Consult your computers manual for more information. Windows 8 enterprise which comes with software assurance may be downgraded to windows. This process involves having the installation media of windows 8. Downgrade rights are only available via oem and volume licensing, not fpp. Each time you purchase a machine with an oem license of windows 8, attach sa via volume licensing at a cost of around. Dec 20, 2012 purchase windows 8 upgrades through volume licensing vl with software assurance. Perform the downgrade process to the eligible downgrade product using the mediakey from a genuine, previously licensed oem or retail product. Windows 7 enterprise the benefits of having software assurance. If your copy came preinstalled on your system, you may downgrade your copy to windows 7. Here is the text from the licensing site for windows 8.
Oem versions of microsoft windows licenses do grant downgrade rights. Downgrading from windows 10 professional to windows 8. Purchase windows 8 upgrades through volume licensing vl with software assurance. Jan 07, 20 this will allow you to restore the original windows 8 system if you wipe the recovery partition. Looking on the volume license quote website i only windos 8 pro. If youre using a new computer that came with windows 8, youll probably have to enter your computers uefi settings screen and enable the legacy boot option, not the uefi boot option.
During the extension period, which lasted until january 16, 2018, all other windows 8. We also have a select plus agreement and i have access to all microsoft software via the vlsc. Software assurance benefits help you take full advantage of your investments in it. For full details about the access rights granted, refer to the software assurance benefits section of the microsoft volume licensing product. Sep 03, 2012 the brief outlines that windows 8 oem can only downgrade to vista business, whereas windows 8 under software assurance have additional options, including downgrading to windows xp. Customers will continue to be allowed to attach software assurance to new devices purchased before july 1, 2014. Microsoft will allow downgrades from windows 8 to windows 7, vista. Licenses enrolled in software assurance downgrade rights are granted in connection with all applications software licenses acquired through volume licensing, fpp, and oem and enrolled in software assurance coverage. Software assurance through vl volume licensing provides the greatest flexibility, allowing for downgrades to all prior versions and editions besides windows 7 ultimate and vista ultimate editions.
Systems on this list were available with a windows 8 pro purchase option, windows 7 drivers may not be available. Thanks to downgrade rights, end users who have acquired a later version of the software such as windows server 2012 r2 standard can use an earlier version of the software such. Your options for acquiring windows software assurance or windows vda are described below. Steps for an end user to downgrade windows software. Downgrade rights are granted with all server software licenses acquired through the select license and open license programs. We got this key to allow for imaging using the same media and key. In this tutorial, we will guide you how to downgrade from windows 8 to windows 7 with only a factory reset disk and still keep your files. Oem downgrade rights apply to windows 8 pro only and allow downgrades up to 2 previous versions. If you want to downgrade to windows xp then you would have to add software assurance to the new windows 8 pro machines within 90 days. Microsoft license downgrade rights why you need to know them. Apr 03, 20 note if you want to upgrade back to windows 8 pro later and want full windows 8 pro functionalities, you must change the bios setting back to native uefi mode before you install windows 8 pro. The following oem versions of windows software are eligible for downgrade rights.
The first step is to know your rights for a variety of reasons, some businesses are looking to downgrade from windows 8 to windows 7. Licensing windows pro or enterprise upgrade license have full downgrade rights. A free system goes back software, named easeus system goback free, is available now with a high capacity for helping users downgrade their computer systems such as return or go back to windows 8 from windows 10. Downgrade windows 8 to windows 7 step by step how to. An understanding of both your microsoft windows downgrade. If not you need purchase a copy of windows 7 and install the same on your computer.
A misunderstood aspect of sa is getting a multiple activation key license number that is usable for wds deployments of oem licensed windows 7 or 8. Refer to the table below for more specific product downgrade rights. So, if we purchase enterprise upgrades under vl without sa for windows 10 enterprise anniversary update, the license could be perpetual, but it would really be usable for for the support life of anniversary update 12. If you installed windows 8 by purchasing and installing windows 8 system builder yourself, there are no downgrade rights. This will give you the various benefits discussed in this article. Mui is only available for windows 7 in the windows 7 enterprise edition, which requires software assurance. Aug 20, 2015 if you want to downgrade from windows 10 to windows 8. Mar 26, 2020 windows 10 has been a critical success since its release, but if you need or want to revert to an older version of windows, its easy enough to learn how to uninstall windows 10 and roll it back. As far as i understand, i am eligible to upgrade both of them to windows 10 within one year for free. I activated sa on the very first windows 8 pro machine i bought. Microsoft will allow downgrades from windows 8 to windows. An understanding of both your microsoft windows downgrade rights.
If you have a windows 8 professional key, you can download to windows 7 professional for free. Without software assurance coverage, vl has downgrade rights to prior versions of windows with the exception of enterprise. Active software assurance customers in volume licensing have the benefit to upgrade to windows 10 enterprise offerings outside of this offer. Consumer versions of windows 8 pro that come preinstalled on pcs have downgrade rights to a previous version of windows example.
Windows 7 professional and windows 7 ultimate customers have downgrade rights to windows vista business, windows vista ultimate. Hi bill, under the software assurance program, you have the right to install any new release of products covered in the agreement during the term of your coverage. Read the fine print before downgrading to windows 7 infoworld. Windows 8 7 volume license version ms licensing spiceworks. Microsoft will allow users of windows 8 pro to downgrade their new. This is governed by the personaluse microsoft software license terms for the product. Sep 04, 2009 in the windows 7 era, we are once again offering a specific version of windows 7 for software assurance holders specifically called windows 7 enterprise. In summary, the windows 10 enterprise e3 in csp program is an upgrade offering that provides small and mediumsized organizations easier, more flexible access to the benefits of windows 10 enterprise edition, whereas microsoft volume licensing programs and software assurance are broader in scope and provide benefits beyond access to windows 10. A comprehensive program that includes a unique set of technologies, services, and rights to help deploy, manage, and use microsoft products efficiently, software assurance helps keep your business up to date and ready to respond quickly to change and opportunity. Note if you want to upgrade back to windows 8 pro later and want full windows 8 pro functionalities, you must change the bios setting back to native uefi mode before you install windows 8 pro. Why settle for windows 7 lite when you can have the real thing.
Apply system rollback freeware to downgrade windows 10 to windows 8. Software assurance is only available through a microsoft volume licensing agreement. Downgrade windows 10 to windows 8 with ease easeus. Is there a ultimate or enterprise version of windows 8 or will buying windows 8 pro vl give me downgrade rights to windows 7 ultimate and or enterprise. An internet connection internet service provider fees may apply.
One of the most valuable benefits you receive through windows software assurance and windows virtual desktop access vda is flexible access to windows enterprise. Volume license customers who purchase software assurance contracts from microsoft will continue to have downgrade rights on systems they. Can i upgrade from windows 7 enterprise or windows 8. Deployment and use of this software is subject to the geographic distribution restrictions. Jun 09, 2014 for oem licenses, downgrade rights are documented in the microsoft software license terms that customers accept upon first running windows and windows server software. Software assurance sa through volume licensing provides the greatest downgrade rights, allowing for downgrades to additional prior versions and editions, including notably, windows 7. In the windows 7 era, we are once again offering a specific version of windows 7 for software assurance holders specifically called windows 7 enterprise. How to downgrade from windows 8 pro to windows 7 professional. This is also true if you upgrade to windows 8 pro on a pc that was sold to you with the downgrade preinstalled. Microsoft volume licensing microsoft software assurance.
For windows 10 pro licenses acquired though an oem, you may downgrade to windows 8. Either way you go, either buying new pcs or buying upgrade licenses, you will need to purchase software assurance. How the new windows 8 license terms affect you zdnet. Downgrade rights are available for windows for embedded systems products. Read the fine print before downgrading to windows 7.
So what are the additional benefits that you get if you have software assurance on your windows desktop operating system licenses. Microsoft will allow downgrades from windows 8 to windows 7. Sep 03, 2012 microsoft will allow users of windows 8 pro to downgrade their new pcs to windows 7 or even vista, according to the operating systems licensing agreement. Windows 8 pro oem downgrade to windows 7 pro via software. While the windows 8 pro license allows for a downgrade to windows 7, there is no assurance that windows 7 drivers will be available either from dell or the component manufacturer. Windows software assurance, you can license windows vda for access to the benefits of windows software assurance. The point is that you will need to purchase a windows 8 pro upgrade license with sa in order to get a license of windows enterprise. Microsoft will allow users of windows 8 pro to downgrade their new pcs to windows 7 or even vista, according to the operating systems licensing agreement.
Because the multilingual user interface mui is included with windows 8. Solved when is software assurance required with windows 10. Windows 10 has been a critical success since its release, but if you need or want to revert to an older version of windows, its easy enough to learn how to uninstall windows 10 and roll it back. Mar 26, 20 windows 7 pro is where we are and where we will be for some time, and i cant waste time downgrading windows 8 boxes to 7 with something so quaint as dvds. This is also true if you upgrade to windows 8 pro on. Downgrade rights for microsoft commercial licensing, oem. How to uninstall windows 10 and downgrade to windows 8. Solved when is software assurance required with windows. Downgrade rights will be critical to windows 8 s acceptance in the enterprise, but if theyre exercised by consumers, its a sign microsofts newest os has pulled a vista, analysts said today. The process for downgrading to an earlier version of windows is the same as it is for a retail version of windows 8.
Reimaging licensed microsoft software hypertec direct. I need windows 7 ultimate or enterprise for 20 desktop pc so bitlocker can be used. I now have a mak key for my windows 7 wds deployments. The brief outlines that windows 8 oem can only downgrade to vista business, whereas windows 8 under software assurance have additional options, including downgrading to windows xp. When downgrading from windows 8 to windows 7, there are essentially two different, but similar, paths. It has been updated to reflect windows software assurance per user licensing. How to downgrade from windows 10 to windows 7 or windows 8. Windows 7 enterprise the benefits of having software. Check out these steps for downgrading from windows 8. With windows software assurance and windows vda, you get flexible access to windows enterprise, plus a number of additional benefits. Using this method, you will even have the user account.
Downgrade rights for microsoft volume licensing, oem. However, windows 10 remained available free of charge for more than a year after that to those who rely on assistive technologies to use windows. New benefits are provided for devices covered by software assurance for windows embedded 8. Window 7 8 pro enterprise 32bit 64bit software assurance. Jul 04, 2019 however, windows 10 remained available free of charge for more than a year after that to those who rely on assistive technologies to use windows. It includes access to new versions as they become available, flexible use. Windows 8 pro oem downgrade to windows 7 pro via software assurance spiceworks. Windows 8 pro oem downgrade to windows 7 pro via software assurance. Windows 10 enterprise faq for it pros windows 10 windows. Windows 10 enterprise e3 in csp windows deployment. Oem downgrade rights apply to windows 8 pro and allow downgrading for up to two prior versions n2 to windows 7 professional or windows vista business.
Downgrade rights for microsoft commercial licensing, oem, and. Free upgrade to windows 10 and downgrade to windows 8. To answer your question, you will need to select a specific version of operating system when you check out, but through software assurance youll be able to upgrade for free. Nov 14, 20 the point is that you will need to purchase a windows 8 pro upgrade license with sa in order to get a license of windows enterprise.