February 2008 - Posts
Q: (from Josie)
I'm looking for direction on where to go to obtain downgrade keys for clients who acquire Vista Business but need XP Professional for the corporate environment. The downgrade licensing line instructs us to use an "existing keys" but that's not possible for new employees. By extension, there are situations where the manufacturers provide the key via an encrypted downgrade CD, but that's not useful either in cases of the corporate environments where imaging technology is required.
A:
My initial response - Windows Vista is a much better choice, please try to convince your customer to stay. Yes, I know that's not always an option, so...
You can contact the activation number and they can provide the Windows XP key for retail and OEM versions. If it’s a volume license version, the Microsoft Volume License Site (MVLS) would be the resource.
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/f/4/5f4c83d3-833e-4f11-8cbd-699b0c164182/royaltyoemreferencesheet.pdf
The customer will need to have access to a copy of the media. Remember to get an activation key that matches the media: OEM, volume license, or full package product. DO NOT USE YOUR ACTIONPACK MEDIA! Those disks use a different activation number sequence (don't ask, I found out the hard way)
Q: (from Deana)
Do you happen to know what the EOL date is for Windows Server 2003 R2?
A:
At www.microsoft.com/lifecycle, you can scroll down to the bottom and click on “Products listed by name alphabetically”
Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
Released: 3/5/2006
Mainstream support will end two years after the next version of this product is released. Extended support will end five years after mainstream support ends.
So it looks like:
Mainstream: 2/26/2010
Extended: 2/26/2013
Q: (from Tom)
Hello. We have met at user group meetings a few times in the past.
I am thinking about getting a new computer, with Vista, really soon.
I understand that there have been some problems and that MSFT is working on solutions/corrections.
Can you give me an idea when a revised version of Vista will be available with the necessary fixes.
Thanks for your reply.
A:
As issues have been identified and isolated, Microsoft has been releasing patches. So anytime you buy a new computer, the best, first step you should take is to connect to WindowsUpdate.Microsoft.com and download all of the available patches.
There is a regression tested version of all of the patches to date (Windows Vista Service Pack 1) which will be released shortly, but I can’t say for certain how soon our OEM system builders will be integrating SP1 into their build process.
My recommendation would be to buy your new computer when you are ready, apply the patches available from Windows Update immediately, and they apply SP1 when it is available. That’s what I’m doing; my wife and I just got brand new Windows Vista computers for Christmas. If you want to wait, contact your chosen computer manufacturer and make sure you know they’ve applied SP1 on your machine.
A:
The web response form on the MSPP site for sending issues to TPTS has been decommissioned. The new method for partners to submit an issue online is this alias: askpts@microsoft.com.