Product keys for Vista downgrades and XP upgrades

[sktn77a]

Yo!

I have two T61p Thinkpads. The first was pre-Vista and came pre-loaded with XP Pro with an upgrade availability for Vista Business. Does the XP Pro product key work with Vista Business? Similarly, for the second computer, does the Vista Business product key work with the XP Pro downgrade? (I'm using OEM XP and Vista disks for clean installs, not the Lenovo recovery CDs, hence the need for working product keys).

Thanks

[marlinspike]

I know when I went from XP to Vista I had to get use a new product key that came with Vista (it was the XP Pro to Vista Business upgrade they gave you for free if you bought your laptop close to when Vista was coming out).

[jdhurst]

The Lenovo Recovery CD's do not need a product key, and if you have both sets for one laptop (as I do for my T61p), you just install the recovery CD's and move on.

If you have your own media, you need your own keys. I have seen (another forum) where someone thought it legal to interchange OEM media between computers that were OEM-licensed, but I don't know. Almost for sure, the COA on the bottom of the case (which will not apply to Lenovo recovery CD's) is just for one OS, not two. ... JDH

[sktn77a]

Yes, I've installed an OEM version of XP PRO on my thinkpad before ("clean" install - without all of the IBM/Lenovo bloatware registry entries) and used the OEM key from the bottom of the computer to activate it (required if you don't use the recovery CDs). I don't want to get into a debate over the legal interpretation of Microsofts ELUA, just has anyone ever used the product key on the bottom of their computer for both OSs?

[Harryc]

... just has anyone ever used the product key on the bottom of their computer for both OSs?

Can't be done. One COA per machine. I agree with jdhurst, that has been my experience as well.

[Aroc]

Does the XP Pro product key work with Vista Business?

No. You need a Windows Vista Business specific product key. The keys are not interchangable. key != license. Normally a person would get an upgrade media license (either from the OEM, e.g. Lenovo if they offer it, or the Retail upgrade package.) or buy another full retail license/media. If you're at a college that has MSDNAA, you can use the O/S from that program to upgrade this computer from Windows XP to a later O/S.

They last time I got a free upgrade license/disk from an OEM was from Micron back in 1996 when we were on the cusp of Windows NT 3.51 and NT 4.0. The Pentium PRO machines shipped with 3.51 licenses and we received NT 4.0 upgrade CDs and product keys, later, in the mail. The system was purchased within 30 days of NT 4.0's release. I believe Microsoft may still honor the same deal today (you get the next O/S if it's release within 30 days of purchase), however don't quote me on that.

Similarly, for the second computer, does the Vista Business product key work with the XP Pro downgrade?

No, you will need a Windows XP Professional specific product key. To exercise your downgrade rights, you supply your own OEM Windows XP Professional media, then you call the Microsoft Clearinghouse telephone number, tell them you want to exercise your downgrade rights. They will ask for your Windows Vista product key, then they will provide a Windows XP Professional product key in return once they confirm your downgrade rights, they you can activate using that supplied key like you would for any other install. You just have to call them to get the correct key.

(I'm using OEM XP and Vista disks for clean installs, not the Lenovo recovery CDs, hence the need for working product keys).

To each his own. I find the custom restore (you select what options to install) from the R&R media works fine for me on my personal machines and the O/S has the benefit of be preactivated. At work we use a universal image that is applied using Symantec Ghost and Sysprep (Microsoft System Preparation Tool) which makes switching O/Ss quite easy and reduces the labor involved considerably.