Microsoft offers XP downgrade option for Vista users

Almost no business on the planet is ready to deploy Vista on a large scale and some are not even looking at a small scale test, XP works, most people are happy with XP so Microsoft is offering a downgrade option to XP for some versions of Vista.

Cnet is saying that the downgrade to XP option only applies to Business and Ultimate editions of Vista and many new computers are shipping with Vista Premium so it doesn’t do a majority of buyers any good.

Some manufacturers are one step ahead of Microsoft by including an XP installation CD with new computers that are shipping with Vista.  Fujitsu spearheaded that followed by HP which offers a similar option for its business line of computers.

Microsoft has made some changes internally that makes it easier for manufacturers to order XP CDs that can be included inside the box with a computer that has been preinstalled with Vista.

Lenovo has set up a “Downgrading from Vista to XP” help website with step-by-step instructions though those will apply to almost any computer.

Then there are manufacturers that are still selling computers that come with XP, HP, Dell and Gateway count themselves among those few.  This is going to end next year when Microsoft will no longer allow any manufacturer to sell a computer with XP.

This much is certain, Vista is here and Microsoft is going to make sure that we’re all using it before Windows 7 comes out at which point you’ll have to get Windows 7 anyway.

• Dell pushing Vista, discontinues free XP downgrade option
• Research suggests a third of corporate users ‘downgrade’ to XP
• Microsoft to simplify Vista to XP downgrade process
• Microsoft accused of price gouging in Vista downgrade lawsuit
• Vista to XP downgrade fees under legal threat