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    I have little understanding so far in this topic but here is my issue:

    Recently purchased new computer with Windows Vista - a system that I have come to dislike straight away since it eats up so much memory compared to Windows XP. My brother has the latter system on his computer which is a genuinely licensed product which he purchased along with his computer a few years ago. Can i install Windows XP on my computer using same CD key without having validation issues (still using same copy of XP on my brother's computer)? My reading into this suggests that I cannot, however, I am puzzled, since as a household we have already pruchased a licensed copy of WIndows XP and it seems unfair having to buy abother one (in which case I just bought wrong computer). Just think - in a school classroom with 30 computers would they have to buy 30 copies of windows XP to install? There must be an answer to this seemingly daft question.

    Thank you.
    Thursday, January 1, 2009 1:45 PM

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    Yegor2 said:

    I have little understanding so far in this topic but here is my issue:

    Recently purchased new computer with Windows Vista - a system that I have come to dislike straight away since it eats up so much memory compared to Windows XP. My brother has the latter system on his computer which is a genuinely licensed product which he purchased along with his computer a few years ago. Can i install Windows XP on my computer using same CD key without having validation issues (still using same copy of XP on my brother's computer)? My reading into this suggests that I cannot, however, I am puzzled, since as a household we have already pruchased a licensed copy of WIndows XP and it seems unfair having to buy abother one (in which case I just bought wrong computer). Just think - in a school classroom with 30 computers would they have to buy 30 copies of windows XP to install? There must be an answer to this seemingly daft question.

    Thank you.

    No, because the license for Windows XP is per household.

    If you need 30 copies, you qualify for volumelicensing program, and you can use the same VLK and VLM for all the PCs. The only qualification is having more than 5 PCs
    • Proposed as answer by motherboardlove Saturday, January 3, 2009 7:22 PM
    • Marked as answer by Carl-S Tuesday, January 6, 2009 4:51 PM
    Saturday, January 3, 2009 7:22 PM
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      Yegor2,

    Thank you for visiting the Windows Genuine Advantage program forum. Your post is out of scope for the WGA program forum as well as out of our expertise.  I can say that you will have validation issues if you do install 1 copy of the OS on 2 machines.

    Questions regarding Software Licensing Terms can be found at the following link:

    http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/useterms/default.aspx

    If you have an OEM System Builder copy of Windows XP, please contact the place where you purchased it for continued support.

    OEM Licensing Information:

    http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:XKMlhtB4R88J:download.microsoft.com/download/4/e/3/4e3eace0-4c6d-4123-9d0c-c80436181742/OSLicQA.doc+Microsoft+OEM+System+Builder+EULA+word+document&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

    Volume licensing customers can use the Microsoft Volume Licensing site to find contact information in their locations. See the following link:

    http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/default.mspx  

    For additional information about Certificates of Authenticity (COA), see the following link:

    http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/default.aspx?displaylang=en

    Additional Information:

    For licensing questions, please call 1-800-426-9400 (select option 4), Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. (PST) to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist.

    Once again, thank you for contacting us in the WGA program forum.

    Rick

    • Marked as answer by RickImAPC Tuesday, January 6, 2009 10:32 PM
    Tuesday, January 6, 2009 10:32 PM

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    If you have Vista Ultimate or Vista Business, Microsoft will let you downgrade to XP Pro:

    http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=10930

    If you have any other edition of Vista, then you are out of luck.
    Thursday, January 1, 2009 4:10 PM
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    Yegor,

    Please run the Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Test (MGADT) so that I may analyze the results.

    By clicking the link below, you will download the MGADT.  Then click the Run button. Then click the Run button again. Then click the Continue button to perform the diagnostic. The Windows tab should show, click the Copy button to paste your report to the clipboard.  Then paste the report into a New Post on this Forum by adding a post in it and pressing Ctrl V (to paste the text). Clicking the OK button will clear the Diagnostic window. Here is the download link:

     http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

    Please tell us about the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) for your copy of Windows XP.

    1. What edition/version of Windows XP is titled?

    ·         Home

    ·         Professional

    ·         Media Center

    2. Does it read "OEM Software" or "OEM Product" in black lettering?

    3. Or, does it have the computer manufacturer's name in black lettering?

    4. Please provide the customer scenario you are experiencing.

    5. DO NOT post the Product Key.

    Not sure what to look for, see this page to reference your COA:

    http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/product.aspx?pID=2abf99cd-a5e4-469c-802e-55ca8ec542d5&cID=ea710cad-37b0-4975-bcd6-abfee19961df&method=oem&displaylang=en

    NOTE: The data collected with the Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostic Tool does NOT contain any information that can personally identify you. The information can be fully reviewed, by you, before being posted.

    Thank you for your participation here on the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program forums. We look forward to working with you.


    Stephen Holm, MS
    WGA Forum Manager

    Stephen Holm
    Friday, January 2, 2009 10:08 PM
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    Yegor2 said:

    I have little understanding so far in this topic but here is my issue:

    Recently purchased new computer with Windows Vista - a system that I have come to dislike straight away since it eats up so much memory compared to Windows XP. My brother has the latter system on his computer which is a genuinely licensed product which he purchased along with his computer a few years ago. Can i install Windows XP on my computer using same CD key without having validation issues (still using same copy of XP on my brother's computer)? My reading into this suggests that I cannot, however, I am puzzled, since as a household we have already pruchased a licensed copy of WIndows XP and it seems unfair having to buy abother one (in which case I just bought wrong computer). Just think - in a school classroom with 30 computers would they have to buy 30 copies of windows XP to install? There must be an answer to this seemingly daft question.

    Thank you.

    No, because the license for Windows XP is per household.

    If you need 30 copies, you qualify for volumelicensing program, and you can use the same VLK and VLM for all the PCs. The only qualification is having more than 5 PCs
    • Proposed as answer by motherboardlove Saturday, January 3, 2009 7:22 PM
    • Marked as answer by Carl-S Tuesday, January 6, 2009 4:51 PM
    Saturday, January 3, 2009 7:22 PM
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      Yegor2,

    Thank you for visiting the Windows Genuine Advantage program forum. Your post is out of scope for the WGA program forum as well as out of our expertise.  I can say that you will have validation issues if you do install 1 copy of the OS on 2 machines.

    Questions regarding Software Licensing Terms can be found at the following link:

    http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/useterms/default.aspx

    If you have an OEM System Builder copy of Windows XP, please contact the place where you purchased it for continued support.

    OEM Licensing Information:

    http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:XKMlhtB4R88J:download.microsoft.com/download/4/e/3/4e3eace0-4c6d-4123-9d0c-c80436181742/OSLicQA.doc+Microsoft+OEM+System+Builder+EULA+word+document&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

    Volume licensing customers can use the Microsoft Volume Licensing site to find contact information in their locations. See the following link:

    http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/default.mspx  

    For additional information about Certificates of Authenticity (COA), see the following link:

    http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/default.aspx?displaylang=en

    Additional Information:

    For licensing questions, please call 1-800-426-9400 (select option 4), Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. (PST) to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist.

    Once again, thank you for contacting us in the WGA program forum.

    Rick

    • Marked as answer by RickImAPC Tuesday, January 6, 2009 10:32 PM
    Tuesday, January 6, 2009 10:32 PM