This is what HP had to say. James
We have seen a variety of issues when customers are changing the OS. Please read about both issues to identify which issue matches there situation more. The first issue that we have seen, is where customers are trying to load the XP restore media and they are prompted to enter a Product Key/COA/Proof of License. HP does not include a copy of XP with the "Vista Downgrade". HP does include a copy of the Vista media and since the computer comes with XP pre-installed customers are propted to make their own media when they boot up the system. If they do not do this and come to need a copy of the restore media for the first 90 days they can call 800-HP-INVENT and HP will send out a free copy (2 discs). After 90 days there is a charge of $9.95 for shipping and handling. RESOLUTION: Regardless of whether they made their own copy or received it from HP it is IMPERITIVE that the customer load the restore disc first and the OS disc second. NOTE: If they do not do this they will be prompted to enter the Microsoft Product Key (COA, C.O.A., Proof of License). When they attempt to enter the Vista Product Key for XP they will get some type of error message. I do not know exactly what it will say, but I do know that they will not get past this point; ie. they are stuck. They need to start over and load the restore disc first. The second issue that seems to be reoccurring is similar. In my experiences the customers had wiped the image clean and were trying to use a tool like SysPrep to load the new image onto the new machines. That is when this error/problem is encountered. We have seen this before where customers call HP support and are redirected to Microsoft who then pushes the user back to HP. RESOLUTION: It is simple, but when calling Microsoft the user must be VERY specific. When talking to Microsoft the caller must state that, "I am excercising my downgrade rights to XP and have a Vista Product Key". NOTE: If the Microsoft rep does not know what a Product Key is tell them that it is a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). It is proof of license. It may be helpful to explain to the Microsoft rep how and why the customer is making this OS change. The link below is directly from MS and states that they must call microsoft. On the right hand side it explains the volume licensing method. (LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT QUESTION 3) http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/f/4/5f4c83d3-833e-4f11-8cbd-699b0c164182/royaltyoemreferencesheet.pdf Hence, Microsoft has the ability to unlock that Vista COA/KEY for XP and the problem should be fixed. In my previous experience I received this message from HP Support and the Microsoft Partner Specialist rep... I pulled this from the Microsoft website: How to activate Windows XP by phone To contact a Microsoft customer service representative to activate Windows by phone, follow these steps: 1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Activate Windows. Or, click the Windows Activation icon in the notification area. 2. Click Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to active Windows now. 3. Click Read the Windows Product Activation Privacy Statement, click Back, and then click Next. 4. Follow the steps in the Activate Windows by phone dialog box, and then click Next. Note The number appears now and differs based on the location that you select. 5. When activation is completed and you receive the following message, click OK. You have successfully activated your copy of Windows ----- Original Message ----- From: Angus Scott-Fleming To: NT System Admin Issues Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 9:01 PM Subject: Re: Windows Licensing Question On 28 Aug 2008 at 11:46, James Kerr wrote: > If I buy a PC with Vista Utimate on it but I want to have XP64 on it > instead,how do I go about getting the license for it if I dont have a CD or > a key to use? On 28 Aug 2008 at 12:26, James Kerr wrote: > Never mind, I got my answer from HP. OK, inquiring minds want to know. What was the answer? -- Angus Scott-Fleming GeoApps, Tucson, Arizona 1-520-290-5038 ~! ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
