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Dell Vostros seem to be able to use either XP or Vista disks.

techs

techs

Lifer
As many of you know, if you have a Dell Windows XP disk and it is the same version (Home or Pro) from any Dell you can use it on another Dell that shipped with XP and not deal with product activation or even put in a key.
What I found out, is if you order a Vostro with Vista Basic and take a Dell Winxp Home disk you can reformat and install the XP and it doesn't ask for a key nor for activation.
It seems like the firmware in Dell Vostros is coded to allow going from Vista to XP so I am kind of assuming it would work the other way?
I was wondering if anyone had already tried this. If you bought a Vostro with XP Home can you use a Dell Vista Basic disk and will it install with no key and activation?

I am asking because I have been buying Vostros for some clients and since I found this out I have been ordering them with Vista and wiping them an putting on XP so my clients who want XP still have the option of going to Vista down the road at no cost.
If it turns out I can order them with XP and not have to charge them for the wipe and re-install, and still retain the Vista option, I could save my clients the cost of the wipe and reinstall.
 
"If it turns out I can order them with XP and not have to charge them for the wipe and re-install, and still retain the Vista option"

The XP Cd will work on Vista machines and vice versa...but the way you asked about above, wont be right, they wouldnt have a license for Vista

Im not sure what else the Dell CD/DVD looks for, besides a 'Dell' bios, but it must include the date of the bios or something as an old Dell laptop I had, wouldnt accept the Dell Vista Ultimate DVD I recieved with a E521 ($289 !) but an Inspiron 530s would.
 
Ok...first of all, none of this is legit with OEM 'home' versions. You have no downgrade rights from OEM Vista Basic/HP AFAIK...but it might've changed. Obviously, buying a machine with XP Home and handing the user a Vista disk from another machine to upgrade in the future is a no-no as well (otherwise, why would MS sell upgrade versions of Vista?).

This chart outlines your downgrade rights options.

I *believe* that it is legal to downgrade an OEM Vista Business install to XP Pro and then later re-upgrade to Vista Business, as long as there is only one OS on the machine.

MS OEM licensing is so confusing though...perhaps someone else can correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Originally posted by: loup garou
I *believe* that it is legal to downgrade an OEM Vista Business install to XP Pro and then later re-upgrade to Vista Business, as long as there is only one OS on the machine.
Click to expand...
Yes, you can upgrade (back) to Vista Business later, on that same PC. The only problem with this whole strategy is that the time to get the licensing straightened out and install XP Pro on the PC costs more than simply buying a Dell pre-loaded with XP and then simply upgrading to Vista later. A Vista Business upgrade license is, what, $150 to $200? The savings on the OS is less than what it costs to perform the downgrade.
 
I just bought a Vostro 1500 and got Vista home on it. I want to go to XP pro, but it keeps doing a blue screen of death on me while the win xp cd loads

HELP!
 
In all probability you are running into the classic issue that WINXP installer doesnt support SATA.
Piece of cake. Just go to the bottom of this thread to where my installation instructions are given for the Fujitsu A6110:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...t_key=y&keyword1=A6110


You will need to tailor your install for VOSTRO. Look in the VISTA DM to identify the SATA Controller. You will need to prepare the data files for the applicable Controller. Before you begin, recommend generating a screen printout of the full DM for indentifying hardware/drivers) otherwise the proceedure is pretty much the same as provided for the A6110.
(Note: If using the F6 option is too confusing then WINXP will install if you first set AHCI=Disabled in the BIOS before attempting the OS install. However, your system wont support the full capability of SATA such as NCQ.)

PS: If you still get a BSOD upon attempting the XP install then wipe the drive (ie, be absolutely sure to clear track/sector zero) then re-try.

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