PC's been downgraded, Can I... regrade?

[BeautifulDankness]

Can I reverse my computer's downgrade? I have no discs. I have an HP dc5850 Business "Vista downgraded to Win Xp"

 

[JDFan]

You should be able to by reinstalling the upgrade -- I say this since on Microsoft's Understaniding Downgrade rights page (http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/downgrade_rights.aspx#fbid=HTVj4t2PMIq ) It says :

Thanks to downgrade rights, end users who have acquired a more recent version of the software (such as Windows 8 Pro or Windows Server 2012 Standard) can use a prior version of the software (such as Windows 7 Professional or Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard) until they are ready to move to the more recent version. If a product includes downgrade rights, the license terms for that product will indicate which prior versions of the software may be used.

Notice the Text Ilaced in Bold ! which tends to say the downgrade is reversible once you are ready !!

 

[hang-the-9]

That is "downgrade RIGHTS" meaning a licensed way of doing a downgrade, not the actual act of installing a new Windows version.

This should be the right procedure to put Vista back on the system if you have the windows.old directory. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933168 but you have to read it a bit and try to modify it since you went from Vista to XP and want to go back to Vista instead of the other way around.

It may not work right, and if you don't have the Windows.old directory, you need the Vista disks to do the setup. Actually, you need the Vista and XP disks anyway according to those instructions as in Step 2.

Step 2: Start the Windows Recovery Environment
1.Put the Windows Vista installation disc in the DVD drive, and then restart the computer.
2.Press a key when you are prompted to restart from the disc.

 

[JDFan]

That is "downgrade RIGHTS" meaning a licensed way of doing a downgrade, not the actual act of installing a new Windows version.

Yes but the bolded portion that I was pointing out says you can downgrade "UNTIL YOU ARE READY to move to the new OS -- meaning that the downgrade is reversible when\if you decide to revert to VISTA !! and since his\her question was whether it was reversible or not is answered by that portion of the quote ! -- So all that is needed is to reinstall VISTA using either the original restore disk (if there is no info you want to keep on the XP install -- or by using an Upgrade install to go from XP to Vista if you want to keep the info on the hdd.) Once installed you just reenter the key and it should activate fine and if it doesn't call MS and they will help to get it activated.

 

[BeautifulDankness]

That is "downgrade RIGHTS" meaning a licensed way of doing a downgrade, not the actual act of installing a new Windows version.

This should be the right procedure to put Vista back on the system if you have the windows.old directory. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933168 but you have to read it a bit and try to modify it since you went from Vista to XP and want to go back to Vista instead of the other way around.

It may not work right, and if you don't have the Windows.old directory, you need the Vista disks to do the setup. Actually, you need the Vista and XP disks anyway according to those instructions as in Step 2.

Step 2: Start the Windows Recovery Environment
1.Put the Windows Vista installation disc in the DVD drive, and then restart the computer.
2.Press a key when you are prompted to restart from the disc.

If I don't have the discs and wanted to revert it To Vista from XP is there any way to download the Vista OS or do i need to physically order recovery discs from HP or Microsoft?


Also, I can't seem to find that windows.old folder. Where would it be located for me on XP?


I have a feeling I won't be able to do this without paying money to somebody. Would it be in my best interest, if i need to spend money to buy recovery discs, to just upgrade the OS to Win 7 (or 8 i suppose)?

 

[JDFan]

Chances are the window.old folder was deleted shortly after downgrading since the downgrade was done on a brand new system. The Vista OEM install disc can be downloaded from Digital River - Links are located Here toward the bottom of the page -- NOTE : It says Ultimate but the key you type in will determine what version is installed and they can be used for all versions of VISTA) ( http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/57-windows-vista-direct-download-links# )

 

[BeautifulDankness]

Chances are the window.old folder was deleted shortly after downgrading since the downgrade was done on a brand new system. The Vista OEM install disc can be downloaded from Digital River - Links are located Here toward the bottom of the page -- NOTE : It says Ultimate but the key you type in will determine what version is installed and they can be used for all versions of VISTA) ( http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/57-windows-vista-direct-download-links# )

Will i be able to keep data i've put on the PC and whatnot if I download & install though that method? Or will Vista wipe my drive? Where can I find this key that I need? This PC was a gift to me from a relative, there were no included discs or documentation.

 

[JDFan]

Will i be able to keep data i've put on the PC and whatnot if I download & install though that method? Or will Vista wipe my drive? Where can I find this key that I need? This PC was a gift to me from a relative, there were no included discs or documentation.

When you install you just need to make sure you select an Upgrade install rather than a new install (doing this will have it keep all of the programs and documents etc. intact) - It should find the XP install and ask if you want to upgrade - But always best to be safe and make a backup of any important documents etc. before beginning just in case !!

 

[BeautifulDankness]

Thank you both for replying, I wasn't sure who to pick as the Solution as you were both very helpful. I've decided i'm just going to stick it out with XP though and upgrade to Win 7 in the near future as Vista is apparently not worth the effort haha.

I very much appreciate the help fellas.