Windows 7 downgrade rights license

Some of the business laptops come with Windows 7 downgrade rights. I would like to know what this really means. Does this mean that you have a complete Windows 7 license associated with the laptop that you buy that is preinstalled with Windows 10?

Also, the possibility is that Windows 10 is going to subscribed, think yearly payment. Does this mean that if you downgrade to Windows 7 you avoid this?

 

As far as how the implementation of downgrade rights go, this may vary between OEM's as M$ itself does not support this. If however you downgrade I am sure they will need to provide you with a valid W7 license.

W7 by the EULA can never be subscription but it has a limited support life. It is possible the OEM or another house will charge for extended support beyond 2020.

 

Update on this topic: Lenovo is newly selling business-class (mobile workstation) lappies with Win10. I didn't see them do that, two months ago when I made the 'Four Big Lie' videos in Youtube (as Brain Outy, videos are boring, not worth watching). So yesterday I did another check, found that on Lenovo -- but neither HP nor Dell are doing the same. They are using downgrade rights to sell more Win7 preinstalled. HP is more into 8.1 preinstalled, but maybe 1/3 of its laptop models offered, have Win7 preinstalled, and all allow it as a configuration option. Dell is heaviest into the Win7 preinstalled stress, using downgrade rights from 8.1.

Again, to me Lenovo is the shocker, because only three months ago a client of mine got a Thinkpad with Win7 preinstalled per the website using the WINDOWS 10 downgrade rights provision (its paragraph 7 in the EULA). So maybe all the Win7's were sold out using the Win10 license? There's only one preinstalled Win7 for sale left at Lenovo, as of yesterday. Maybe the stock will replenish, but clearly there are important implications here to ponder.

Again, I only searched on business-class laptops, as that category seemed the most sensitive to market demand.

 

I think the OEM's are hopeful for an Enterprise version of W10.

 

One might want to read this as it comes straight from MS themself...

http://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/downgrade_rights.aspx#fbid=2APPCviQ6H6

http://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/lic..._to_do_downgrade_rights.aspx#fbid=2APPCviQ6H6

 

Yeah, and it's not out yet, so far as I know. But that doesn't stop Spiceworks and others from claiming 54% (yikes) of Enterprises have already adopted it ( click here for that claim).

 

Oh yeah, I have a bridge to sell too.

 

I visited the AW-HP yesterday, and found, that they (finally) offer new displays, but that unfortunately, every laptop get's sold with Win 10.

I hear the first time really from "downgrade rights" , does this mean, that I can downgrade any version of Win 8 or 10 to Win 7 if I want to? I think, there was a time-limit on that process, so that it's i. e. "only possible 30d after installing the OS", but still, being allowed to downgrade Win 8 to Win 7 is completely new for me, same for notebooks that already got shipped with Win 10, wouldn't have expected, that those could legitimately downgrade.

 

I do not know of a M$ Supported downgrade rate from windows 10. At one time there was a downgrade ray from windows 8.0 Pro to Windows 7 pro. The OEM Version of Pro had to be on the system at time of purchase not one that was upgraded to pro. Any downgrade rights presently offered have to be done through the OEM.

 

There is different kinds of downgrades. One that enduser does for the computer he has bought and one that manufacturer does before computer is shipped (or reseller does before delivery). See Stormjumper's links for more info. Seriously, they are a good read.

Windows 10 Pro includes
downgrade rights to:

• Windows 8.1 Pro
• Windows 7
  Professional

Windows 8.1 Pro includes
downgrade rights to:

• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows Vista
  Business

Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate include downgrade rights to:

• Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, or Windows XP x64 Edition

If computer was sold with Home version of OS, no downgrade is supported.

When business computers are considered, downgrade rights to Win7 usually mean SLIC2.1 marker in bios. With that downgrade is as simple as entering manufacturer's branded Win7 install disc. Or doing other things after installation that result in similar activation

Other computers with no slic, one needs old install discs/keys and perform phone activation. Described in the link above. Or VL mass install, such as we do for our customers.

Only pro versions. Time limit is "downgrade allowed as long as the OS is supported" so technically XP is out of the question by now. That most definitely means phone activation, since nothing can stop offline slic activation.

actually no. Just install with any media and key that fits the media. Then do the phone activation and you'll get activation (better be a smooth talker). No license key is provided or needed. This scenario is also covered in the Stormjumper's first link.

 

I read the two links, they really are interesting, but much thanks for the additional explanation too .

Now I'm twice as glad, that I upgraded my Windows 7 Premium to Pro first, before doing the Windows 10 upgrade. Costed me only 10€ on eBay, and saves me much nerves today .

 

OK missed that but it is good to know. The one issue though is since XP is EOL it can not be downgraded too.

 

Yes, it's in Paragraph 7 of the Windows 10 EULA. Lenovo, HP and Dell all sell machines using downgrade rights, so you can get Windows 7 preinstalled and they use either a Win10 or Win8.1 license to justify Win7 installation. Go visit them online.

Lenovo had no more Win7 preinstalls left when I went there last week, but maybe that's changed. HP had some, but Dell had the most. Don't get the consumer version of any machine. Get the Business version. For Dell, that's Latitude. It lasts longer, better quality and resale value, and in Dell's case has no proprietary drivers, so it can update to Win10 without trouble. I know, because I did that, then will slide out the drive and reinsert the original Win7 drive it came with.

A client of mine got a Lenovo Thinkpad with 7 preinstalled using the Win10 license downgrade rights clause. So it does happen.

Oh: get Win7 Pro, never Home.

BEST BUY and Walmart won't give you quality or service like that.