!!!!!!! It wont let me burn dvd's and it is very slow. Can anything be done?

  • 11 Posted by vernlehman@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    I skipped from Windows ME O/S to two new compaq desktop computers loaded with VISTA. I didn't like XP when it hit the market and still don't. I would definately not recommend VISTA to anybody unless you plan to buy all new peripherals and can live without most of your favorite Add-On programs. I finally found a compatable printer (HP 3930V) however the Ink Level nor the Photo Editing program for it will not work with VISTA. NONE of my (4) Scanners will work with VISTA and my CD Stomper Label Maker is NOT compatable, however SureThing V5 labeler is. VISTA seems to be more stable than Mellinnium O/S and if you can live with the limited software package that comes loaded on the machine I would say Go For IT.

  • 12 Posted by kenneth_skelton_sr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    The other way is to do a 2nd os install which can be done even with only an upgrade

  • 13 Posted by bheite on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    Oh yes, you can get Vista off. If all else fails, go in you bios, set to CD boot (if not), through inyour XP disk, and tell it to delete all partitions. Re partition and format, and reinstall XP. If you are really desperate, just get a new hard drive and install it. I will not switch to a MS os until it is at least 2 years old. I will buy XP and install it before running Vista as it is. It is the same thing everytime witrh MS, they give you crap for the first 2 years, then they finally get it all working, just in time to tell you about their new "fantasy" os that will be all to everyman. Then they come up with schemes and junkets to ram it down out throat. Build your own PC (easy easy easy)and get a copy of XP (and even if MS says that the site is piratety or whatever, once they activate your coopy, they are acknowledging it is valid, the comment way up above is not correct) and do it yourself. Give the greedy grubbers 80.00 for XP Home, rather than 130 for Vista Junk.

  • 14 Posted by sicx13 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    people whine and complain to much. vista is great and has never given me any problems. all the programs that were not compatible have run for me thus far. when you get the warning install anyway and when its installed find the icon for the program and right click on it and set the compatbilty mode for xp sp2. i have gotten everything to ron ecept symantec and mcafee antvirus and why pay for that crap anyway unless your doin it on a bissiness computer. for home there is avg antivirus and and avast home which are both free!!! and work great with vista.

  • 15 Posted by stephr1112 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree, I recently bought a new laptop and Vista has been fine. I have had no trouble, except a few minor glitches, which I have since fixed. By the way, symantec and mcafee DO run on my Vista! I love the new Word also!

  • 16 Posted by throw_the_gnome on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sicx12, have you considered that people aren't whining and complaining too much and that they *are* having the problems they claim to have? Every time I hear someone say that they had a problem with Vista it never fails that someone will pop out of nowhere and give the completely useless advice of "I didn't have any problems, you're obviously exagerating." Everyone doesn't have the same problems come up. I have programs that won't run on my laptop but will run fine on my desktop and vice versa, both of which run XP Pro. I also have friends who have (unhappily) upgraded their computers to Vista and have issues on one computer that don't come up on another.

  • 17 Posted by cementspecialist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    Good advice - everyone I've spoken to who has Vista absolutely hates it

  • 19 Posted by faust_in_chaos on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have been running Windows Vista since RC1, and have had virtually no problems with anything, however, I do believe that some of you, if not all of you, have been having problems. But, you must think, did everything work perfectly under Windows XP or Windows 2000? Like the comment above about having to cancel the install of Office every time you run it, I have had that problem on Windows 2000 and Windows XP, but not on Vista, and all on the same computer. Some of these problems I imagine are not that hard to fix, but they can't be fixed if you just throw your computer out because of something mediocre like that. Also, if you aren't sure about runnning Vista on your computer, just dual-boot Vista and Windows XP, that way you can switch back to XP just by restarting your computer.

  • 20 Posted by iusefaith on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    In order for xp and office/works to function you only need call the 1-800 number for validating your microsoft product. Their automated system will attempt to validate it, but most likely won't be able too. At which point you will transferred to a "real" person who can barely speak english, and then they will be able to give you a new key.

  • 21 Posted by iusefaith on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    In order for xp and office/works to function you only need call the 1-800 number for validating your microsoft product. Their automated system will attempt to validate it, but most likely won't be able too. At which point you will transferred to a "real" person who can barely speak english, and then they will be able to give you a new key.

  • 22 Posted by iusefaith on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Rosegaliana: In order for xp and office/works to function you only need call the 1-800 number for validating your microsoft product. Their automated system will attempt to validate it, but most likely won't be able too. At which point you will transferred to a "real" person who can barely speak english, and then they will be able to give you a new key.

  • 23 Posted by iusefaith on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Rosegaliana: In order for xp and office/works to function you only need call the 1-800 number for validating your microsoft product. Their automated system will attempt to validate it, but most likely won't be able too. At which point you will transferred to a "real" person who can barely speak english, and then they will be able to give you a new key.

  • 24 Posted by jwhenderson1234 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Your detailed instructions page is not working = I am interested in the work around!

  • 25 Posted by sjohnsonnnl on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Just purchased a new laptop with Vista Home Basic. Loaded it up and works fine. Don't try and run it with less one gig of ram, preferably more.

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