Help..!
I recently purchased a Dell desktop with Vista Business as the OS.
Our business software which operates as a VPN over the net is not compatible with Vista yet, but works with XP pro.
Dell is of no help at all, going on about licences and how sorry they are, and have a good day sir...

I see from the Microsoft web site that downgrades from Vista business to XP pro are possible. I suspect that it might only apply up grade versions of vista.

How are dowgrades done? and what pit falls.
Can I partition my drive and dual boot as a last resort? or should I remove Vista and then install XP?
Thanks.

You can't actually perform a downgrade of Vista to XP. You need to format and install XP. or create a new partition and dual boot.

Currently going through the same process.

I've purchased new pc's at work with the Vista Business license (OEM) but XP Pro installed, only problem is I require a Product Key for XP as the Vista one will not work.

Currently the company I bought them from and Microsoft are bouncing e-mails back and forth to each other as to who has to provide me with a Product Key so I can activate the software.

According to MS if you have any XP Pro media from other pc's you can install from them and use an existing Product Key to give you 30 day's grace before you need to enter a proper Product Key and activate it.

This is what I have done and hopefully by then they will sort out who is responsible for providing a product key.

I will keep you informed as to who it is.

Cheers
Reon

Just to finish this topic off, Microsoft rang me today and activated my downgraded XP Pro installs.

They didn't provide me with a new Product Key, they simply ran me thru the activation process over the phone option where I had to tell them the installation ID and they responded with an activation ID.

Cheers
Reon

That is the process. Install any copy of XP with any product key and then ring microsoft to activate - you will then need to quote a non activated vista key and they will profide a activation key for the XP install.

 I CALLED MS SUPPORT,TO ASK IF CAN INSTALL XP OVER VISTA, I WAS TOLD I COULD. (I FOUND OUT IT WAS FORMAT HD AND NOT DOWNGRADE AS YOU MENTIONED). I THEN CALLED UP SONY TECH SUPPORT AND ASKED THEM IF THERE ARE DRIVERS AVAILBALE FOR MY VAIO VGN-N320E ONCE I MADE THE CHANGE TO XP, AND HE TOLD ME NO!  HE SAID, THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING FROM MS OR THE INTERNET BUT SONY DOES NOT HAVE ANY DRIVERS FOR MY MODEL IF I REPLACE MY VISTA WITH XP. AM I STUCK? THANKS.

Hello nongeeker, and welcome to Geekzone...

If you bought the laptop with Windows Vista already installed and it's a new model, chances are Sony is only making it for this OS, in which case you will have no luck finding Windows XP drivers. If this is an old model, then you can probably find the drivers on Sony Support Site.

However, if you don't have the drivers, or can't find them I strongly recommend you do not change the OS. If you have no experience doing an OS install you might ended up with a paperweight and having to send it for repairs, which will cost a lot more.

Also, a couple of housekeeping: please do not hijack a discussion, it makes it really hard to help anyone with parallel discussions going on. Next time start your own thread to keep topics separate. Also do not write all in CAPITAL LETTERS. This is the equivalent of SHOUTING on the Internet.