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

[ThePitt]

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

[nub]

Admitting failure?

[McKay]

Admitting failure?

More like offering consumers choice.

[Glassed Silver]

Admitting failure?

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

Glassed Silver:mac

[Mockingbird]

More like offering consumers choice.

Hardly. Certain editions of Windows 7 and Windows Vista also have downgrade rights.

[McKay]

Hardly. Certain editions of Windows 7 and Windows Vista also have downgrade rights.

And? Now they also have the choice to downgrade from Windows 8 too. See? Choice.

[HawkMan]

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

[Freelancer1111]

I would rather call it Upgrade.

[Dot Matrix]

Admitting failure?

Considering they've always offered downgrade rights before, how is this admitting failure?

[Descartes]

Why would anyone want to downgrade from Windows 8 all the way down to Vista?

Still nice of them to provide the option, of course. Just wondering.

[veternan]

lol, Why downgrade?! Call it Upgrade!!

I would rather call it Upgrade.

lol, I've just typing it...

[Shadier]

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!

[McKay]

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.

[veternan]

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:

[SongHyeonDeok]

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

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

Microsoft will allow users of Windows 8 Pro to downgrade their new PCs to ... Vista

[ArialBlue]

Yes, we all know Vista was the best OS.

[chrisj1968]

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

[Growled Member]

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

Yes, I believe this is mostly for business users who are more likely to downgrade.

[Raa]

This really isn't news, Microsoft has done this for years...

It's a great move for companies buying new computers that are still using older operating systems for whatever reason. (Y)

[myxomatosis]

More like offering consumers choice.

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

[Rippleman]

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... :)

[firey]

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

[BoredBozirini]

So the best feature of Windows 8 is removing Windows 8?

Somehow I'm perfectly fine with that.

[techbeck]

This is NOTHING NEW to what MS has always done. They even allow this with their Office products.

Cant believe some of the comments here.