How do I degrade back to Windows XP?

I can't log back into my laptop due to an accident of using a friend's
product code. I just read up on not using a product code more than once. I
just wanted to test out Vista. I have Windows XP and would like to get it
back on. I'm really frustrated that I can't log back on due not having a
proper product key. Any comments or general answers will truely help me out.
You can also reach me at Please help because I
would like to get my laptop working before I go back to school next month.

"joshua_richardson61" <> wrote
in message news:48097B3D-AFEA-4FBC-9BCD-...
> I can't log back into my laptop due to an accident of using a friend's
> product code. I just read up on not using a product code more than once. I
> just wanted to test out Vista. I have Windows XP and would like to get it
> back on. I'm really frustrated that I can't log back on due not having a
> proper product key. Any comments or general answers will truely help me
out.
> You can also reach me at Please help because
I
> would like to get my laptop working before I go back to school next month.


Just boot from your XP cd
delete everything and start over

How to reinstall Windows XP:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"joshua_richardson61" <> wrote
in message news:48097B3D-AFEA-4FBC-9BCD-...
>I can't log back into my laptop due to an accident of using a friend's
> product code. I just read up on not using a product code more than once. I
> just wanted to test out Vista. I have Windows XP and would like to get it
> back on. I'm really frustrated that I can't log back on due not having a
> proper product key. Any comments or general answers will truely help me
> out.
> You can also reach me at Please help because
> I
> would like to get my laptop working before I go back to school next month.

>Just boot from your XP cd
>delete everything and start over

AMEN!!!


PS this really should be called an "upgrade".. from a worse OS to a better
OS! :-)



"philo" <> wrote in message
news:%...
>
> "joshua_richardson61" <>
> wrote
> in message news:48097B3D-AFEA-4FBC-9BCD-...
>> I can't log back into my laptop due to an accident of using a friend's
>> product code. I just read up on not using a product code more than once.
>> I
>> just wanted to test out Vista. I have Windows XP and would like to get it
>> back on. I'm really frustrated that I can't log back on due not having a
>> proper product key. Any comments or general answers will truely help me
> out.
>> You can also reach me at Please help
>> because
> I
>> would like to get my laptop working before I go back to school next
>> month.
>
>
> Just boot from your XP cd
> delete everything and start over
>
>

ok I've tried the reboot but all that comes up is an error and a blue screen.
After that it completely freezes up. Is it my operating CD or is it something
else?

"Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" wrote:

> How to reinstall Windows XP:
> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
> --
> Andre
> Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
> My Vista Quickstart Guide:
> http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
> "joshua_richardson61" <> wrote
> in message news:48097B3D-AFEA-4FBC-9BCD-...
> >I can't log back into my laptop due to an accident of using a friend's
> > product code. I just read up on not using a product code more than once. I
> > just wanted to test out Vista. I have Windows XP and would like to get it
> > back on. I'm really frustrated that I can't log back on due not having a
> > proper product key. Any comments or general answers will truely help me
> > out.
> > You can also reach me at Please help because
> > I
> > would like to get my laptop working before I go back to school next month.
>
>
>

Not Only Should You Be Degraded, Just FYI, But You Should Be Made To Sleep
With Roseanne Barr.

Just FYI

"vista user 43" <> wrote in message
news:...
> >Just boot from your XP cd
>>delete everything and start over
>
> AMEN!!!
>
>
> PS this really should be called an "upgrade".. from a worse OS to a better
> OS! :-)
>
>
>
> "philo" <> wrote in message
> news:%...
>>
>> "joshua_richardson61" <>
>> wrote
>> in message news:48097B3D-AFEA-4FBC-9BCD-...
>>> I can't log back into my laptop due to an accident of using a friend's
>>> product code. I just read up on not using a product code more than once.
>>> I
>>> just wanted to test out Vista. I have Windows XP and would like to get
>>> it
>>> back on. I'm really frustrated that I can't log back on due not having a
>>> proper product key. Any comments or general answers will truely help me
>> out.
>>> You can also reach me at Please help
>>> because
>> I
>>> would like to get my laptop working before I go back to school next
>>> month.
>>
>>
>> Just boot from your XP cd
>> delete everything and start over
>>
>>
>
>

spewed out this bit, and i'll scatter a few
bits myself:

> "vista user 43" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>>> Just boot from your XP cd
>>> delete everything and start over
>>
>> AMEN!!!
>>
>>
>> PS this really should be called an "upgrade".. from a worse OS to a
>> better OS! :-)
>>
>>
>>
>> "philo" <> wrote in message
>> news:%...
>>>
>>> "joshua_richardson61"
>>> <> wrote
>>> in message
>>> news:48097B3D-AFEA-4FBC-9BCD-...
>>>> I can't log back into my laptop due to an accident of using a
>>>> friend's product code. I just read up on not using a product code
>>>> more than once. I
>>>> just wanted to test out Vista. I have Windows XP and would like to
>>>> get it
>>>> back on. I'm really frustrated that I can't log back on due not
>>>> having a proper product key. Any comments or general answers will
>>>> truely help me out. You can also reach me at
>>>> Please help because
>>> I
>>>> would like to get my laptop working before I go back to school next
>>>> month.
>>>
>>>
>>> Just boot from your XP cd
>>> delete everything and start over
>>
>>
> Not Only Should You Be Degraded, Just FYI,


> But You Should Be Made To Sleep With Roseanne Barr.

Now that's hitting below the belt. Way way way below the belt !

--
Mhzjunkie

1 PRINT "Windows Vista ERROR"
GOTO 1
END

I do not think philo gave you a good advice. His suggestion may apply when
you still have some XP on your OS strip. You have none.

Your best course IMHO will be to call MS customer service and explain the
situation. If you have a genuine Vista and this is the matter of your using
a product key allegedly supplied by your friend, they will issue a new
product key for you. A call may take some time. You can try to communicate
with them by email. It might take a bit longer overall but you won't spend
time on hold.

I've done it a few times myself although my motivation was different. I have
a subscription that allows me to download a lot of MS stuff. Occasionally
the downloaded software does not respond to official keys. You have to shake
them up in person.

"joshua_richardson61" <> wrote
in message news:CC423319-91C5-4175-99A7-...
> ok I've tried the reboot but all that comes up is an error and a blue
> screen.
> After that it completely freezes up. Is it my operating CD or is it
> something
> else?
>
> "Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" wrote:
>
>> How to reinstall Windows XP:
>> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
>> --
>> Andre
>> Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
>> My Vista Quickstart Guide:
>> http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
>> "joshua_richardson61" <>
>> wrote
>> in message news:48097B3D-AFEA-4FBC-9BCD-...
>> >I can't log back into my laptop due to an accident of using a friend's
>> > product code. I just read up on not using a product code more than
>> > once. I
>> > just wanted to test out Vista. I have Windows XP and would like to get
>> > it
>> > back on. I'm really frustrated that I can't log back on due not having
>> > a
>> > proper product key. Any comments or general answers will truely help me
>> > out.
>> > You can also reach me at Please help
>> > because
>> > I
>> > would like to get my laptop working before I go back to school next
>> > month.
>>
>>
>>

"AlexB" <> wrote in message
news:E2E7AA6F-46D0-45E5-8498-...
> I do not think philo gave you a good advice. His suggestion may apply when
> you still have some XP on your OS strip. You have none.
>
> Your best course IMHO will be to call MS customer service and explain the
> situation. If you have a genuine Vista and this is the matter of your
using
> a product key allegedly supplied by your friend, they will issue a new
> product key for you. A call may take some time. You can try to communicate
> with them by email. It might take a bit longer overall but you won't spend
> time on hold.
>

<snip>

WRONG ANSWER

Your reply is completely out of line. The OP *specifically stated* that he
wanted to re-install XP and did not expess any desire to use Vista.

To install XP (even if Vista is already on the machine) the procedure is to
boot with the XP cd
and delete everything there...then procede with a normal installation.

The BIOS of course needs to be set to boot first from CD.

Finally...if the machine cannot boot from the cd (assuming thr cd itself is
not damaged...and the cdrom is functioning)

An alternative method is to use a set of boot floppies...
They can be made on another machine from the win2k cd

ok so what if the CD is slightly damaged? How do I go about getting another
one and how much will it cost? Its XP Professional.

"philo" wrote:

>
> "AlexB" <> wrote in message
> news:E2E7AA6F-46D0-45E5-8498-...
> > I do not think philo gave you a good advice. His suggestion may apply when
> > you still have some XP on your OS strip. You have none.
> >
> > Your best course IMHO will be to call MS customer service and explain the
> > situation. If you have a genuine Vista and this is the matter of your
> using
> > a product key allegedly supplied by your friend, they will issue a new
> > product key for you. A call may take some time. You can try to communicate
> > with them by email. It might take a bit longer overall but you won't spend
> > time on hold.
> >
>
> <snip>
>
> WRONG ANSWER
>
> Your reply is completely out of line. The OP *specifically stated* that he
> wanted to re-install XP and did not expess any desire to use Vista.
>
> To install XP (even if Vista is already on the machine) the procedure is to
> boot with the XP cd
> and delete everything there...then procede with a normal installation.
>
> The BIOS of course needs to be set to boot first from CD.
>
> Finally...if the machine cannot boot from the cd (assuming thr cd itself is
> not damaged...and the cdrom is functioning)
>
> An alternative method is to use a set of boot floppies...
> They can be made on another machine from the win2k cd
>
>
>