Vista - Downgrading from Ultimate to Premium

Hello,

I have a Dell 5100c desktop and also a Dell laptop. A few weeks ago, my
computer geek neighbor kid came over and downloaded Windows Ultimate on my
two computers as a "gift". Well, silly me let him do this not knowing that it
wasn't a genuine version of Windows (yes, I know!)!!!!!

Now I need to back pedal to get myself out of this mess. My computers can't
handle this version of Windows anyway (my desktop is 1 gig and the laptop is
2 gigs), so I want to buy the full version of Home Premium.

Right now, I'm locked out of my two computers because of the invalid key
that was used for the Windows version, so I have limited access to my
computer.

My question is: if I go to install a lower version of Windows that is
already installed, will it work? Am I going to have to reformat in order to
get Windows Home onto my computer? Also, what if I want to just downgrade to
XP? Will it make my computer blow up?

Thanks,

Hello,
I'm afraid it's not possible to downgrade without reformatting.

Greetings,
P. Di Stolfo

--
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// http://blog.lysorp.com - small Windows Blog in German language
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"Alice" <Alice@discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:2524C7C6-3B44-4401-9718-45F79B48955A@microsoft.com...
> Hello,
>
> I have a Dell 5100c desktop and also a Dell laptop. A few weeks ago, my
> computer geek neighbor kid came over and downloaded Windows Ultimate on my
> two computers as a "gift". Well, silly me let him do this not knowing that
> it
> wasn't a genuine version of Windows (yes, I know!)!!!!!
>
> Now I need to back pedal to get myself out of this mess. My computers
> can't
> handle this version of Windows anyway (my desktop is 1 gig and the laptop
> is
> 2 gigs), so I want to buy the full version of Home Premium.
>
> Right now, I'm locked out of my two computers because of the invalid key
> that was used for the Windows version, so I have limited access to my
> computer.
>
> My question is: if I go to install a lower version of Windows that is
> already installed, will it work? Am I going to have to reformat in order
> to
> get Windows Home onto my computer? Also, what if I want to just downgrade
> to
> XP? Will it make my computer blow up?
>
> Thanks,
>
>

Alice;
Back-up all important data and perform a Clean Installation.
Unfortunately there is no downgrade path from Vista Ultimate to Home
Premium.

Windows Easy Transfer may also help saving important data:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...ytransfer.mspx

Also be sure to thank your friend for the help given.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Alice" <Alice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2524C7C6-3B44-4401-9718-45F79B48955A@microsoft.com...
> Hello,
>
> I have a Dell 5100c desktop and also a Dell laptop. A few weeks ago,
> my
> computer geek neighbor kid came over and downloaded Windows Ultimate
> on my
> two computers as a "gift". Well, silly me let him do this not
> knowing that it
> wasn't a genuine version of Windows (yes, I know!)!!!!!
>
> Now I need to back pedal to get myself out of this mess. My
> computers can't
> handle this version of Windows anyway (my desktop is 1 gig and the
> laptop is
> 2 gigs), so I want to buy the full version of Home Premium.
>
> Right now, I'm locked out of my two computers because of the invalid
> key
> that was used for the Windows version, so I have limited access to
> my
> computer.
>
> My question is: if I go to install a lower version of Windows that
> is
> already installed, will it work? Am I going to have to reformat in
> order to
> get Windows Home onto my computer? Also, what if I want to just
> downgrade to
> XP? Will it make my computer blow up?
>
> Thanks,
>
>