Has anyone downgraded from Windows 8.1 Pro to Windows 7 Pro?

Hi,

I realize that Dell/Microsoft provide downgrade rights for Windows 8.1 Pro users. I wanted to know, where do the Dell computers have the activation key? It used to be the COA sticker in the older ones, but I read something about them being embedded in the BIOS.

Also, the downgrade steps tend to mention that the activation will initially fail and then you go ahead with the phone activation, I'm not sure what key it expects.

Any help would be appreciated, thank you!

 

Searching around, I found this.

Source: http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/downgrade-rights/

 

Not all Dell machines with 8/8.1 have downgrade rights, you order must state that you have the rights to do so. Circumventing such protections is against Dell and Microsoft's Terms of Use, this forum is strictly on the up and up, thus this shall not be discussed.

 

Well, in addition to finding out how I can, I also want to confirm whether I am legally allowed to. I'm not suggesting anything illegal, I was just going by the links provided by Dell and Microsoft, and it seemed like it is legal.

Are you sure this is not legal?

I'll contact Dell and ask I suppose.

 

It is true that we do not allow copyrighted software to be shared on NBR, nor links to such software. It is also true that we do not allow discussion of how to circumvent protection mechanisms and such.

I don't see anything in the discussion here that rises to a level of violating NBR rules. And I am generally the stickler among moderators when it comes to these matters, so I think we're safe

In fact, with the ToS restrictions pointed out by @Look_a_bird__ the thread finely illuminates the limitations of some Win8/8.1 laptops. So thank you for that.

 

Thank you.

This is the link I was following as the 'final word': https://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/downgrade_rights.aspx

Reflected on Dell.com : http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/SLN294589/en

 

Give dell technical support a call, your service tag essentially dictate whether you have such rights or not. Mainly because when you ordered the machine, Dell would have presented options for OS licenses with and without downgrade rights to Windows 7. (i.e. one will say "Windows 8.1 Pro" while another one will say "Windows 8.1 Pro (with downgrade rights to Windows 7 Professional)"). If you made the order with the registered downgrade rights, you'll have absolutely no problem with getting a recovery disc from Dell. If you don't, Dell wont give you the re-installation disc under any circumstances. We had that issue before, Dell pointed out that we didn't have the rights registered with them (misclicked during the order, and it was a $0 price increase lol), and we ended up updating our volume licensing agreement with Microsoft and deployed them with Windows 7 Enterprise.

 

Ok, thanks for that information.

I do have Windows 8.1 Pro, and I'm somewhat certain that this is not a volume license.

I'll have to check if my order specifically mentioned "downgrade rights to windows 7", but, it seems that description may only dictate whether Dell is obliged to provide you with a Reinstallation Disc.

Microsoft and Dell both state in various places (including the links in my earlier post) that the requirements are

Source: https://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/downgrade_rights.aspx

I guess this is all open to interpretation but it sounds like I'm in the clear here.

All of this sounds like too much of a hassle and I think I'm just going to do full Linux install instead of a dual boot.

 

Since you have a Dell system, the easiest way to [re]install is with a Dell disc since its activated by SLIC found in Dell BIOS (aka you don't have to activate it).
If you can't get a Dell disc because you're not registered in their system for downgrade rights, you'll need your own media and license key. And since regular Windows 7 doesn't activate by reading information from the BIOS, you'll need to activate it yourself.

Also, your Windows 8.1 Pro is likely an OEM license (its preactivated by Dell). Volume licensing is typically for businesses, i.e. you need to deploy large number of computers, and you license copies from Microsoft directly.

 

I haven't had a chance to discuss this with Dell Support yet, I'll see how that goes.

Thanks.