Downgrade a laptop to Win 7

mrjimphelps · 29 Nov 2017

Barman58 said:

Also "Installed" included all Devices whether Physical or Virtual so Window7 system with a Windows 7 Virtual machine would need two licences as to use the VM you needed the licence for the Host and a licence for the hosted OS

Are you allowed to move your OEM license from the host OS to a guest OS in a VM on the same machine? In other words, you are no longer using the OEM license as the host.

In my case, I started with OEM Windows 7 as the host system on my computer. I then installed Linux Mint as my host system, and installed VMWare Workstation Player on that machine within the Linux host OS.

So, would I be allowed to use the VMWare tools to make a virtual copy of the original Windows 7 OEM hard drive (that drive is stored away, with Windows 7 OEM still installed on it), and then load it as the OS in a guest VM on that same machine?

Barman58 · 29 Nov 2017

I'm not sure - As there is just one copy of the licence in use then it should be acceptable - if however the "hardware" is seen as different by the device/software than the originally registered hardware, (a lot of VMs can be set-up to have different hardware configs to test things or just use Default hardware emulations), then the licence may fail to activate, ( the system would see this as being moved to another system), and then would need a call to Microsoft to explain the reason, which is mostly just a formality.

The interesting thing to see is what will happen in 2020 when Windows 7 reaches EOL, Will microsoft withdraw this type of phone support for those copies where Paid support does not exist, which could stop the use of a lot of systems in VMs or even real systems where components fail

nikev216 · 29 Nov 2017

Megahertz07 said:

Generally speaking, if you can disable Secure boot on BIOS, you can install. It doesn't mean it will be an easy task.
Before you begin, make the Factory recover disks (launch from BIOS). If it fails to install Win 7 you can restore win 10.
Can you give us the brand and model of the new laptop?

thanks ...

Laptop is a Jumper EZBook 3 Pro from China, it has Win 10 pre-installed on an eMMC drive but there's also an empty M.2 slot. I will research the drivers, maybe install Win 7 onto an M.2 SSD, if it boots and everything works, I'm happy. If it doesn't the Win 10 eMMC drive is untouched. Either way I'm not too worried, this is my first laptop, I wanted something cheap and cheerful, worst case scenario is I'm stuck on Win 10, (or Linux, which does work with this laptop).

Megahertz07 · 30 Nov 2017

You will have to add USB 3.x, sata drivers and M.2 drivers to win 7 installation disk.
Read my tutorial. Create a Windows 7 USB flash installation with new drives for new MB's - Windows 7 Help Forums

Lady Fitzgerald · 30 Nov 2017

Moving from Win 10 to Win 7 is an upgrade, not a downgrade.

Megahertz07 · 30 Nov 2017

Be careful when you choose the M.2 drive. Some of them use the PCIe Gen 3 others don't.
Samsung has the best M.2 drives but they are expensive.
See if there are Win 7 drivers to the one you choose.
M.2 2280, Internal SSDs, SSDs, Components - Newegg.com

zanoni · 23 Mar 2019

nikev216 said:

thanks ...

Laptop is a Jumper EZBook 3 Pro from China, it has Win 10 pre-installed on an eMMC drive but there's also an empty M.2 slot. I will research the drivers, maybe install Win 7 onto an M.2 SSD, if it boots and everything works, I'm happy. If it doesn't the Win 10 eMMC drive is untouched. Either way I'm not too worried, this is my first laptop, I wanted something cheap and cheerful, worst case scenario is I'm stuck on Win 10, (or Linux, which does work with this laptop).

I have the same laptop and same problem. I wanna install w7, but I can not to do anyway

zanoni · 23 Mar 2019

Megahertz07 said:

Be careful when you choose the M.2 drive. Some of them use the PCIe Gen 3 others don't.

Do you know something about EZBOOK 3 PRO my friend brazilian too?