BleepingComputer.com: Ditching Vista: How To Downgrade To Windows Xp

Good info in the article below for anyone contemplating downgrading (some consider upgrading) from Vista to XP.
http://www.informationweek.com/windows/sho...cleID=205101355
Ditching Vista: How To Downgrade To Windows XP

EXCERPTS FROM ARTICLE:
You can replace stiff, awkward Vista with the comfy, compatible old slipper that is Windows XP. It takes a couple of hours, but it won’t cost you any money that you haven’t already spent. Here’s how................................
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Make sure you have a Windows XP Pro CD and a valid activation key. If you don’t have a CD available, you can beg or borrow one from a friend or co-worker............................
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You can get the activation key from Microsoft. All volume-licensed versions of Vista, along with retail and OEM versions of Vista Business and Vista Ultimate, come with downgrade rights. That means you're entitled to an XP activation key from Microsoft or your PC maker. (Interestingly, you can downgrade even further if you wish: The license also entitles you to Windows 2000 Professional, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, or even Windows 95.)

Downgrade rights are a complicated issue - and this is only from the Microsoft side of the house. Any other stipulations placed by the system manufacturer may override this.

In short (for OS's sold via the OEM licensing program):

Quote

From the downloadable document at this link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;DisplayLang=en
The document shows other licensing methods and the downgrade rights of them.

Also, drivers are a major concern - especially if you wipe Vista out without checking first! Locating drivers is a real PITA - a lot of manufactur's launched new systems when Vista launched. So, they don't have XP drivers handy. Searching for them is time consuming and frustrating.