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Downgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 7
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.
Microsoft Extends XP Downgrade Availability Until 2011 - 06/21/2009 07:33 AM
Somehow Microsoft doesn't seem to be able to get rid of Windows XP. Although the downgrade deadline was pushed back several times already, Microsoft decided to do it yet once again. This time it is a ...
Windows users will be allowed to downgrade to XP from Win7, skip Vista - 04/07/2009 10:03 AM
Windows XP is a solid operating system, if a bit outdated. The Windows 7 Beta has been promising, and is a definite improvement in both speed and stability over Windows Vista. However, some people mig...
Microsoft XP downgrades extended to July 2009 - 10/05/2008 11:12 AM
It looks like Windows XP will have another extra 6 months before getting a neck-shot from Microsoft. Microsoft has extended its Windows XP downgrade program for six months past its original cutoff dat...
HP now available:Mini-Note PCs with Windows XP as a downgrade - 05/13/2008 06:30 AM
HP 2133 Mini-Note PC- models One note: Genuine Windows Vista Business installed but downgraded to Genuine Windows XP Professional. http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF25a/321957-321957-64295-...
Ven0m
Senior Member
Posts: 1843
Joined: 2005-08-12
Senior Member
Posts: 1843
Joined: 2005-08-12
#4463439 Posted on: 11/26/2012 11:21 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
Senior Member
Posts: 2939
Joined: 2004-10-03
Senior Member
Posts: 2939
Joined: 2004-10-03
#4463468 Posted on: 11/26/2012 12:43 PM
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
Senior Member
Posts: 899
Joined: 2003-10-28
Senior Member
Posts: 899
Joined: 2003-10-28
#4463483 Posted on: 11/26/2012 01:26 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
Chuck Norris
Posts: 2537
Joined: 2012-02-06
Chuck Norris
Posts: 2537
Joined: 2012-02-06
#4463506 Posted on: 11/26/2012 02:08 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.
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Senior Member
Posts: 263
Joined: 2012-05-13
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.