How to Downgrade from Windows Vista Business or Ultimate OEM Edition and Install Windows XP Professional
A lot of users still don’t getting used to Windows Vista. A lot of reviews have been labeling Windows Vista as bloated, hard to use, tons of compatibility issues, inconvenient, not user friendly, not stable and etc.
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22.8.2008 Dell, HP, and Sony OEM Certificates Used in Windows Vista Activation Crack
The latest trend in Windows Vista cracks is to utilize OEM certificates in order to bypass the activation process of the operating system. Via the OEM crack for Windows Vista, original equipment
manufacturer versions of the operating system are illegally activated through a process that involves patching the BIOS of the motherboard.
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26.2.2007 Microsoft Halts XP SP3 Update to HP PCs Running AMD Processors
The recent Windows XP Service Pack 3 update has left certain AMD-based PCs manufactured by Hewlett-Packard caught in an endless reboot cycle caused by an Intel-specific disk image mistakenly being used with AMD hardware.
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20.5.2008 Hardening Windows XP Professional
Windows XP has considerably more functionality than Windows 2000. With this functionality come more services and more potential security holes. Some of the measures undertaken by IST to reduce the risk are outlined in the extracts below. These are the security-related sections IST follows when building a Windows XP image for distribution within Academic Support.
NOTE: Most of these changes require you to sign on as an administrator.
The first and most important change to be applied is to set a password on all user accounts. Next it is very strongly advised that you do not log on with an administrative account but rather a ?User? or ?Power User? account.
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Differences between the XP Home and Professional Edition !
Windows XP is based on Windows NT4 and Windows 2000 technology. Microsoft is positioning the Windows XP Professional Edition to replace Windows NT4 and Windows 2000 Professional. In addition, the Windows XP Home edition will be replacing Windows 95/98/ME.
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Microsoft to Kill Pirated Windows XP Professional
Having dealt with the SoftMod Windows Vista activation crack, Microsoft will start hunting down and “killing” pirated copies of Windows XP Professional, the flavor of the operating system labeled by the company as most popular with pirates.
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25.3.2009 Feature Comparison: XP SP3 Professional vs. Vista SP1
Call it a sign of desperation, a new attempt to blow some wind in the sails of its latest platform, or a reaction to the proverbial last drop, but Microsoft is delivering its own perspective in terms of the comparison between its two Windows clients sharing the vast majority of the operating system market. Just ahead of the availability cut-off date for Windows XP through the OEM and retail channels, the Redmond company has “come out gunning” in a move designed to settle once and for good the XP vs. Vista face-off.
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22.5.2008 Dell to Sell Windows XP Professional with PCs Through 2009
In a letter to some of Dells customers, they said that "XP Professional is available for OEM installation on your Dell PC purchases through at least 2009 and likely longer."
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9.6.2008 Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2c Release
Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2c has released to manufacturing and will be available to system builders in September 2007.
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10.8.2007 XP OEM Licensing Extension Is Urban Myth
Contrary to all the blog buzz, Microsoft hasn't extended OEM Windows XP "downgrade" licensing by another six months.
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8.10.2008 How to Backup and Restore to Preserve OEM Offline Pre-Activation When Reinstall Windows XP
Most users of new computers with Windows XP pre-installed will notice that no activation is required after they unwrap and start up the new laptop or notebook PC, even though they need to go through the initial set up process, and a product key is found on the Certificate of Authenticity attached to the PC (COA Key). Large PC manufacturers known as Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) have the ability to pre-activate Windows XP operating system installed on new PCs via SLP (System Locked Preinstallation).
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3.9.2009 Via to Supply Processors, Chipsets to HP
Via Technologies, a struggling Taiwan developer of central processing units and core-logic sets, has inked a contract with HP under which the semiconductor company will supply its C7-D CPUs and supporting chipsets to HP for a commercial PC targeting Chinese market.
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15.4.2007 HP unveils Windows Home Server systems
Hewlett-Packard Co. began taking preorders today for its MediaSmart Server, the first system from a major manufacturer powered by Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Home Server (WHS) software.
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6.11.2007 HP and Acer Start Netbook Price War
Hewlett-Packard and Acer have lowered prices of their netbooks as the back-to-school sales season kicks into gear in the U.S., offering bargains for users.
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26.8.2008 Cup of IT professional
IT professional in gallery
Advanced Installer Professional 4.9
Advanced Installer Professional is a Windows Installer authoring tool which enables developers and system administrators to easily build reliable MSI packages.
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5.4.2007 EASEUS Partition Master Professional 3.5
EASEUS Partition Master is a comprehensive partition software, which not only provides a comfortable user-interface to simplify your tasks but also enables you to configure and manage partitions of hard disk(s).
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12.5.2009 Windows 7 RTM Professional 110-Screenshot Gallery
With Windows 7, Microsoft is no longer referring to the business edition of the platform as, well, Business.
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13.9.2009 Windows 7 Professional Build 7055 - winmain.090303-2130
Microsoft’s “translucent” and mum communication strategy on the actual development milestones of Windows 7 as the operating system advances in the development process should in no way be considered a mark of inactivity.
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17.3.2009 What about Windows 7 OEM pricing?
Microsoft still has yet to go public with its Windows 7 price list. But that hasn’t stopped customers and partners from publicly hoping for the best (cheaper than Vista) and fearing the worst (any kind of increase over the cost of Vista).
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16.6.2009 Windows Live to Get First OEM Bundle
Microsoft will imminently announce its first PC-bundling deal for Windows Live.
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14.3.2007 Windows 7 OEM Pricing Emerges
Windows 7 is set to be launched on the market in about three weeks from now, and those people considering choosing it as the platform on their computers are certainly interested in the costs the migration will imply.
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30.9.2009 Microsoft can't afford to support OEM Vista?
Microsoft might have $7.6 billion in spare cash in the bank, but when it comes to supporting users who purchase Vista on a new machine, the software giant is all too ready to cry poor.
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15.5.2007 OEM licensing confusion starts at Microsoft.com
Last week, in the wrap-up for a post about WGA, I offered five suggestions I’d like to see incorporated into Vista and especially into Windows 7.
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9.9.2008 Microsoft Windows Vista OEM Preinstallation Kit available
The Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) OEM Presinstallation Kit is now available. Microsoft's Worldwide System Builder team would like system builders to experience the updated OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) tools which will be used to preinstall Windows Vista.
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16.10.2006 OEM versions of Vista Ultimate available for pre-order
hardgiant spotted over at overclockers.co.uk that Windows Vista Ultimate 32/64 OEM discs have been added at just £114.99, which when converted to USD comes to $262.750 plus tax. The full retail version costs £352.49 a whopping $685.235 after tax.
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4.1.2007 Vista OEM 'Express' upgrades stuck at the gate
Europeans who bought a new PC in time for Christmas and were persuaded that they would get a Vista upgrade soon after the rollout by redeeming a voucher, are learning that demand for the upgrades far outstrips "supply".
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18.2.2007 Vista Oem Activation Tool Kit 0.5 Beta
Thanks to Steve Jobs for this download. This is Vista Oem Activation Tool Kit 0.5 Beta by Steve Jobs @ Keznews forum
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22.3.2007 Vista Oem Activation Tool Kit v1.5
Steve Jobs update his Vista Oem Activation Tool Kit For Vista 32bit and 64bit to version 1.5. Vista will be 100% genuine, all downloads will work.
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3.4.2007Dell to Sell Windows XP Professional with PCs Through 2009
In a letter to some of Dells customers, they said that " XP Professional is available for OEM installation on your Dell PC purchases through at
least 2009 and likely longer." The "official" OEM and retail end date from Microsoft is June 30, 2008, just a few weeks away. There has been
much talk of whether Microsoft would bow to the demand of the consumers to keep XP alive, and with this it is still hard to tell if Dell bought a
years stock of licenses ahead of time, or if this is the precursor to an announcement from Microsoft.
Dell's plan for users is to have
Windows XP Professional installed on their machines, but include the Vista install disk for when they are ready to upgrade. "With XP installed,
we will send media for both Vista and XP with each PC so that when you are ready to migrate to Vista you may at no addition upgrade cost." The
demand seems high, so let's hope others follow suit to allow companies the time and resources to fully upgrade.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
10.06.2008System Builders: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2c RTM
Windows XP Professional with
Service Pack 2c has released
to manufacturing and will be
available to system builders
in September 2007.
Due to the longevity
of Windows XP Professional, it
has become necessary to
produce more product keys for
system builders in order to
support the continued
availability of Windows XP
Professional through the
scheduled system builder
channel end-of-life (EOL) date
of January 31, 2009.
There are no other
features or fixes included in
this service pack; it will
only allow for the inclusion
of additional product keys.
winbeta.org -
09.08.2007HP netbooks will likely run 3 versions of Windows 7
Hewlett-Packard said it will likely offer at least 3 different editions of Windows 7 - The Starter, Professional and the Home Premium editions on
future models of its Mini netbooks. Kyle Thornton, category manager for Business Notebook PCs at HP, said in an interview that Windows 7 Beta
testing is going on in the Mini netbook line and it runs very well on the Minis, even with Aero turned on. Besides the three editions of Windows 7
that HP plans to support, Thornton also hopes to continue to pre-install both Windows XP Professional and Vista Business on its business-oriented
netbooks.
Read full story.....
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10.02.2009Windows XP Mode final release coming October 22
Microsoft's Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 Professional or higher has RTM'd (Release to Manufacturing) today and will be available for download
from Microsoft Download Center on October 22. OEM manufactures will be able to offer Windows XP Mode on their PC's, based on their shipping
schedules to consumers. The design purpose for Windows XP Mode is to help put businesses minds at ease when upgrading to Windows 7 to ensure their
applications are backwards compatible. Windows XP Mode will allow any program to run smoothly in Windows 7 Professional or higher just as it does in
Windows XP.
Read full story.....
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02.10.2009Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2c Release
Windows XP Professional with
Service Pack 2c has released
to manufacturing and will be
available to system builders
in September 2007.
Critical Action Item:
System builders who use
imaging must create new
Windows XP Professional images
with Service Pack 2c when
shipping Service Pack 2c
product keys; otherwise end
users will not be able to
complete installation.
SP2c to Resolve
Shortage of Windows XP Product
Keys
Due to the
longevity of Windows XP
Professional, it has become
necessary to produce more
product keys for system
builders in order to support
the continued availability of
Windows XP Professional
through the scheduled system
builder channel end-of-life
(EOL) date of January 31,
2009.
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10.08.2007HP to Depart Digital Camera Market
HP has announced that it will continue to sell its digital cameras through the holiday season, and in the first half of 2008, pass design, production
and distribution to a yet-to-be-named OEM...
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09.11.2007Windows XP to be phased out by year's end
Computer makers have been told
they'll no longer be able to
get Windows XP OEM by the end
of this year, despite consumer
resistance to Vista and its
compatibility problems.
By early 2008,
Microsoft's contracts with
computer makers will require
companies to only sell
Vista-loaded machines. "The
OEM version of XP Professional
goes next January," said
Frank Luburic, senior ThinkPad
product manager for Lenovo.
"At that point, they'll have
no choice."
Despite Microsoft's
relentless promotion of Vista,
manufacturers are still seeing
plenty of demand from
customers for systems
preloaded with XP, especially
in the finicky SOHO market.
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12.04.2007Exploring Windows XP
Professional x64 Edition
In this overview of Windows XP
Professional x64 Edition,
Columnist Charlie Russel
explains what hardware and
software it supports...
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04.01.2006Windows XP SP3 Final Available at MajorGeeks
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new
functionalities, which do not significantly change customers experience with the operating system.
Supported Operating Systems:
Windows XP; Windows XP Home Edition ; Windows XP Home Edition N; Windows XP Media Center Edition; Windows XP Professional Edition ; Windows XP
Professional N; Windows XP Service Pack 1; Windows XP Service Pack 2; Windows XP Starter Edition; Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.
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23.04.2008Windows 7 OEM prices unveiled, 50% off list price
ComputerWorld is reporting that online retailer Newegg.com has unveiled Windows 7 OEM pricing. Newegg.com has priced the OEM version of Windows 7
Home Premium at $99.99 which is a price reduction of 50% down from the recommended retail price of $199.99. Other savings are available for
Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate at $134.99 and $174.99, respectively. This is a saving of approximately 50% on each version from
the list price. OEM editions are priced lower as you typically do not get retail packaging, little official support and you're not able to
transfer the operating system license from one PC to another.
Read full story.....
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29.09.2009OEMs to Continue Shipping XP
If you already own an XP license and are still hesitant to switch to Vista, Microsoft's "downgrade rights" policy, which initially began to be
exercised in 2001, may be in your favor if you would still like to purchase a machine running Windows XP after the June 30, 2008 deadline when
Microsoft will stop offering the operating system. OEMs such as Dell have said that they still have no plans to stop offering XP as an option:
"Dell has the ability to exercise 'Windows Vista downgrade rights' on your behalf in the factory if your business is still reliant upon
Windows XP and you'd prefer to have Windows XP Professional preinstalled on your PCs," according to their new downgrade policy section for XP.
"Downgrade Rights means that anyone with a Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate operating system can downgrade to Windows XP
Professional provided they have the media for Windows XP Professional."
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27.04.2008XP still killing Vista in sales volume: HP
Business PC buyers are still overwhelmingly opting for XP, computer giant HP has revealed.
HP's revelation, made at the launch
of a new range of business notebooks, flies in the face of Microsoft's persistent PR claims that Vista has sold tens of millions of copies and is
selling at a faster rate than XP ever did.
However, HP explained how Microsoft is coming up with these "Vista" sales figures.
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28.07.2008Frequently asked questions
about Windows XP Professional
x64 Edition
Columnist Charlie Russel
answers questions about
Windows XP Professional x64
Edition that have appeared
frequently in the new (and
very active) Microsoft Windows
64-bit Newsgroup...
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04.01.2006Windows XP Common Criteria Administrator Guide 3.0
This guide provides sufficient guidance to allow an administrator to securely operate Windows XP Professional in accordance with the requirements
stated in the Windows 2003/XP Common Criteria (CC) Security Target (ST).
The Windows 2003/XP CC ST, henceforth referred to as the
Windows 2003/XP ST, provides a set of security requirements taken from the CC for Information Technology (IT) Security Evaluation. The Windows XP
Professional product was evaluated against the Windows 2003/XP ST and found to satisfy the ST requirements.
This guide is
targeted at the administrator and provides a description of how to perform the administrative security functions needed to securely operate Windows XP
Professional in accordance with the ST requirements.
winbeta.org -
15.09.2008Lockheed Martin forgets to clean hard drives, sold on eBay
When you're a government contractor you had better keep your ducks in line. It goes without saying that if you're storing sensitive data that
you dispose of the hard drives properly at the end of their life (EOL). BT's Security Research Center has found that Lockheed Martin is
notoriously bad about not removing the data from hard drives that it disposes of at their EOL.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
08.05.2009HP Offers Free Vista Upgrades to Some Customers
Customers who have purchased
an HP Pavilion or Digital
Entertainment Center PC, or a
Compaq Pavilion PC -- all
desktop models only -- on or
after October 26, with Windows
XP pre-installed, will be
eligible for upgrade kits for
corresponding editions of
Windows Vista next month, HP
announced this morning..
betanews.com -
13.12.2006Dell extends window for XP systems
Dell has extended the availability of systems preloaded with Windows XP, citing customer demand for the older operating system. The vendor started to
charge purchasers of certain lines to downgrade the operating system from Vista to XP last week.
However, Dell has said on its website that
XP machines will still be available in the Inspiron and XPS ranges. "We are able to offer the opportunity to purchase a Dell desktop with an OEM
Windows XP licence until 26 June at 5.59am central time," said the company. "After 26 June you have the option to purchase Windows Vista Business or
Windows Vista Ultimate with a downgrade service to Windows XP Professional.
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24.06.2008XP OEM Licensing Extension Is Urban Myth
Contrary to all the blog buzz, Microsoft hasn't extended OEM Windows XP "downgrade" licensing by another six months. What Microsoft has done is
agree to provide OEMs with Windows XP media until June 30. Surely, somebody will accuse me of playing semantics. Not so. It's called accuracy in
reporting, and pretty much everybody has it wrong.
The blogosphere buzzed with excitement, ridicule and accusation over the weekend about
the rumored extension. Seems like anybody and everybody wagged the "We told you that Vista sucks" finger at Microsoft. I don't doubt that
several OEMs want to continue offering Windows XP after Jan. 31, but they didn't need any extension to do it.
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08.10.2008HP begs AMD PC owners to put XP SP3 on ice
Hewlett-Packard has told customers not to install Windows XP service pack three (SP3) on AMD-based desktops until Microsoft and HP cough fixes to the
endless reboot snafu that has wreaked havoc on PCs. Microsoft confirmed yesterday that it was scurrying to patch the problem after hundreds of angry
XP customers first grumbled about the sizeable ****-up last week.
"HP is working diligently with Microsoft on a software update and will
be proactively distributing a patch this week through HP Update that will prevent this error from occurring," said the computer giant in a statement.
"HP recommends consumers with AMD-based desktops wait until after HP's or Microsoft's updates have been deployed on their systems to install
Service Pack 3."
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17.05.2008Windows 7 Ultimate cracked and activated with OEM master key
Windows 7 has yet to even be released officially to the general public, and already the dodgy folk on the Internet have fully cracked and activated
the Ultimate version, with help from a leaked Lenovo OEM DVD .ISO file. The news comes from website My Digital Life who state that you can already
pass Windows Genuine Advantage validation offline, OEM style. The leaked .ISO was originally posted on a Chinese forum, which was then downloaded in
order for people to get hold of the boot.wim, and in turn retrieving the OEM-SLP key, plus the OEM activation certificate. Microsoft uses the same
digitally signed OEM certificate, which has an .xrm-ms extension, as that in Windows Vista.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
29.07.2009
