Installing 64 bit vista with xp downgrade license?

Hi
I bought a X200 laptop with Windows XP downgrade license. I received the laptop and saw that it has 32-bit XP preinstalled. At the bottom of the laptop there is Windows Vista Business OEMAct sticker with a product key. Also 3 cds including Windows Vista 32-bit Recovery disc, applications and drivers recovery disc and operating system recovery disc (Vista service pack 1) came along with the computer. There is no 64-bit vista cd included, so I found a Vista 64bit installation cd from a friend of mine. Can I do a CLEAN install of Vista 64-BIT by using the Windows XP downgrade license that came along this laptop?

 

No. Licenses are very funny animals. XP licenses are known to be xp. If he has used his license that will be known too so you cant use his license if he has used it.
Renee

 

If it is not possible to switch to vista, why lenovo ships Vista Business Recovery Disks together with the laptop?

 

Once you downgrade to XP you can't get back to Vista with out buying a licenese legally.

On the other hand Vista licenses are Vista licenses, so you can use 32bit to isntall x64, or you can use a full featured vista disc and use your key to unlock the proper isntall files.

 

The problem there is that you are trying to switch versions of Vista and use one from another person. If you just do the recovery process, you can get the version of Vista you paid for onto your laptop.

It is very much possible to switch to Vista - I bought the Vista Ultimate with XP downgrade, and installed Vista when the computer came (I should have just gotten Vista on it from the start, the process takes like 90 min to do everything). The 64 bit thing seems like it would be a problem though, as you are using someone else's software to do it..

 

I did not install XP. XP came preinstalled from factory. There is a vista product key under the laptop. There are also three Vista recovery and vista driver disks in the original box. Why lenovo puts Vista recovery cds to the box, if I can not switch to vista with my license?


I did a search on the internet and found many pages stating that downgrade license allows users return to Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate software after they downgrade to XP. For example,

http://www.reasonco.com/vista/vistadowngraderights.htm

 

I had previously posted what I did in your case myself.
There is also a clean install guide.
I don't have time to repeat them, or to post links, so use the search function.
It's definitely legal, and Vista x64 is what I am using now.

 

Where did you see this? I'm no lawyer, although I did play one on TV, but I though the keys were interchangeable. It would allow you to go back and forth between Vista and XP as you pleased.

 

This should work fine. The only problem you may have is activation.

To the best of my knowledge, the key printed on the COA sticker is not an activated key (you need to call Microsoft to get it to work).

There is a long clean install guide that details using a 32 bit OEM install of Vista (with that license) and migrating to 64 bit Vista of the same flavor (using a 64 bit disc). Follow the guide and you should be okay.

 

Yes, I installed 64bit Vista with that key. Vista accepted the key during install. However, it gave me 3 days to activate it. Internet activation is not available as an option. I must call Microsoft.