Hey folks, I have a Vaio UX1XN UMPC which shipped with Vista Business but
currently has XP Pro which now needs activation. As far as I can tell, the
system meets the requirements for downgrading:

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rencesheet.pdf

However I'm a bit confused as to how this process actually works, that
document refers to using an XP Pro license key which seems to defeat the
purpose of using the downgrade system as I want to use the Vista Business
license the PC shipped with. Or is it possible to install the system using
an XP Pro key from an existing system, attempt to activate it, let it fail
and then talk to a representative who will then activate the install for me
(despite it being tied to and active on another machine) when I give them my
Vista Business COA?

If that is the case, can the existing machine with the XP Pro license
continue to function ok or will there be problems with Windows Genuine
Advantage?

Thanks for any help, I've been looking everywhere for assistance with this
but it's difficult to find anything as the search terms are generic,
Microsoft have told me to contact Sony for a product key and helpfully Sony
have told me to contact Microsoft.

John

Your problem is that the Vaio shipped with an OEM version of Vista which is
only good for the Vaio..and that article applies to system
builders..........
I suggest you install XP Pro using your XP Pro key and letting XP pro format
the HD during the install.If the online activation does not work ..phone and
explain the downgrade.At this point he might tell you that you need to
uninstall from the other system if you mention that fact.Be sure that you
have XP drivers from Sony for that particular Vaio mobo and other hardware.
Be sure to safe the HD partition that contains all of the Vista installation
files...the recovery partition...as this is the only version of Vista that
you have and who knows when you might want to reinstall.
peter

"JohnMcL7" <JohnMcL7@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:79737CD5-2942-4AD9-9E5E-D0E91C6AAD33@microsoft.com...

Your problem is that the Vaio shipped with an OEM version of Vista which is
only good for the Vaio..and that article applies to system
builders..........
I suggest you install XP Pro using your XP Pro key and letting XP pro format
the HD during the install.If the online activation does not work ..phone and
explain the downgrade.At this point he might tell you that you need to
uninstall from the other system if you mention that fact.Be sure that you
have XP drivers from Sony for that particular Vaio mobo and other hardware.
Be sure to safe the HD partition that contains all of the Vista installation
files...the recovery partition...as this is the only version of Vista that
you have and who knows when you might want to reinstall.
peter

"JohnMcL7" <JohnMcL7@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:79737CD5-2942-4AD9-9E5E-D0E91C6AAD33@microsoft.com...

"JohnMcL7" <JohnMcL7@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:79737CD5-2942-4AD9-9E5E-D0E91C6AAD33@microsoft.com...

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rencesheet.pdf

http://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/D...radeRights.htm
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rade_chart.doc

"JohnMcL7" <JohnMcL7@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:79737CD5-2942-4AD9-9E5E-D0E91C6AAD33@microsoft.com...

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rencesheet.pdf

http://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/D...radeRights.htm
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rade_chart.doc

On Nov 22, 11:18 pm, JohnMcL7 <JohnM...@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:
Vista licenses are for Vista. XP licenses are for XP. You can not
mix them

To downgrade to XP you must have the XP install CD and a valid XP
license for the version of XP you want to use.

On Nov 22, 11:18 pm, JohnMcL7 <JohnM...@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:
Vista licenses are for Vista. XP licenses are for XP. You can not
mix them

To downgrade to XP you must have the XP install CD and a valid XP
license for the version of XP you want to use.

JohnMcL7 wrote:
My understanding is this is exactly how the process is meant to work. It
is also my understanding that there are a number of Microsoft techs who
are unaware of this and won't activate your XP installation with the
Vista product key when you do the required telephone activation (even
though this is exactly what they are supposed to do!).

See https://partner.microsoft.com/Malaysia/40042969 :

VISTA Downgrade Rights

How to downgrade Vista Business/Ultimate to XP Pro?

Follow the step by step guide below.

1. Install the Machine with XP PRO Media and get any valid XP Product
Key.

2. After finishing the installation, there will be 2 options for you to
pick for the Windows Activation. Activate online or activate through
Phone Call. Pick activate through Phone Call.

3. The system will show a series of Installation ID for activation.

4. Send an email to SEAPART@microsoft.com, and include all the
information below:

a) XP PRO Product Key and COA installed to the machine
b) Vista Business/Ultimate Product Key and COA if possible
c) XP Installation ID that shown in the system
d) Customer information

5. Microsoft will verify the information and respond within 24 hours.
(Common case is about 5-6 hours)

6. You will received an email from SEAPA, with the activation key. Key
in the activation key.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Different licenses and different keys, so it shouldn't be a problem.
(That is, if it weren't for downgrade rights, you wouldn't be able to do
it as you would have only one license for XP and one license for Vista
without the right to downgrade.)

Please let us know if you are successful. I've heard mixed results!

JohnMcL7 wrote:
My understanding is this is exactly how the process is meant to work. It
is also my understanding that there are a number of Microsoft techs who
are unaware of this and won't activate your XP installation with the
Vista product key when you do the required telephone activation (even
though this is exactly what they are supposed to do!).

See https://partner.microsoft.com/Malaysia/40042969 :

VISTA Downgrade Rights

How to downgrade Vista Business/Ultimate to XP Pro?

Follow the step by step guide below.

1. Install the Machine with XP PRO Media and get any valid XP Product
Key.

2. After finishing the installation, there will be 2 options for you to
pick for the Windows Activation. Activate online or activate through
Phone Call. Pick activate through Phone Call.

3. The system will show a series of Installation ID for activation.

4. Send an email to SEAPART@microsoft.com, and include all the
information below:

a) XP PRO Product Key and COA installed to the machine
b) Vista Business/Ultimate Product Key and COA if possible
c) XP Installation ID that shown in the system
d) Customer information

5. Microsoft will verify the information and respond within 24 hours.
(Common case is about 5-6 hours)

6. You will received an email from SEAPA, with the activation key. Key
in the activation key.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Different licenses and different keys, so it shouldn't be a problem.
(That is, if it weren't for downgrade rights, you wouldn't be able to do
it as you would have only one license for XP and one license for Vista
without the right to downgrade.)

Please let us know if you are successful. I've heard mixed results!

"Daave" wrote:
Thank you very much for the helpful reply, that's exactly what I've been
looking for. How does Windows find identical copies of installs, for example
(nothing related to the current case) if I buy an XP Pro retail license and
install and activate it on a machine then install and activate it on another
telling the MS rep I have uninstalled it on the other machine, can MS
identify that the license is being used and flag one of them as not being
allowed?

Thanks again for your help, if I definitely cannot muck up the existing XP
install I'll give this a shot over the weekend.

John

"Daave" wrote:
Thank you very much for the helpful reply, that's exactly what I've been
looking for. How does Windows find identical copies of installs, for example
(nothing related to the current case) if I buy an XP Pro retail license and
install and activate it on a machine then install and activate it on another
telling the MS rep I have uninstalled it on the other machine, can MS
identify that the license is being used and flag one of them as not being
allowed?

Thanks again for your help, if I definitely cannot muck up the existing XP
install I'll give this a shot over the weekend.

John

JohnMcL7 wrote:
You're welcome. I hope this is the way it works and I hope that the
person who answers your phone call is aware of the procedure!

I'm not sure what the mechanism is, but I assume it's WGA.

Is this just a hypothetical, or do you actually have two machines? And
if the latter, did they come with operating systems (as most do), or are
you or somebody else building your own?

If the latter, I suppose it would be the honor system. Sure, you could
falsely claim you removed it from the one machine and continue to use
it. I guess it would continue to work if you find a way to bypass WGA.
So you *could* use the one OS on both systems, but it would not be in
accordance with the license you agreed to.

JohnMcL7 wrote:
You're welcome. I hope this is the way it works and I hope that the
person who answers your phone call is aware of the procedure!

I'm not sure what the mechanism is, but I assume it's WGA.

Is this just a hypothetical, or do you actually have two machines? And
if the latter, did they come with operating systems (as most do), or are
you or somebody else building your own?

If the latter, I suppose it would be the honor system. Sure, you could
falsely claim you removed it from the one machine and continue to use
it. I guess it would continue to work if you find a way to bypass WGA.
So you *could* use the one OS on both systems, but it would not be in
accordance with the license you agreed to.

It is purely hypothetical, I chose it as an example simply because I would
assume it's something that happens frequently and there must be a system MS
have to detect it.

I'm basically trying to reassure myself that I won't lose the TX if I use
its product key for the UX - the TX came with a legimate XP Pro OEM license
(straight from Sony), if MS do activate the UX with the TX's product key then
both machines are going to have the same product key activated on them.

John

It is purely hypothetical, I chose it as an example simply because I would
assume it's something that happens frequently and there must be a system MS
have to detect it.

I'm basically trying to reassure myself that I won't lose the TX if I use
its product key for the UX - the TX came with a legimate XP Pro OEM license
(straight from Sony), if MS do activate the UX with the TX's product key then
both machines are going to have the same product key activated on them.

John

JohnMcL7 wrote:
Microsoft should* activate the Vista PC (the UX) with the Vista key over
the telephone. That is, activating over the Internet won't work (as
designed), so when you phone MS, they should* activate your downgraded
XP installation with the Vista product key. At any rate you should be
able to continue using the TX computer with no problem.

* according to the information contained within your link and within my
link

BTW, what do TX and UX stand for?

JohnMcL7 wrote:
Microsoft should* activate the Vista PC (the UX) with the Vista key over
the telephone. That is, activating over the Internet won't work (as
designed), so when you phone MS, they should* activate your downgraded
XP installation with the Vista product key. At any rate you should be
able to continue using the TX computer with no problem.

* according to the information contained within your link and within my
link

BTW, what do TX and UX stand for?

Fair enough, I will give it a go and report back - once again, I appreciate
all your prompt replies as I've not been able to get any useful information
anywhere else.

TX and UX just refers to the range, the TX is a TX1HP/W which was the first
model and succeeded by the TX2, TX3 etc. in Europe, different numbering
systems used elsewhere. It's an 11.1 ultralight laptop which despite being
extremely small and light has an optical drive onboard and decent
batterylife. The UX is the UX1XN, the first model we've received over here
although it's been on sale for a while elsehwere again under a slightly
different name. I'm not generally keen on Sony Vaios but I do think they
make decent 'small' PCs.

John

Fair enough, I will give it a go and report back - once again, I appreciate
all your prompt replies as I've not been able to get any useful information
anywhere else.

TX and UX just refers to the range, the TX is a TX1HP/W which was the first
model and succeeded by the TX2, TX3 etc. in Europe, different numbering
systems used elsewhere. It's an 11.1 ultralight laptop which despite being
extremely small and light has an optical drive onboard and decent
batterylife. The UX is the UX1XN, the first model we've received over here
although it's been on sale for a while elsehwere again under a slightly
different name. I'm not generally keen on Sony Vaios but I do think they
make decent 'small' PCs.

John

JohnMcL7 wrote:
Gotcha.

Well, thanks for replying, John, and please keep us posted!