If you have a legal copy of Windows 8 Installation media and Key, then you can perform a clean install on the system instead. However please be aware that if you have updates turned on, you will be asked to update to Windows 8. Insert the media into your computer and restart into the Windows 7 installer. Tap rapidly on F12 as your system boots and select the correct media option from the onscreen menu to boot to the installer. Install Windows 7 Professional as you normally would, providing the legitimate Windows 7 Pro key during the installation process.
After Windows 7 finishes installing, the online activation will fail because your product key is already in use. You will be given a single-use activation code. Enter that activation code into the window and your Windows 7 Professional installation will be activated.
To downgrade multiple computers, you can use the same installation disc and Windows 7 product key. Support Knowledge Base Article. An understanding of both your Microsoft Windows downgrade rights and downgrading from Windows 8, 8.
Summary: This article deals with Microsoft's position on Downgrade rights for valid Microsoft Operating systems. See less This article deals with Microsoft's position on Downgrade rights for valid Microsoft Operating systems. Table of Contents: What are Downgrade Rights? Note : After downgrading, you can reinstall Windows 8, 8. Note : the information on this page is intended for system builders and their customers. Windows 10 Windows 8.
Note : If you are looking for more information on Microsoft Downgrade Rights or are interested in other Operating Systems, then you will want to visit Microsoft's Licensing Briefs page on their website and look for the Downgrade rights Link.
Note : Best Practice before using any of the following sections is to back up your data, software and keep a note of your software serial numbers on a regular basis, but especially before you do any work on your systems Operating System. If at any point something fails and a clean install is required, you will lose anything you haven't backed up. Going from Windows 10 to Windows 8. Note : You will need a genuine digit serial code for the Windows 8. This is what Microsoft calls your Product Key.
Going from Windows 8. So this is not a downgrade at all, but rather a long system restore. You need to choose your target operating system; select Windows 8. Windows should now re-image your computer. This may take some time. Did you purchase a system with Windows 8.
Note : Microsoft will not support downgrade rights from an upgrade copy of Windows 8. Going from Windows 8 to Windows 7 Note : Before you attempt a Downgrade installation, there are a couple of things you should check and do first. Ensure your PC actually supports Windows 7.
Check the Dell Support Site for Windows 7 drivers for your computer. This will allow you to restore the original Windows 8 system if you wipe the recovery partition. So grab your windows 7 media and the corresponding key and you're set.
If these are VL you can obtain the media and key via your VL portal. This would fall under the "reimaging rights" that Volume License customers have. To my knowledge, Windows 7 licenses were never stored "on-chip" You either got a sticker, or you don't have it. Not all PCs come with downgrade rights, unless they were purchased that way.
Windows 8 started the on-chip, no sticker licensing model. Also, I've yet to find an application that will run on Windows 7, but not And we run all sorts of older apps in our company. Have you tried compatibility mode as a last resort?
Yes it does depend on the license you purchased with your PC. I have a how-to that sums this up, but if you're not into that Just for fun you should try the software on Windows 10 to see for yourself if it will run. You can pick different compatibility settings so it thinks it's on an earlier version of Windows. Doesn't always work but it's worth a try. I would also try disabling DEP in both the bios and Windows If the software calls any imaging components that are older that will allow them to run.
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