Comments on: How to Downgrade Windows XP Professional to Windows XP Home!

By: Pc Repair Finder

Pc Repair Finder — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:49:32 +0000

I think that xp switcher software sounds brilliant - the number of times I have had that problem also with the number of xp editions there are - I wonder if there is a vista version.

By: Kris

Kris — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:13:21 +0000

I think there may be an issue with SP3 - because, like others above - Going from XP PRo -> HOME, I run the utility, then reboot with the HOME disc in the drive,but it doesnt find the previous installation of windows.
I havent tried it on original, sp1 or sp2 machines yet to confirm, but i suspect they may have changed something in the registry in SP3.

By: sgbillee

sgbillee — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:36:32 +0000

Doobz, try this….

Select “Install” and a EULA will show up, hit “F8″ to agree to the EULA.

See if “Repair Windows” appear as one of the options on the next screen after hitting “F8″.

By: Doobz

Doobz — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:33:20 +0000

Thanks for replying.
I’m pretty sure I did everything correctly. The OS install in question is the students edition of XP pro - Seemingly banned with SP3.

The only install that was available was the one not recommended - that of installing the os in a partition with windows already on. If I remember correctly this creates separate Windows and ProgramFiles folders essentially leading to a fresh install. This is not the desired solution as there are many programs installed.

Either the app doesn’t work with this variant of XP, or it has been rendered inoperable by the parts of SP3 that have installed, or my XP home SP2 CD is not the right one.

I’ll let you know if I stumble on a solution.
Also, if you have any ideas…….

Cheers.

By: admin

admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:57:28 +0000

Hi Doobz, Once you have run the mode switch app, your installation thinks its XP Home. You will then need to boot from and XP home OEM disk. Once in the Blue and white set-up screen, ignore the first repair option, and select install. The setup installer should then search local disks to locate any existing installations. Once it finds an XP home install, you are then presented with the option to overwrite, format or repair that installation. Select repair at that point and you should be away?!

Let me know.

By: admin

admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:54:53 +0000

Hi Jimbo, This method would theoretically work, but not too sure how that would afect licencing. If you still have the WinME OEM Licence, and the XP Home Upgrade Licences, then you should be covered. If the XP Pro was an OEM licence, then youre not theorectically allowed to move that licence from one PC to another. But if its a retail version, the you are allowed.

Either way, the method above should work just fine.

By: Doobz

Doobz — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 13:31:41 +0000

This is just what I was looking for.

However the ‘repair install’ option was missing when I tried.

Does this switching app work with SP3′d intallations ok? Or is it because the Pro version I am trying to replace is the ’students’ edition?

Cheers.

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 18:17:10 +0000

My laptop originally came mith Windows ME, then I installed XP Home Upgrade, then XP Pro full version. I’d like to use your method to downgrade the laptop to Home so that I can legitimately transfer the Pro version to a different PC. Do you think it will work in my situation?

By: kenny

kenny — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:22:25 +0000

amazing. just what the doctor ordered.

By: Shelly_b

Shelly_b — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:36:16 +0000

Hi,

I am in a situation where i have my ligit CD and Product key, pro was installed illegally. and now i am having a problem. I am gonna take this advice, and will let you know how it goes. Thanks