"Downgrading" from Windows 8 Pro to Windows 7 Pro

[Trembly]

I've recently bought a Dell Vostro 5460 which came with Windows 8 Pro pre-installed. I don't like it, so I'm going to exercise my right as per the license to downgrade to a previous version of Windows.

• There is no physical disk for the OS - it resides in it's own recovery partition.
• The computer has no DVD drive.
• According to the internet, Dell have imaged all the necessary drivers on the recovery partition but I have downloaded all of the drivers onto a USB drive as a precaution.
• I have my Windows 8 Pro license key written down.

Is there anything else I need? What now? A step-by-step guide would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks in advance for all help.

[harrry]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2015107/downgrading-from-windows-8-to-7-what-you-need-to-know.html

may help

[Crossy]

Why not install Classic Shell, W8 works like 7 then

Do MS still allow licence downgrades? I thought that had all been stopped except for corporate clients.

[harrry]

Why not install Classic Shell, W8 works like 7 then

Do MS still allow licence downgrades? I thought that had all been stopped except for corporate clients.

They are allowing them from PRO only.....not for machines upgraded to pro. It does not allow XP

[BB1950]

I'm affraid it's not going to be as easy as you think.

To downgrade Windows, you’ll need a Windows 7 Professional installation disc and a valid license key for it. Neither Microsoft nor your computer manufacturer will provide this disc or key for you – you’re on your own when finding it, although Microsoft insists you should find a legitimate copy instead of downloading one from an illicit website. Downgrade rights are intended for businesses, who will likely have a disc and key on hand.

Complete instructions are here: http://www.howtogeek.com/133168/how-to-downgrade-windows-8-pro-to-windows-7/

From requiring a preinstalled copy of Windows 8 Pro to leaving you on your own when finding Windows 7 installation media, this process is filled with traps for individual users. It’s clear that Microsoft only wants businesses downgrading – but if you have a retail license of Windows 7 you aren’t using, you’re free to install it on your new computer.

If you previously installed the retail version of Windows 7 on another machine, and have removed/uninstalled it, you can get a new license key from Microsoft.

[wpcoe]

ISTR, but of course can't find corroborating links now, that the Win8 Pro product key could also be used for installing Win7 Pro, meaning that if you somehow got your hands on Win7 Pro installation media, even a USB thumb drive, that you could install Win7 Pro using the Win8 Pro key. Genuine Advantage kept track to make sure that only one version was validated at any given time.

Maybe that was a limited-time offer and/or only for commercial clients with bulk licenses, but I definitely remember reading it someplace. I also recall that it only applied to the "Pro" versions of Win8/Win7.

Can anybody verify, or explain how/where I got it mangled in my mind?

[harrry]

To take advantage of your Windows 8 Pro downgrade rights, you need installation media (such as DVD or USB key) for Windows 7 Professional or Windows Vista Business. You also need a valid product key for the older OS. Microsoft says it's fine to use a product key currently in use on another machine; you just need the old code to get past the product key request during installation.

from the link I previously gave.

[wpcoe]

Thanks, harrry. Somehow I missed your link!

So basically, you need a Win 7 Pro product key -- any product key, even one already in use on another machine -- and then after the activation process fails, you use the Win 8 Pro produect key to activate by phone.

BB1950 posted while I was working on my reply, so we're all three in agreement now.

[Trembly]

Thanks for the clarifications, gents.

My unlearned self was rather hoping that Windows 7 would somehow already be sitting in the recovery partition, but oh well . . .

Right, so does anyone have Windows 7 Pro on a USB drive - or - a Windows 7 Pro DVD and an external DVD/RW drive?

I live in Bangkok and I'd be more than happy to pay in beer if anyone can supply the aforementioned.

[alfalfa19]

You can use your win 8 product key to activate a win 7 installation?

Thanks, harrry. Somehow I missed your link!

So basically, you need a Win 7 Pro product key -- any product key, even one already in use on another machine -- and then after the activation process fails, you use the Win 8 Pro produect key to activate by phone.

BB1950 posted while I was working on my reply, so we're all three in agreement now.

[KittenKong]

Why not install Classic Shell, W8 works like 7 then

Classic Shell is definitely the way I would do it. Very little difference between Win8 and Win7 if you use Classic Shell and uninstall all the stupid Metro programmes that Win8 comes with.

[WhizBang]

Why not install Classic Shell, W8 works like 7 then

Classic Shell is definitely the way I would do it. Very little difference between Win8 and Win7 if you use Classic Shell and uninstall all the stupid Metro programmes that Win8 comes with.

Agreed. I am currently playing with Win8Pro and that Metro interface is about as daft an interface as I have ever seen. Add to that, that M$ saw fit to NOT supply a start button.

Classic Shell fixes that. Now I have to see if my Win7 Luna theme will work on 8.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Thanks for the clarifications, gents.

My unlearned self was rather hoping that Windows 7 would somehow already be sitting in the recovery partition, but oh well . . .

Right, so does anyone have Windows 7 Pro on a USB drive - or - a Windows 7 Pro DVD and an external DVD/RW drive?

I live in Bangkok and I'd be more than happy to pay in beer if anyone can supply the aforementioned.

Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1 English

Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1 English(Media Refresh)

Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool

Rufus

Alternatively, just install Classic Shell to Windows 8.

[Chicog]

You'd be nuts to downgrade. Under the hood, Windows 8 is vastly superior to Windows 7, and as the poster said above, you can easily go back to the Windows 7 menu and Desktop with Classic Shell or the like.

[BB1950]

You'd be nuts to downgrade. Under the hood, Windows 8 is vastly superior to Windows 7, and as the poster said above, you can easily go back to the Windows 7 menu and Desktop with Classic Shell or the like.

I have to disagree. Under the hood, Windows 8 has had too much removed to be generally superior. What I find really lacking is Aero. I'll keep my Windows 7, thank you! I'd be nuts to upgrade! IMO: Windows 7 was the best version of Windows released to date!

[hml367]

You'd be nuts to downgrade. Under the hood, Windows 8 is vastly superior to Windows 7, and as the poster said above, you can easily go back to the Windows 7 menu and Desktop with Classic Shell or the like.

I have to disagree. Under the hood, Windows 8 has had too much removed to be generally superior. What I find really lacking is Aero. I'll keep my Windows 7, thank you! I'd be nuts to upgrade! IMO: Windows 7 was the best version of Windows released to date!

xku-xlarge.jpg.pagespeed.ic.ZSeMt7KSqT.jpg

What has been removed?

[BB1950]

You'd be nuts to downgrade. Under the hood, Windows 8 is vastly superior to Windows 7, and as the poster said above, you can easily go back to the Windows 7 menu and Desktop with Classic Shell or the like.

I have to disagree. Under the hood, Windows 8 has had too much removed to be generally superior. What I find really lacking is Aero. I'll keep my Windows 7, thank you! I'd be nuts to upgrade! IMO: Windows 7 was the best version of Windows released to date!

xku-xlarge.jpg.pagespeed.ic.ZSeMt7KSqT.jpg

What has been removed?

Start with desktop graphic enhancements, like graphic enhancements used in Aero; transparent windows, opacity, window shadowing, half screen window snaps to the side of the screen...

Title bar window controls to minimize, restore down, maximize, and close specific windows...

Ability to have toolbars and miniture Icons on the task bar...

just to name a few...

Windows 8 is designed for smaller touch screens with applications in full screen, not large desktops running multiple adjustable size windows. I don't like gigantic icons on the task bar of a large screen! The lack of a start button is a non-issue for me. I rarely use it. scrolling through a menu is a pain! I often use a lot of different applications. Instead, I use multiple docks and the taskbar quick launch toolbar to launch applications. But I do want widgets on the desktop, not on a seperate screen. The Metro screen is an abomination!

Windows 8 would be alright on laptops or tablets, and touch screens. But not on my main workhorse, a desktop computer with large displays in a dedicated workspace enviornment! It's not the case of one size fits all!

Since physical keyboards can be used with tablet computers, I don't see a need for a laptop or notebook computer.

If Windows 8 could give me a desktop such as this:

I would be happy.

[hml367]

I think everything you have listed as not available in Windows 8 IS available without any 3rd party things. You just have to learn, like every other Windows version, how to use the operating system. That is just my opinion.

I don't use the tiled screen unless it provides something quicker and easier than I can get it on the desktop. Mostly I use the tiled screen to access something by typing... Getting to and from the tiled screen is quite easy.

Is that Pololu Valley as your wallpaper?

My Windows 8 desktop screen with no 3rd party add-ins to aid display:

[BB1950]

hml367,

According to this Link, the wallpaper appears to be a wide angle photo of Pololu Valley. It's included in Windows 7 stock wallpapers.

Nice desktop, but I don't see several things that can be done with Windows 7 without 3rd party add-ons.

Widgits (Gadgits - Windows 7):

• No Analogue Clock, Calander, CPU and Memory load, and Currency conversion widgits.
• Your Bing widgit is not opague. Notice most of my widgets(gadgits) are opague. Placing the mouse cursor over them makes them non-opague.
• On my desktop there are several hidden widgets (thus they don't appear in the screen shot), but rolling the mouse cursor over them reveals them).

The Task Bar on your screen shot:

• Has large icons, two text line height (notice the clock text). Not small icons. On a large screen they would be huge!
• There is no quick switch to the desktop (no blank area to the right of the clock).
• There no toolbars on the taskbar (including the traditional Windows XP quick launch toolbar).
• The taskbar is not transparent or opague.

I'm not sure if Windows 8 supports sliding notification windows.

Nice try, but I'm still not convinced to spend the effort upgrading to Windows 8! IMO: It's still like downgrading! I haven't seen anything to convice me, otherwise.

[harrry]

Wigits can longer be done with WIndows 7. They were stopped as they were a vector for some very serious malware atacks.

right click on the taskbar allows toolbars.

switch to desktop by pressing windows key

[hml367]

BB1950,

Regarding your "nice try" comment - I am not trying to convince you of anything. Of course you, and anyone else, will use what they like.

I have, however, found that almost everything people had, in the past, said was not available in Windows 8, was available without 3rd party add-ins. Might not have been as pretty, but functioned well enough for my use.

I still say that every version of Windows is not fully understood or utilized by the majority of users. There are things in the Windows OS that provide a lot if anyone has the time to know all of them. I don't know if anyone could know all of them.

There were some things in Widows 8 pre-release that are not in the release version. There are probably many things in the release version that were not in the pre-release versions.

I just do not agree with people saying things cannot be done in Windows 8 when many of them can. Again, not trying to convince anyone of anything, but trying to let some people know that they can possibly find what they are looking for if they happen to end up with Windows 8 for some reason.

By the way, some people were able to make the Windows 7 Gadgets work in pre-release Windows 8. Aero, I think, was removed purposely by Microsft for Windows 8.

[BB1950]

Wigits can longer be done with WIndows 7. They were stopped as they were a vector for some very serious malware atacks.

right click on the taskbar allows toolbars.

switch to desktop by pressing windows key

Actually they can still be done on Windows 7. There are no security issues with the default widgets. It's just 3rd party widgets aren't supported any longer because of Microsoft's implementation of widgets and failure to implement security fixes. Other operating systems don't have security issues with widgets.

Pressing the keyboard windows key switches to the desktop. Rolling the mouse cursor over that quick switch area on Windows 7 temporarily shows the desktop. It can't be shown temporarily on Windows 8!

[hml367]

Wigits can longer be done with WIndows 7. They were stopped as they were a vector for some very serious malware atacks.

right click on the taskbar allows toolbars.

switch to desktop by pressing windows key

Actually they can still be done on Windows 7. There are no security issues with the default widgets. It's just 3rd party widgets aren't supported any longer because of Microsoft's implementation of widgets and failure to implement security fixes. Other operating systems don't have security problems with widgets.

Pressing the keyboard windows key switches to the desktop. Rolling the mouse cursor over that quick switch area on Windows 7 temporarily shows the desktop. It can't be shown temporarily on Windows 8!

Tiles or desktop on mine, cursor to the bottom left shows the alternate. Is that the switching area you are talking about?

There is also a setting in the taskbar properties to "Use Peek to preview the desktop when you move your mouse to the Show desktop button at the end of the taskbar" This box being checked on my Windows 8, and in desktop mode, move the cursor to the bottom right and the desktop is previewed.

Further, Windows 8.1 is due out before the end of the year and I understand it would be an update for Windows 8 users.

Anyway, the thread started as downgrading... You are talking about upgrading. I agree with a previous post that downgrading a machine that came with Windows 8 is not a good idea.

[BB1950]

Wigits can longer be done with WIndows 7. They were stopped as they were a vector for some very serious malware atacks.

right click on the taskbar allows toolbars.

switch to desktop by pressing windows key

Actually they can still be done on Windows 7. There are no security issues with the default widgets. It's just 3rd party widgets aren't supported any longer because of Microsoft's implementation of widgets and failure to implement security fixes. Other operating systems don't have security problems with widgets.

Pressing the keyboard windows key switches to the desktop. Rolling the mouse cursor over that quick switch area on Windows 7 temporarily shows the desktop. It can't be shown temporarily on Windows 8!

Tiles or desktop on mine, cursor to the bottom left shows the alternate. Is that the switching area you are talking about?

Anyway, the thread started as downgrading... You are talking about upgrading. I agree with a previous post that downgrading a machine that came with Windows 8 is not a good idea.

I'm talking about the desktop. On Windows 7 the blank area to the right of the clock is the area I'm talking about (look at my screen shot).

Yes, this thread is about downgrading and that's what I whole heartily agree with, if he's not happy with Windows 8. The OP wants to option out of Windows 8 and downgrade to Windows 7. I would, if it was pre-installed on a machine of mine. Actually I'd buy a machine without Windows 8 pre-installed, and not go through the hassle of opting out. It's just chicago's post that said he's nuts to downgrade. I'm saying the OP is not nut's in wanting to downgrade. Windows 8 isn't better for some. And it's not just the start menu issue that can be dealt with by a 3rd party add-on to Windows 8. There's a reason for Windows 8 sales being so lackluster.

Yet's leave it at that.

[hml367]

If anyone is interested in some of the things BB says are not available, take a look at

http://www.howtogeek.com/128819/aero-isnt-gone-in-windows-8-6-aero-features-you-can-still-use/

As I posted, most of the things some people in the past said were not in Windows 8 may still be there. This is not aimed specifically at BB1950, but just to let people that may be interested in Windows 8 that many things are still available.

If someone has Windows 7, they may not find anything better for them in Windows 8. If a new computer comes with Windows 8, downgrading, as BB1950 posted, may not be as easy as just pushing buttons.

To the OP, if you have a Dell with Windows 8 on a restore partition, you should also have the option of burning reinstallation disks. Of course you would need a disk burner. If you use disks, obviously you would need a drive whether you have Windows 8 or 7. My recently purchased Dell XPS came without a disk drive and there was also the option to copy the restore files, including drivers, etc., to a thumb drive.

[Carl64]

Why not install Classic Shell, W8 works like 7 then

Classic Shell is definitely the way I would do it. Very little difference between Win8 and Win7 if you use Classic Shell and uninstall all the stupid Metro programmes that Win8 comes with.

[Carl64]

Classic shell is great.

[Straight8]

You'd be nuts to downgrade. Under the hood, Windows 8 is vastly superior to Windows 7, and as the poster said above, you can easily go back to the Windows 7 menu and Desktop with Classic Shell or the like.

I have to disagree. Under the hood, Windows 8 has had too much removed to be generally superior. What I find really lacking is Aero. I'll keep my Windows 7, thank you! I'd be nuts to upgrade! IMO: Windows 7 was the best version of Windows released to date!

xku-xlarge.jpg.pagespeed.ic.ZSeMt7KSqT.jpg

What has been removed?

Start with desktop graphic enhancements, like graphic enhancements used in Aero; transparent windows, opacity, window shadowing, half screen window snaps to the side of the screen...

Title bar window controls to minimize, restore down, maximize, and close specific windows...

Ability to have toolbars and miniture Icons on the task bar...

just to name a few...

Windows 8 is designed for smaller touch screens with applications in full screen, not large desktops running multiple adjustable size windows. I don't like gigantic icons on the task bar of a large screen! The lack of a start button is a non-issue for me. I rarely use it. scrolling through a menu is a pain! I often use a lot of different applications. Instead, I use multiple docks and the taskbar quick launch toolbar to launch applications. But I do want widgets on the desktop, not on a seperate screen. The Metro screen is an abomination!

Windows 8 would be alright on laptops or tablets, and touch screens. But not on my main workhorse, a desktop computer with large displays in a dedicated workspace enviornment! It's not the case of one size fits all!

Since physical keyboards can be used with tablet computers, I don't see a need for a laptop or notebook computer.

If Windows 8 could give me a desktop such as this:

Capture.JPG

I would be happy.

So you sit there and stare at your desktop picture all day just admiring how beautiful it looks.

Hardly worth reason not to have a better operating system and as Chicog says, under the hood W8 is far superior to W7.

Google is your friend if you need conclusive proof.

I once thought the same with XP when going to Win 7, but once I got comfortable with Win 7, XP was like going back to WIndows 95.

Don't give up on W8 too easily, take some time to familiarize yourself with it, check out some online tutorials and youtube videos, you may change your mind in the end.

[Local farang]

Dont downgrade there is no need and so many great apps with windows 8. There is only one thing missing that costs you $5 usd to buy the start screen . Start 8 from stardock makes windows 8 exactly the same as windows 7 with switchable screen from 8 to 7.

Dont downgrade you will regret it get stardock start 8 then star using the best windows ever built.

http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

[draftvader]

As many others have said "why would you want to do this?". It is fairly obvious to anybody who took the leap and has "tweaked" their windows installation to suit (i.e. classic shell) that Windows 8 is actually an improvement on Windows 7 and Windows 7 was an improvement on XP (let's not talk about Vista...what a painful year that was for me!). The 2 minute install of Classic Shell was very simple and since then I have saved that time by just 1 restart of my computer. For the first time in a LONG time I am not annoyed by BSODs....they explain themselves in ENGLISH (for the record mine was the classic netio.sys which I tracked down to Daemon Tools Lite...using Gizmo now...much better).

Basically put you will be more productive, just get yourself through the initial hump and enjoy.