Windows Vista Reformatting a VISTA machine that was "Dumbed down"

When I got my HP mid-tower unit (see specs in signature) from Tiger Direct, it came with VISTA installed and an XPSP1 disk to "Dumb it down" if Vista was not working / what you really wanted / on strike... or whatever.

Over the last three years the machine had gotten progressively weirder and weirder, as demonstrated in my many screams for help elsewhere in the Forum.

Now I'm getting a WIN7 PRO 32 (Pre-installed) unit to take it's place, but I want to flush this one and set it up again as an XPSP3 unit to run legacy 32 bit software and to have as a backup. That way I can retire the old WIN98 unit and donate it to someone who has no computer at all... still a great unit for the simpler software.

My question: (Yes, there WAS one...) concerns the XP "Dumb-down" disk. At the time of installation, one simply installed the disk OVER Vista (if I remember correctly) and used the same activation key. Does anyone know of any problems doing this WITHOUT having first re-installed Vista? If so, can I just re-install XP and then get the Service Packs installed or do I need to do burn an ISO of an XPSP3 install and hope the activation key works when I call MicroShaft?

If I must, I'll get another copy of WinXP from somewhere, but I'd prefer not so spend any more money on this than I have to.

Your answers will be greatly appreciated.

Ari, let me know if I'm in the wrong place again.

 

I think that they are 2 different key codes. You could download Belarc Advisor and get the Key Code for Vista just incase.

Is there a Key code on the XPSP1 disk to "Dumb it down "? If not it could be and I repeat could be already on the disc and not anywhere else and when you install it, it will put it in for you automatically. You could try partitioning the HD and install it on another partition. Don't even know if that would work.

 

Whoever supplied the XP (dumb-it-down) system should supply instrictions on their website, see what you can gain from there. If they have forums, see if you can gain more there.