Request for a downgrade from x64 OEM license to 32-bit OEM license

My friend has a x64 OEM license of Microsoft Windows XP for her new computer.
However, it is found that the product is not compatible with many computer
peripherals in the market. For example, it does not work with a USB-Bluetooth
adapter (OMIZ OMB509) and a multi-function printer (Canon MF5650). I can
foresee that there are more peripherals x64 is incompatible with.

I hope to download the x64 OEM license to its 32-bit counterpart.

However, there is no mechanism of the downgrade process. From the view of a
consumer, it is misleading to purchase "Microsoft Windows XP x64" as a member
of the "Microsoft Windows XP" series.

 

There is no such thing as a downgrade license from XP 64 to XP 32.

 

It would be good if Microsoft provides the downgrade license from XP 64 to XP
32.

 

One problem is that it is an OEM license.

 

There are two problems with your scenario;

Your friend has an OEM license, not one from Microsoft. If there is to be
any "downgrade", it will come from the manufacturer and not Microsoft.

Your issue is with the hardware manufacturer, not with Microsoft. Let
Canon and the others know that will no longer buy their products. Let them
know how dissatisfied you are with their lack of support for a shipping OS.

Downgrading would only encourage the OEMs to not produce drivers for WinXP
Pro x64.

Bobby

 

What is the problem as it is an OEM license?

 

It is a self-assemble computer. The OEM license was obtained when I purchased
the hardware in a computer shopping centre. It is a common practice to have
the OEM license in this way.

That means that there is no other hardware manufacturer. The end-user
obtained the OEM license in a shop. The product I bought is "Microsoft
Windows XP", having the brand name "Microsoft". I would say that it is an
improper use of the brand "Microsoft Windows XP" as it misleaded me, at
least, that the "Microsoft Windows XP x64 Professional Edition" is compatible
with other products sold under the brand name of "Microsoft Windows XP".

Sorry that I do not want to argue whatever license it is. I only want to
have the problem solved. A consumer paid for a product, but the product did
not work as expected. Why should the consumer pay for the product?

It is reasonable to downgrade from x64 to its 32-bit counterpart as we pay
for each license. We are not using any pirate copy...

It is irresponsible to sacrifice the end-user as a mean to "encourage" the
hardware manufacturers producing 64-bit drivers. I urge you to provide free
courses for porting drivers to 64-bit Windows, especially to those hardware
manufacturers owning a large market segment. Another mean is to have Intel
and AMD announcing not to ship 32-bit CPU any more. The hardware manufactuers
may then start to consider a support of the 64-bit windows.


Jeremy Wong

 

1.) Read the license. There IS NO retail product for x64. The OEM product is
NOT a retail product, it is tied to the hardware. It is forever linked to
the hardware it was bought with. It is the responsibility of the system
builder (in this case the person who assembled it) to ensure compatibility
and provide support for it.
2.) There is no downgrade path. None. You may, of course, buy a 32-bit
license and install it, either OEM or Retail. If it's OEM, it's tied to the
computer it's bought for/with. If it's retail, it is not, you may remove it
from one machine and install it on another.
3.) There are perfectly good bluetooth adapters and printers that work fine
with x64 Edition. I know, because I'm running both here. Again, it is the
responsibility of the OEM to ensure compatibility.

 

Because MS is not responsible for selling and supporting it. The PC maker
is.

 

If you were the system builder, how can you ensure the compatibility and
provide the support? Let you know how the items were purchased. The friend
bought a computer together with Microsoft Windows XP x64 Edition on day 1.
Then the friend bought the multi-function printer on day 2. The Bluetooth-USB
adapter was tested with the x64 windows on day 3.

It is a fact the the OEM license is purchased from a local computer shop.

It is understood that there is no downgrade path from x64 to 32-bit. I
request for a creation of the path..

There are many printers and bluetooth adapters available in the market, few
of them support 64-bit windows. Supporting 64-bit windows is not the only
criteria in considering a product. Taking printer into consideration, I would
calculate the cost of ink, laser toner. I know that HP provides 64-bit
drivers, but the ink of HP printers is very expensive comparing with other
products in the market. The bluetooth adapter supports bluetooth headset, it
requires Windows XP. It works fine in 32-bit XP, never in 64-bit XP.

It is intuitive to regard the x64 edition as a member of the "Microsoft
Windows XP" series. I do not observe the requirements of the peripherals
distinguishing between 32-bit edition and 64-bit edition. Who know that they
are incompatible in some sense?

It is a serious problem of "Microsoft Windows XP x64 Professional Edition"
including the brand "Microsoft Windows XP", because the x64 edition is not
compatible with other members of the Microsoft Windows XP family.

Don't put your customer's trouble as a mean to encourage the hardware
manufacturer to support 64-bit windows.


Jeremy Wong

 

See my inline answers;

Again, you really need to understand that Microsoft has no obligation in
regard to your
current problem.

Two points;

1. You (or your friend) chose the printer. Evidently, the choice was made
without regard
to the fact that there are no 64 bit drivers for it. The printer was not
manufactured by Microsoft.
The printer is not supported by Microsoft. Why should Microsoft be held
responsible for a
purchase decision either you or your friend made?

I own several HP printers. I do the majority of my printing in draft mode.
I do a lot of printing.
My HP cartridges last for months, and are very economical considering the
number of pages
(both text and color) that I get. Your afrgument about the cost of ink has
not bearing on your vain attempt to make Microsoft culpable for your (or
your friends) lack of reseach and inept buying of products known to be
unsupported by Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.

Just because you do not "observe" the requirements, it does not make anyone
else responsible.
Anyone with basic computer skills that can use a search engine can very
quickly and very easily learn what peripherals are supported, and which are
not. Your arrogance does not exclude or protect you,
and your arrogance most definitely does not make Microsoft or anyone else
responsible for your decisions and choices. You sound like a spoiled little
baby here.

This is a wild statement to make. You have no concept of what you are
claiming here. May Microsoft "family" applications run fine: Microsoft
Office, Windows Movie Maker, etc, run just fine under Microsoft Windows XP
x64 Professional Edition. You fail to grasp the reality here...

Unless you make your dissatisfaction known, then it is even more unlikely
that Canon or any other
manufacturer will do anyhing ...again you miss the point entirely. Vote
with your wallet, and boycott any and every OEM that does not support
Microsoft Windows XP x64 Professional Edition. There are many that do, and
many that don't. Send emails to those that don't. Tell them that they have
lost another customer. If one person does it, so what? If everyone who has
problems does it, and stops buying their products, then they will *have* to
do something. Your whining to Microsoft will serve no purpose. Microsoft is
under no obligation whatsoever to provide drivers for the hardware you
bought. Please read the preceeding sentence over and over until it begins
to sink in to your adlled brain. You are barking up the wrong tree...

Bobby

 

Can a PC maker support the 64-bit issue..?

 

Yes; it is what is intended. Windows XP professional is sold as an OEM only
purchase to be supported by the vendor you bought it from. If they do not
support it, you are out of luck.
Are you going to continue to beat this poor dead horse forever? Microsoft
has no obligation to you in this matter. Never did, never will. Accept it.
Go on with your life. Learn from this experience. Don't jump into
something unless you are fully aware of what you are getting into.

Microsoft owes you nothing.

Stop whining.

Bobby

 

Good reply.

I conclude that Microsoft does not take the responsibility, so does Canon.

 

There is a downgrade path. It's called buy an x86 license or product. You
are the one who failed to take advantage of the 'trial' version to make sure
that it was right for you.

 

It sounds a good news to me. However I cannot find the x86 license available
from Microsoft's web site. Could you provide the SKU code of the x86 license
so that I may order it for my friend.

 

The x86 license is not a bargain. It costs as much or more than you can buy
32-bit XP retail edition for on eBay.

 

If you go the ebay route make sure you are dealing with a licensed dealer,
otherwise, caveat emptor

Also, does anyone know if he can buy an upgrade version or will the upgrade
version ignore the installed windows x64 version when installing?
It seems only fair that if he has a legal recently purchased version of
Windows, he should be able to buy an upgrade version. But this is
Microsoft!!!

 

I can't belive people would buy it with out looking at a newsgroup or
maybe downloading the 120 day free trial just to make sure it works

 

No, the upgrade version will not "upgrade" x64, and it won't see it. Also,
given that he is on an OEM/System builder license, there is explicitly no
upgrade path except through his OEM/System Builder.

There is a very good reason that MS doesn't have a retail version of XP x64
Edition, and this thread is exactly why.