Chris-Linfoot.net

I can't go any further with this system because I've made a mistake. I've selected two options which are incompatible.

• the Operating System (Windows XP Professional)
• the Antivirus (None)

Let's see.

Windows XP is incompatible with something that doesn't exist. Hmmm.

I can't change the antivirus to any of the others because they all favour Vista too and, in any case, I don't want another Norton sub. Family member already has one.

This leaves me with one choice.

Undo the upgrade I had previously selected and downgrade back to Vista from XP.

Or I could just shop elsewhere.

Category: Misc
Technorati: Dell Microsoft Vista Windows XP

1. Doug Woodall16/03/2008 17:11:19
Homepage: http://www.spywarebiz.com

They seem to not want you to use any programs other than what they deem ok.
I'm having the same problem with my new Dell lappie. It came with Vista and Trend-Micro.
I switched to BitDefender and Vista does not like it at all.

2. Ben Rose17/03/2008 09:51:14

Vista business entitles you to an XP license anyway. So buy it with Vista and then perform a legal install of XP.

Nobody would want to use a shrinkwrap Dell XP install anyway, they're full of sucky trialware.

3. Chris Linfoot17/03/2008 09:59:22

@Ben. Good call. But how to get an XP license key?

4. Mark Dowling17/03/2008 16:53:58
Homepage: http://cork2toronto.blogspot.com

Chris

one route is to use an XP key from another machine, then when you activate use the telephone option, give them the Vista Key and they should give you a legal XP key. If you don't have a Dell OEM key at the moment perhaps a call to the activation folks upfront might work.

As we use sysprep for our images, the XP sysprep key works nicely on our Vista Business machines.

5. Ben Rose19/03/2008 15:37:12
Homepage: http://www.jaffacake.net

As Mark said, you just call MS and tell them you want to activate an XP machine under a Vista license. This process is well covered on other sites, I pointed vowe.net to such an article in the last week or so.

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