Understanding Downgrade Rights

Example:

• Your customer's organization needs a new system running on the same platform as its existing systems—Windows Vista Business.

Downgrade rights offer a practical solution. The customer can:

• Purchase a PC with Windows 7 Professional preinstalled.
• Downgrade—at no additional cost—to Windows Vista.
• Another compelling reason to encourage customers to move to Windows 7 is the ability to downgrade to Windows XP.
• Move to Windows 7 Professional at the appropriate time. The system is licensed and ready for conversion.

Downgrade rights for:

• Windows 7
• Windows Vista
• Windows Servers

Downgrade rights for Windows 7 are an end-user right, documented in the Software License Terms that customers accept upon first running Windows software.

Note that Windows 7 end user downgrade rights will be available through the sales lifecycle of Windows 7 which is up to two years after the launch date of a new version.

Get more information about Windows lifecycle and Windows product availability policies.

Customers must:

• Purchase a PC preinstalled with Windows 7.
• Accept the Windows 7 Software License Terms.
• Perform the downgrade or authorize a third party to install on their behalf.

• See additional details and FAQ.

The Downgrade Process

Follow these steps to downgrade to a previous version of Windows:

1. Obtain genuine Windows media and a corresponding product key for the eligible version of Windows for downgrade (see next section for eligible Windows versions).
   • The media should come from a prior legally licensed version from the OEM or Retail channels.
   • Additionally an end user, who is licensed separately through Microsoft Volume Licensing (VL) programs, may provide their VL media and key to their system builder to use to facilitate the downgrade on only their systems.
2. Insert eligible downgrade version of Windows media in the CD drive and follow the installation instructions.
3. Type the product key.
   • If the software was previously activated, you will not be able to activate it online. In this case, the appropriate local Activation Support phone number will be displayed. Call the number and explain the circumstances.When it is determined that the end user has an eligible Windows license, the customer service representative will provide a single-use activation code to activate the software. Please note that Microsoft does not provide a full product key in this scenario.
4. Activate the software.
5. See also the Downgrade Rights Guide for Windows 7. .pdf 1.4 MB

OEM Versions of Windows 7 Eligible for Downgrade

Only certain OEM versions of Windows 7 include downgrade rights:

• Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate include downgrade rights to Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate.
• Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate include downgrade rights to Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, or Windows XP x64 Edition.
• Other OEM Windows 7 versions (for instance, Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Home Premium) do not include downgrade rights.

 

Authorizing a Third Party to Exercise Downgrade Rights for an End User

Provided certain requirements are met, an end user may request that another party perform the downgrade on their behalf. The following document provides clarity about how to meet those requirements, and what that process entails.

End User Downgrade Rights Facilitation Options .pdf 88 KB

It is important to note that, because this is an end user right, it is not primarily designed to be facilitated by another party because it has many complications. It is also not designed to be replicated on a large scale.

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Downgrade rights for Windows Vista are an end-user right, documented in the End User Software License Terms that customers accept upon first running Windows software.

Customers must:

• Purchase a PC preinstalled with Windows Vista.
• Accept the Windows Vista End User Software License Terms.
• Perform the downgrade or authorize a third party to install on their behalf.

• See additional details and FAQ.

The Downgrade Process

Follow these steps to downgrade to a previous version of Windows:

1. Obtain genuine Windows XP Professional or Tablet PC Edition media and a corresponding product key.
   • The media should come from a prior legally licensed version from the OEM or Retail channels.
   • Additionally an end user, who is licensed separately through Microsoft Volume Licensing programs, may provide their VL media and key to their System Builder to use to facilitate the downgrade on only their systems.
2. Insert Windows XP Professional or Tablet PC Edition media in the CD drive and follow the installation instructions.
3. Type the product key.
   • If the software was previously activated, you will not be able to activate it online. In this case, the appropriate local Activation Support phone number will be displayed. Call the number and explain the circumstances. Once it is determined that the end user has a valid Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate license, the customer service representative will provide a single-use activation code to activate the software. Please note that Microsoft does not provide a full product key in this scenario.
4. Activate the Windows XP operating system software.

OEM Versions of Windows Vista Eligible for Downgrade

Only certain OEM versions of Windows Vista include downgrade rights.

• Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate include downgrade rights to:
  • Windows XP Professional, or
  • Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, or
  • Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

 

Other OEM Windows Vista versions (for instance, Windows Vista Home Basic and Windows Vista Home Premium) do not include downgrade rights.

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Downgrade rights are an end-user right, documented in the End User Software License Terms that customers accept upon first running Windows software.

Customers must:

• Purchase a PC preinstalled with Windows Server 2008.
• Accept the Windows Server 2008 End User Software License Terms.
• Perform the downgrade or authorize an OEM to perform it.

• See additional details and FAQ

The Downgrade Process

Follow these steps to downgrade to a previous version of Windows server software:

1. Obtain genuine Windows Server 2003 or Windows Small Business Server 2003 media and a corresponding product key.
   • The media should come from a prior legally licensed version from the OEM or Retail channels.
   • Additionally an end user, who is licensed separately through Microsoft Volume Licensing programs, may provide their VL media and key to their System Builder to use to facilitate the downgrade on only their systems.
2. Insert the downgrade media in the CD drive and follow the installation instructions.
3. Type the product key.
   • If the software was previously activated, you will not be able to activate it online. In this case, the appropriate local Activation Support phone number will be displayed. Call the number and explain the circumstances. Once it is determined that the end user has a valid Windows Server license, the customer service representative will provide a single-use activation code to activate the software. Please note that Microsoft does not provide a full product key in this scenario.
4. Activate the software.

OEM Versions of Windows Server Eligible for Downgrade

Only certain OEM versions of Windows Server include downgrade rights. See below for the eligible versions.

• Windows Server 2008 Standard includes downgrade rights to Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition.
• Windows Server 2008 Enterprise includes downgrade rights to Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition.
• Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium includes downgrade rights to Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition or Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2.

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