The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Are XP downgrade eligible for Windows 7 upgrade?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by vaw, Aug 20, 2009.

  1. vaw

    vaw Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    783
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Does anyone know: if you bought a thinkpad with XP downgrade after July will it be eligible for windows 7 upgrade?
     
    vaw, Aug 20, 2009
    #1
  2. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    Doubt it. Even if you could, why would you? With the latest builds, IMO Win 7 > Vista > XP.
     
    sgogeta4, Aug 20, 2009
    #2
  3. pem69

    pem69 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
    No, they're eligible, as long as the version of Windows you're downgrading from is eligible normally. For example, when I go to spec out a computer, I see:
    Genuine Windows XP Professional (preinstalled via downgrade rights in Windows Vista Business) Eligible for FREE Windows 7 Upgrade
     
    pem69, Aug 20, 2009
    #3
  4. AMG

    AMG Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Yes you are eligible

     
    AMG, Aug 20, 2009
    #4
  5. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    I stand corrected then.
     
    sgogeta4, Aug 20, 2009
    #5
  6. vaw

    vaw Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    783
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks, but what if all it says is "Genuine Windows XP professional", without the rest of the words? Oh forgot to mention, this is the outlet site.

    In fact, I haven't found the spec of any model that says so many words as you quoted -- "(preinstalled via downgrade rights in Windows Vista Business) Eligible for FREE Windows 7 Upgrade" . Could you link to any page that shows these words?
     
    vaw, Aug 20, 2009
    #6
  7. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

    Reputations:
    6,668
    Messages:
    8,224
    Likes Received:
    231
    Trophy Points:
    231
    I don't see any Thinkpads with that description (not the "Eligible for FREE Windows 7 Upgrade" part).

    I would suggest getting it preinstalled with Vista, and just get the $0.00 XP Recovery disks.
     
    MidnightSun, Aug 20, 2009
    #7
  8. vaw

    vaw Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    783
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You believe they would send XP recovery disks for free?
     
    vaw, Aug 20, 2009
    #8
  9. pem69

    pem69 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'm just on the normal public (not student, cpp, etc) Lenovo US website.
    X200s has it, T400 has it, T400s has it, W700 has it .. I'm stopping looking now.
    It's unclear on the outlet site. If it comes with a copy of Vista (better than Home Basic), then yes, but if it only has XP, then it's not clear to me if it's an older machine (not eligible for the upgrade), or maybe just no Vista at all. Your best bet would be to call and ask for those cases.
    As far as the XP recovery disks go, they're offered as an option on many (but not all) new machines. I'm not sure if you can get them to do it for the outlet machines - again, you'd have to ask.


    Also, here's the text that's added at the top when you select that option:
    **** By selecting this downgrade service and completing the purchase of your PC, you accept the terms and conditions of the Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate license, and grant Lenovo the permission to replace Windows Vista with Windows XP Professional on your behalf. Click Here for more details.
     
    pem69, Aug 20, 2009
    #9
  10. StealthTH

    StealthTH Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    281
    Messages:
    680
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    They do if you select Vista Business or Ultimate and the downgrade option with CD's. I know this for a fact because I did it when I ordered my thinkpad.
     
    StealthTH, Aug 20, 2009
    #10
  11. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

    Reputations:
    6,668
    Messages:
    8,224
    Likes Received:
    231
    Trophy Points:
    231
    That is exactly what I did, with Vista Business 64-bit. I got XP Professional 32-bit recovery disks, which I probably won't use. But hey, it's nice to have.

    Not after you order. Then, it's $50 for the disk set.
     
    MidnightSun, Aug 21, 2009
    #11