Those who buy a new computer with Windows 8 Pro above, if they are not satisfied, can always change and switch to Windows 7, without any further outlay and with relative ease. You can then downgrade (the opposite of upgrade) for free from Windows 8 to Windows 7, without having to reformat the computer and without having to buy separate licenses.
This possibility, important to know especially for those who buy a new PC that already has Windows 8, is provided for those who own Windows 8 Pro and not other versions .
As it is written in this information page of the Microsoft site, you can install Windows 7 Professional only if you have a PC with Windows 8.1 Pro.
Other constraints are reported on that page, such as, for example, the fact that the downgrade is only valid for Windows 8 Pro installed, not for Windows 8 Pro Pack.
Here are the steps to do it.
The two requirements to install Windows 7 for free on a PC running Windows 8 / 8.1 are:
- Have a copy of the Windows 7 CD (go here to download the Windows 7 Professional installation disc )
- Have the valid Product Key (the downgrade is intended for companies that use OEM Licenses, but a normal Windows 8 Pro product key should also work).
The ideal is to have a valid Windows 7 code not currently used (of an old computer maybe).
Since there are rather particular constraints, before doing this test it is important to create a recovery disk so that you can put Windows 8 back when you want or if you find that Windows 7 is not good.
In fact, you need to make sure that your computer supports Windows 7, which is not obvious with newer PCs.
Then check the computer manufacturer's website for drivers for Windows 7
Before Downgrading Windows 8 and installing Windows it would be useful, perhaps not essential, to change the BIOS options and return to the Legacy boot by disabling UEFI.
See here how to access UEFI on new PCs
Then insert the Windows 7 disk or USB stick into the new computer, restart and use the automated installation procedure as you normally would.
Windows 7, unlike Windows 8, allows you to activate even after installation, in the following 30 days then you can proceed calmly if the Product Key is not accepted immediately.
After Windows 7 finishes the installation, online activation will certainly fail because the product code has already been used for Windows 8.
You will then need to proceed with the telephone activation explaining that you are downgrading to the operator.
To downgrade multiple computers, in the case of corporate OEM licenses, you can use the same Windows 7 installation disc and the same product code even if you have to call Microsoft every time to receive an activation key.
READ ALSO: Download Windows 8.1: How to update or do a new installation
