Downgrading 10 identical laptops win 8 pro-->win 7 pro

[sclute]

I've been asked to downgrade our fleet of laptops to win7 pro from win8 pro. Dell Vostro 3550's. I have a Dell Win7 disk- going thru process now. I'm wondering is there is a way if I collect the Win 8 product IDs& Keys on the other machines that I can clone this first machine to the others? Trying to avoid all of the service pack/driver issues. I do not have a site license - only individual.

thanks!

 

[theog]

I'm wondering is there is a way if I collect the Win 8 product IDs& Keys on the other machines

You can not use Windows 8 Pro keys, with Windows 7 Pro.

 

[sclute]

I mentioned collecting the Win8 Id's/Keys only to prove that I had downgrade rights.

I'm trying to figure out if I copy the first completed laptop to the others how I will validate the installs with MS- I don't want "non genuine windows" warnings.

Am I making sense?

Thanks

 

[theog]

Dell Vostro 3550's.

I mentioned collecting the Win8 Id's/Keys only to prove that I had downgrade rights.

Use the Dell downgrade rights DVD.

Some OEM manufacturer's are now install Windows 7.

My OEM test rig,Windows 8 specs: with downgrade rights DVD.

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), Recovery, Windows 7 / Windows 8 Pro Twin-Pack recovery DVD

My OEM test rig,Windows 8.1 specs:

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

Windows 8.1 specs:

Windows 7 Professional Load with Windows 8.1 Pro license + Office 2013 trial,

Both rig's came with OEM manufacturer's clean install DVD's Windows 7 & 8 (8.1)

 

[sclute]

Thanks for the response.

I am using a Dell Downgrade DVD.

What I am trying to avoid is Installing Win7, drivers, Win7 Sp1 and all of the updates on 12 different but identical laptops- but if that's what i have to do so be it. I was just hoping to propagate a completed install and then change Product ID's.

Thanks.

 

[SIW2]

Yes, I can see why you want to do it that way.

Not sure how Dell do that. At a guess they use oem non slp activation. I am sure people have done this before, best ask one of them. More likely to find them at msfn or mdl than here.

 

[theog]

How to Downgrade from Windows 8 Pro to Windows 7 Professional | Dell US
A thread on downgrade rights.
http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/303755-downgrade-dell-win8-pro-win7-pro-dell-dvd.html

 

[Ztruker]

One way to find out is to try it. Setup one then clone to another. Change the key and see if it activates. If okay then clone the rest, otherwise restore the cloned computer then do the normal Dell downgrade.