Microsoft will allow downgrades from Windows 8 to Windows 7, Vista


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Microsoft will allow users of Windows 8 Pro to downgrade their new PCs to Windows 7 or even Vista, according to the operating system's licensing agreement.

Not surprisingly, users may not downgrade to the still-used-but-slated-for-retirement Windows XP.

Downgrade rights -- which let customers replace a newer version of Windows with an older edition without paying for two copies -- are available only in Windows 8 Pro. That fits with previous practice: Only Windows 7 Professional, for instance, was allocated downgrade rights.

"Instead of using the Windows 8 Pro software, you may use one of the following earlier versions: Windows 7 Professional or Windows Vista Business," states the software license agreement for the version of Windows 8 Pro that will be installed by computer makers (OEMs) on new PCs.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9230815/Microsoft_will_allow_downgrades_from_Windows_8_to_Windows_7_Vista

Nice, i have a feeling alot of people are going to be taking advantage of this.

I have a feeling a few geeks who can't handle change will take advantage of this while all the regular users will happily surf along with win8

Admitting failure?

Well if that's the case, I guess Microsoft also felt that Windows 7 was a failure too. You gotta give them credit though, they've put some tough standards on themselves if to them Windows 7 was a failure!

I would rather call it Upgrade.

lol, Why downgrade?! Call it Upgrade!!

Call it what you want, the fact is your Kernel version is going down, so its a "down"grade. Whether or not your personnel experience will be better or not is irrelevant.

Call it what you want, the fact is your Kernel version is going down, so its a "down"grade. Whether or not your personnel experience will be better or not is irrelevant.

Blaaah blaaaah...Thank You Mr.Kernel :p Who cares? 6.2 will be 6.1 :woot:

Yes, they never offered this before!!! /s

Glassed Silver:mac

precisely! I wonder who'll be the fallguy at MS? :/

Must mean they're offering IE10 for both 7 and Vista then too.

I hope so. I'm impressed with IE10 at least

You mean "choice" like being able to choose if you want to use or not the Start Screen? :rofl:

yes, choice. If you don't want the start screen, you have to choose to stick with Windows 7... :)

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hmm, I wonder how many Windows 7 downgrades were actually used (like going from 7 -> Vista). I doubt very many, definitely be a lot more Windows 8 -> 7/Vista than 7 -> Vista/XP

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