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Downgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 7
Posted by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 11/26/2012 08:59 AM | 62 comment(s) ]
In his blog post, usability expert Jakob Nielsen of the Nielsen Norman Group explained in excruciating detail exactly why and how Windows 8 is difficult to use. It was a damning report that might have many questioning whether to take the Windows 8 plunge. The good news is you can buy a PC loaded with Windows 8 Pro, try out the new OS, and then downgrade to Windows 7. Unfortunately, however, the road back to Windows 7 can be confusing and full of twists.
Hewlett-Packard is typical: It does not support downgrades of consumer-grade Windows 8 PCs to Windows 7. But if you buy a machine loaded with Windows 8 Pro, you can make the jump. HP's policy is based on Microsoft's licensing terms, which support downgrade rights only to new PCs preloaded with Windows 8 Pro, the version of Windows designed for business.
Unfortunately, machines loaded with Windows 8 Pro will demand a pricing premium over similarly spec'd Windows 8 systems. We ran a quick comparison survey of machines from HP, Dell, and Toshiba, and found that an upgrade to the Pro version of Windows 8 increased system prices anywhere between $35 and $100.
And even when the price delta is small enough to justify buying a Windows 8 Pro machine (complete with downgrade rights!), the downgrade process can still be difficult to figure out. When PCWorld researched this, sales and support reps for both Microsoft and major PC manufacturers told us two different stories.
A Dell representative said that to downgrade from Windows 8, you needed to buy a new, unused copy of Windows 7—thus making the whole point of having downgrade rights pointless. Another representative said a Windows 7 disc image would be built into new Windows 8 Pro machines. This contradicts pretty much everything Microsoft has ever posted online about downgrade rights.
But after scouring Microsoft's online support pages, checking out real-world downgrade experiences on various forums, and then confirming the process with Microsoft's press team, we can now share the truth about how downgrades work for anyone with a PC running Windows 8 Pro.
Downgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 7
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Ven0m
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#4463439 Posted on: 11/26/2012 10:21 AM
What you write is total absurd that makes no sense and is just wrong. There are enough hate posts without any reason already.
back to topic:
If for some reason one wants to downgrade (eg. corporate software compatibility), it's good to have such option. Still, it should be a little more straightforward.
The thread title is wrong, from win 8 to 7 is actually an upgrade, only M$ wants people to believe otherwise. And upgrading from win 8 to 7 isn't so easy in some cases, many notebooks for example come without the ability to disable "secure boot" which means you are stuck with win 8. At least now we know what the secure boot feature is actually good for, it's there to prevent people to upgrade to a better OS like win 7 or Linux.
What you write is total absurd that makes no sense and is just wrong. There are enough hate posts without any reason already.
back to topic:
If for some reason one wants to downgrade (eg. corporate software compatibility), it's good to have such option. Still, it should be a little more straightforward.
twtaylor
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#4463468 Posted on: 11/26/2012 11:43 AM
I agree, Windows 8 is fine. I've had zero problems with it and in most cases is faster. This is just going to bring the flocks of boo birds and the herds of nay nay goats.
I agree, Windows 8 is fine. I've had zero problems with it and in most cases is faster. This is just going to bring the flocks of boo birds and the herds of nay nay goats.
dark_surge
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#4463483 Posted on: 11/26/2012 12:26 PM
I too have had no problems with Windows 8. It took a month of getting used to but now I actually prefer it over 7/Vista/XP/etc now. Not to mention the Win 8 launch went a lot smoother than 7's, or at least for me. I was an early adopter and finding drivers and whatnot was a chore when it first came out. That wasn't at all the case with 8. I won't go into detail again though since I've already done that on another thread.
On topic though, they really should lower the price of Win 7 instead of punishing people for their preferences. It doesn't make sense for Windows 8 to be 1/2 to 1/3rd the price of 7. I mean, I guess it does from a company perspective to encourage more people to buy 8 but tradition says that once a new product comes out it's predecessor should be less expensive.
I too have had no problems with Windows 8. It took a month of getting used to but now I actually prefer it over 7/Vista/XP/etc now. Not to mention the Win 8 launch went a lot smoother than 7's, or at least for me. I was an early adopter and finding drivers and whatnot was a chore when it first came out. That wasn't at all the case with 8. I won't go into detail again though since I've already done that on another thread.
On topic though, they really should lower the price of Win 7 instead of punishing people for their preferences. It doesn't make sense for Windows 8 to be 1/2 to 1/3rd the price of 7. I mean, I guess it does from a company perspective to encourage more people to buy 8 but tradition says that once a new product comes out it's predecessor should be less expensive.
StewieTech
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#4463506 Posted on: 11/26/2012 01:08 PM
I didn´t like w8 at first due to the UI. Now that i got it, i think it´s good. I understand why people might not like w8, but i fail to see what´s all the hate about. I´ve been using w8 for a week now and i´ve mastered how it works. Don´t like it? Fine, don´t use it. You have the right to criticize it as much as you want and that´s positive as long as you stay rational but mostly what i read here on the negative side is plain bitching. I wonder if people actually used w8 before make an opinion.
I didn´t like w8 at first due to the UI. Now that i got it, i think it´s good. I understand why people might not like w8, but i fail to see what´s all the hate about. I´ve been using w8 for a week now and i´ve mastered how it works. Don´t like it? Fine, don´t use it. You have the right to criticize it as much as you want and that´s positive as long as you stay rational but mostly what i read here on the negative side is plain bitching. I wonder if people actually used w8 before make an opinion.
PinchedNerve
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#4463530 Posted on: 11/26/2012 01:41 PM
Been on Win 8 for about a month now. Actually have 4 computers in the house now on it (mine, wife, HTPC, & old rig) with 3 still on Win7. As far as "speed" goes I can't really say I notice any real difference on my Rig. I tried to put Win8 on my Gateway netbook & couldn't update the display drivers so I went back to 7 on it.
I rarely use the start screen & I really don't care for the live tiles. 1 thing I can say I actually loath is the Start Screen's limited configuration ability. I can't seem to get those Phucking tiles all where I want them because they have some odd way of effecting each other when you move one. Furthermore, I hate "icons", I want a G-damn Alphabetical list! Tiles to me are nothing but very large icons. This is the only thing I can honestly say I hate about Win8, this phucking irritating start screen.
Other then the start screen, I like Win8. Btw, yes I know about the hack software to restore an original menu. I don't want it right now because I am hoping MS wises up & allows ultimate control over the start screen config.
Been on Win 8 for about a month now. Actually have 4 computers in the house now on it (mine, wife, HTPC, & old rig) with 3 still on Win7. As far as "speed" goes I can't really say I notice any real difference on my Rig. I tried to put Win8 on my Gateway netbook & couldn't update the display drivers so I went back to 7 on it.
I rarely use the start screen & I really don't care for the live tiles. 1 thing I can say I actually loath is the Start Screen's limited configuration ability. I can't seem to get those Phucking tiles all where I want them because they have some odd way of effecting each other when you move one. Furthermore, I hate "icons", I want a G-damn Alphabetical list! Tiles to me are nothing but very large icons. This is the only thing I can honestly say I hate about Win8, this phucking irritating start screen.
Other then the start screen, I like Win8. Btw, yes I know about the hack software to restore an original menu. I don't want it right now because I am hoping MS wises up & allows ultimate control over the start screen config.
WhiteLightning
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#4463539 Posted on: 11/26/2012 01:55 PM
Glad i went back to 7. i had problems with d3doverrider,sweetfx, smaa dlls , fxaa dlls, enb series.
Most games worked fine, but some games would crash when launched , or it wouldnt work at all.
Glad i went back to 7. i had problems with d3doverrider,sweetfx, smaa dlls , fxaa dlls, enb series.
Most games worked fine, but some games would crash when launched , or it wouldnt work at all.
Wanny
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#4463542 Posted on: 11/26/2012 02:12 PM
Glad i went back to 7. i had problems with d3doverrider,sweetfx, smaa dlls , fxaa dlls, enb series.
Most games worked fine, but some games would crash when launched , or it wouldnt work at all.
And what about these mods bring out some win8 support instead? They'll have to, one day or another...
Glad i went back to 7. i had problems with d3doverrider,sweetfx, smaa dlls , fxaa dlls, enb series.
Most games worked fine, but some games would crash when launched , or it wouldnt work at all.
And what about these mods bring out some win8 support instead? They'll have to, one day or another...
gumbanator
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#4463544 Posted on: 11/26/2012 02:14 PM
I think all tech sites should stop posting articles about windows 8 as all it brings out are the hardware warriors with there rehashed comments ,now dont get me wrong the way this has been handled by ms is a farce touchscreen support aka metro should of been a downloadable pack like the media centre not this force everyone to a certain walled in garden approach it will work with some types out there ,but they did alienate all the power users but dosnt take more than 5 minutes to cure win8 ills classic shell skip metro suite and ribbon disabler and at the end of this laborious process
you are left with a leaner quicker very cheap legal os that has years of life cycle for driver maturity .........................
I think all tech sites should stop posting articles about windows 8 as all it brings out are the hardware warriors with there rehashed comments ,now dont get me wrong the way this has been handled by ms is a farce touchscreen support aka metro should of been a downloadable pack like the media centre not this force everyone to a certain walled in garden approach it will work with some types out there ,but they did alienate all the power users but dosnt take more than 5 minutes to cure win8 ills classic shell skip metro suite and ribbon disabler and at the end of this laborious process
you are left with a leaner quicker very cheap legal os that has years of life cycle for driver maturity .........................
WhiteLightning
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#4463551 Posted on: 11/26/2012 02:18 PM
Sounds great, but i dont know how the authors feel about that. d3doverider hasnt been updated for years and i dont know what it takes to update all those dll's.
And what about these mods bring out some win8 support instead? They'll have to, one day or another...
Sounds great, but i dont know how the authors feel about that. d3doverider hasnt been updated for years and i dont know what it takes to update all those dll's.
Ven0m
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#4463561 Posted on: 11/26/2012 02:26 PM
Powerusers actually got better key shortcuts support, but some still want Win95 menu and call themselves powerusers.
Anyway, if someone really badly wants to use older system for some reason and got Win8 with new rig, they might call MS with some support questions.
I think all tech sites should stop posting articles about windows 8 as all it brings out are the hardware warriors with there rehashed comments ,now dont get me wrong the way this has been handled by ms is a farce touchscreen support aka metro should of been a downloadable pack like the media centre not this force everyone to a certain walled in garden approach it will work with some types out there ,but they did alienate all the power users but dosnt take more than 5 minutes to cure win8 ills classic shell skip metro suite and ribbon disabler and at the end of this laborious process you are left with a leaner quicker very cheap legal os that has years of life cycle for driver maturity .........................
you are left with a leaner quicker very cheap legal os that has years of life cycle for driver maturity .........................Powerusers actually got better key shortcuts support, but some still want Win95 menu and call themselves powerusers.
Anyway, if someone really badly wants to use older system for some reason and got Win8 with new rig, they might call MS with some support questions.
IPlayNaked
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#4463588 Posted on: 11/26/2012 03:01 PM
The mods work fine in Windows 8.
Using ENB and SweetFX in Skyrim currently.
And what about these mods bring out some win8 support instead? They'll have to, one day or another...
The mods work fine in Windows 8.
Using ENB and SweetFX in Skyrim currently.
WhiteLightning
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#4463590 Posted on: 11/26/2012 03:02 PM
The mods work fine in Windows 8.
Using ENB and SweetFX in Skyrim currently.
Not for every game they dont.
The mods work fine in Windows 8.
Using ENB and SweetFX in Skyrim currently.
Not for every game they dont.
Xtreme1979
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#4463591 Posted on: 11/26/2012 03:02 PM
Windows 8 takes some getting used to. With that said I have had it since launch and don't see any reason to go back to 7. Power users should be the ones that evolve the quickest. Novice users are who I can see having the most issues adapting. Everything new has a learning curve Windows 8 is no different.
Windows 8 takes some getting used to. With that said I have had it since launch and don't see any reason to go back to 7. Power users should be the ones that evolve the quickest. Novice users are who I can see having the most issues adapting. Everything new has a learning curve Windows 8 is no different.
Wanny
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#4463600 Posted on: 11/26/2012 03:18 PM
The mods work fine in Windows 8.
Using ENB and SweetFX in Skyrim currently.
The main mods are working fine for me too, but some older or small stuff doesn't.
The mods work fine in Windows 8.
Using ENB and SweetFX in Skyrim currently.
The main mods are working fine for me too, but some older or small stuff doesn't.
Click here to post a comment for this news story on the message forum.
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The thread title is wrong, from win 8 to 7 is actually an upgrade, only M$ wants people to believe otherwise. And upgrading from win 8 to 7 isn't so easy in some cases, many notebooks for example come without the ability to disable "secure boot" which means you are stuck with win 8. At least now we know what the secure boot feature is actually good for, it's there to prevent people to upgrade to a better OS like win 7 or Linux.