Microsoft to simplify Vista to XP downgrade process
By Jonathan Schlaffer
Microsoft has been receiving complaints from a number of their partners that it is a pain to downgrade a system from Vista to XP should a client desire the XP option, that pain is about to go away for Microsoft’s 170 “gold” (top-tier) OEM partners. Everyone else that’s lower on the food chain can just wait, including individual consumers.
Under the current licensing rules, OEMs must call and file for each and every computer that needs to be downgraded. Microsoft is planning a new online system which will allow the OEMs to file for the downgrade rights which should save them plenty of time. The Vista to XP downgrade program also includes provisions for moving back to Vista when the client is ready.
John Ball, general manager of Microsoft’s U.S. Systems Group told ZDnet, “Microsoft is planning to move to a new policy which will allow its top 170 OEM partners to submit these keys online for groups of machines, which will save them time and reduce complexity.”
Microsoft is still working on the details of the program and should be rolling out the changes to the “gold” partners within the next few weeks. Everyone else that doesn’t rate “gold” status will eventually be able to use it but since the details are sketchy at this point, it’s my guess that it will be a while.
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