Solved Upgrade from XP to Win7 via Win 8 downgrade

[johngee]

Hi folks,

I want to upgrade my Lenovo laptop (presently on WinXP Pro) to Windows 7. My son (who is much more knowledgeable than me!) says I can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro (using the upgrade disc) and then downgrade back to Win 7 Pro. I have checked that the computer's BIOS will "accept" Win8.

But the "downgrade" to 7 looks fraught with issues, from reading some of the discussions about it. Do I. for example, need a Windows 7 disc as well?

I would be grateful for some "wise words" on this!

Many thanks

John

 

[theog]

Why would you upgrade Win XP to Windows 8 to downgrade to Windows 7?
To do the above you would need two Product keys, one for each OS.

As you can upgrade Win XP to Windows 7.

 

[johngee]

1. Because the Win 8 Professional U/G is freely available at a reasonable price (Amazon) - Win 7 U/G like hen's teeth.
2. Because I would much prefer to stay with Win 7 (Have two other computers with it).

I had been led to believe that the W8 Pro upgrade allowed Win 7 to be installed from it. Is that not the case?

John

 

[theog]

Windows 8 Pro Upgrade has NO Windows 7 downgrade rights.

If you buy a OEM manufacturer PC came with Windows 8 Pro, than you have OEM manufacturer Windows 7 downgrade rights.

View attachment Pro Licenses.zip

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.

 

[johngee]

Thanks - I had actually just found this out before the previous post! Son now choking on Humble Pie and owes me a pint (or two or three)

To be fair he had been given this (wrong) information by a local computer dealer who has admitted his mistake too!