Downgrade Dell Win8 pro to Win7 Pro with Dell DVD

As it says in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 you can also save a Win7 Backup Image externally to have a secondary backup. But most likely you won't ever want to go back to the factory install so these are pro forma.

Hi everyone

I HATE WITH A PASSION these "Recovery partitions".

If the EU commission had any bite it should instead of messing around with silly things like forcing browser choice (how hard is it to install a browser -- even my nearly 90 year old Dad can do it !!) it should ensure that ALL LAPTOPS are sold with either a copy of the OS on a DVD / USB stick or an IMAGE on a bootable external device - these days should be a USB stick -- cheap enough - and preferably another device with any special drivers on it.

However I'd always recommend if you get a new laptop is immediately you've booted up for the first time and done the set up accounts etc is to take YOUR OWN IMAGE using say ACRONIS or other decent backup program. - Commercial backup programs don't cost a fortune (typically around 50 USD) and I can assure everyone on these forums that's probably been one of the BEST SPENT 50 USD in my entire life -- the amount of time and hassle the backup / restore program has saved me over the years is beyond calculation.

Freebies like FREE MACRIUM too are available.

After making the initial backup TEST A STAND ALONE RESTORE -- at this stage if it fails you haven't lost anything as you still have the manufacturers recovery partition. Once you've got a DECENT backup / restore working you can now delete the partition and install any OS you like. You can still get RETAIL copies of W7 and if you are a TechNet subscriber you can download a W7 ISO. On the image also include the manufacturers recovery partition too -- if for any reason you have to return the laptop you'll have to restore these to avoid "breaking" the warranty.

Just disable any protected boot in the BIOS and enable legacy boot mode if the choice is available -- however with the DELL DVD it should boot just fine.

Keep the original Image you made before installing W7 or anything

Cheers
jimbo

If that Dell Reinstallation DVD doesn't say SP1 then I would use the one for your licensed version provided in Step 1 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

You would only need a Win8 System Image if you thought you might want to go back to it without reinstalling.

You do not need a Win8 Repair CD since any repair functions will be available in the Win7 installer.

Be sure to delete all partitions during booted Custom Install, using the Drive options show in Steps 7 and 8 of the illustrated steps for Clean Install Windows 7

gregrocker said:

If that Dell Reinstallation DVD doesn't say SP1 then I would use the one for your licensed version provided in Step 1 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

You can not use a Downloaded Windows 7 ISO, to use as a downgrade rights Windows 7 DVD.
You can only use a Microsoft official OEM manufacturer's Recovery DVD.

What MS Recovery disk are you referring to, Ray? Recovery disks to date have only been pressed by OEM's (if they even provide them) including the Dell Reinstallation DVD's which are also clean-copy installation DVD's with only branding and self-activation added.

Is this what all OEM's are using now to activate Pro when downgrading to Win7 on a Win8 PC? Is it provided up front or must be requested.

If this is indeed a typical OEM Factory Recovery disk with all of the bloatware, how would one go about Clean Reinstalling Win7 Pro to activate in MS Servers and not with the Factory SLP activation.

Post 6.

theog said:

GrayGhost2 said:

I want to replace Win8 Pro x64 on Dell laptop with Windows 7 Pro x64
Windows 7 DVD is a "Dell" DVD supplied with the Dell laptop.
There is no Win8 DVD

fireberd said:

As this apparently came with Windows 8, the Win 7 DVD I assume came from another Dell. "Legally" the OEM Operating System supplied with a new PC is only licensed for the system it was delivered with.

The Windows 7 install would be Legal ,as the downgrade rights use the OEM factory OEM-SLP activation method Product Key.

MICROSOFT said:

Can I downgrade the software?
Instead of using the Windows 8 Pro software, you may use one of the following earlier versions: Windows 7 Professional or Windows Vista Business.

This agreement applies to your use of the earlier versions. If the earlier version includes different components, any terms for those components in the agreement that come with the earlier version apply to your use of such components. Neither the manufacturer or installer, nor Microsoft, is obligated to supply earlier versions to you. You must obtain the earlier version separately. At any time, you may replace an earlier version with Windows 8 Pro. To enable downgrade on this computer to Windows 7, you must change the settings to boot into legacy BIOS mode. If the BIOS setting is not changed back to native UEFI mode boot prior to installing Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Pro will install; however, the following Windows 8 Pro functionalities will not work as they rely on UEFI mode boot:

OEM manufacturer to supply downgrade rights Vista/Win7 Install DVD's.

Attachment 284717

gregrocker said:

What MS Recovery disk are you referring to, Ray? Recovery disks to date have only been pressed by OEM's (if they even provide them) including the Dell Reinstallation DVD's which are also clean-copy installation DVD's with only branding and self-activation added.

Is this what all OEM's are using now to activate Pro when downgrading to Windows 7 on a Win8 PC? Is it provided up front or must be requested.

If this is indeed a typical OEM Factory Recovery disk with all of the bloatware, how would one go about Clean Reinstalling Windows 7 Pro to activate in MS Servers and not with the Factory SLP activation.

1) As with all downgrade rights (to Win XP, Vista, Windows 7) the Factory SLP activation is used.
2) How the OEM make the Microsoft official OEM manufacturer's Recovery DVD is down to them.
3) You may need to order, may not, down to the OEM manufacturer.

My OEM test rig,Windows 8 specs:

OEM said:

OS Provided Windows 8 Pro 64-bit Edition Microsoft Office Preloaded Includes a pre-loaded image of select Microsoft Office 2010 suites. Purchase an Office 2010 Product Key Card or disc to activate preloaded software on this PC. Software Drivers & Utilities, Nero Essentials S, Microsoft Office 2010 Starter, Norton Internet Security (60 days trial), Fujitsu Recovery, Windows 7 / Windows 8 Pro Twin-Pack recovery DVD

OEM said:

Compatible operating systems

Microsoft Windows 8, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit, Windows 7 Professional 32-bit, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, Windows 7 Home Basic (EM) 32-bit,\r\nWindows Vista, Windows XP, \r\nopenSUSE Linux