Downgrading from Ultimate to Premium

[Guest]

Hello,

I have a Dell 5100c desktop and also a Dell laptop. A few weeks ago, my
computer geek neighbor kid came over and downloaded Windows Ultimate on my
two computers as a "gift". Well, silly me let him do this not knowing that it
wasn't a genuine version of Windows (yes, I know!)!!!!!

Now I need to back pedal to get myself out of this mess. My computers can't
handle this version of Windows anyway (my desktop is 1 gig and the laptop is
2 gigs), so I want to buy the full version of Home Premium.

Right now, I'm locked out of my two computers because of the invalid key
that was used for the Windows version, so I have limited access to my
computer.

My question is: if I go to install a lower version of Windows that is
already installed, will it work? Am I going to have to reformat in order to
get Windows Home onto my computer? Also, what if I want to just downgrade to
XP? Will it make my computer blow up?

Thanks,

 

[P. Di Stolfo]

Hello,
I'm afraid it's not possible to downgrade without reformatting.

Greetings,
P. Di Stolfo

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Alice;
Back-up all important data and perform a Clean Installation.
Unfortunately there is no downgrade path from Vista Ultimate to Home
Premium.

Windows Easy Transfer may also help saving important data:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/easytransfer.mspx

Also be sure to thank your friend for the help given.