MatthewL Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Hi All, Got a couple of laptops I look after which have Windows 8 on. The end users are of the older generation and are really struggling to use them, what rights do they have to downgrade to Windows 7 and what is the process to get the relevant license/media to do so? One is a Toshiba Satellite and the other a Asus X550C which is less than 6 months old, the other been less than a year. Never had to do anything like this, normally just wipe them but I believe there are downgrade rights with Windows 8. Thanks
newpersn Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Unless they was brought with downgrade licence then I think there very little You can do. (Unless you got a volume license agreement) You can try classic shell. That will give an windows 7 feel to windows 8.
FN-GM Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 If they have the pro edition of Windows 8 you can downgrade. If not your stuck unless you have volume licencing.
Arthur Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 As @newpersn mentioned, it would be easier to stick with Windows 8.1 and use Classic Shell (free) or StartIsBack ($2.99) to turn the OS into Windows 7. They shouldn't be able to tell the difference! 1
MatthewL Posted September 8, 2014 Author Posted September 8, 2014 Thanks guys, will take a look not sure 100% which version they have but will give the classic shell ago. Is there anyway you can get it to go the desktop when you first login?
newpersn Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 With classic shell it will do that for you.
Arthur Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 Is there anyway you can get it to go the desktop when you first login? Windows 8.1 does that by default now if it detects it's running on a desktop PC. By the way, if their laptops are currently running Windows 8.0, make sure you upgrade them to 8.1 through the Windows Store (and then 8.1 Update through Windows Update) otherwise they will stop receiving updates on 12/01/2016.
MatthewL Posted September 9, 2014 Author Posted September 9, 2014 Ok will take a look for the 8.1 update. I'm not using it myself, not a fan of the software, cheers guys, hopefully its helped me out, now to get round and sort it.
Roberto Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 Ok will take a look for the 8.1 update. I'm not using it myself, not a fan of the software, cheers guys, hopefully its helped me out, now to get round and sort it. Apart from the new (well not so new now, I suppose) "start screen"... thing... which simply ain't right with god, but is easily fixed (with Start Is Back in my case) I have to say I find Windows 8.1 with update 1 to be a big improvement on Windows 8. And a small but worthwhile improvement on Windows 7.
MatthewL Posted September 9, 2014 Author Posted September 9, 2014 I have picked up the Toshiba on the way home tonight, have put ClassicShell on and will see how they get on with that, I am currently running the 8.1 update and then will give the laptop a once over as its running like a dog and is brand new. If this fail will be wiping and getting Windows 7 as there are no downgrade rights with this. Does anyone have the link to the 8.1 update as its a few gig and don't want to have to keep downloading, would be useful to have the file that I can just chuck on if I need it.
Arthur Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 Does anyone have the link to the 8.1 update Windows 8.1 has to be downloaded through the Windows Store in Windows 8.0. However, all of the Windows 8.1 Update 1 related updates can be downloaded from Microsoft's website here or using the direct links below (for the 64-bit edition). KB2975061 (10.3MB) KB2966870 (0.3MB) KB2919355 (691MB) KB2932046 (48MB) KB2937592 (0.3MB) KB2938439 (19.6MB) KB2959977 (2.8MB) KB2934018 (126MB) ^ Updates must be installed in the order shown above.
MatthewL Posted September 9, 2014 Author Posted September 9, 2014 Thanks Arthur. If I miss the end of September is that it then?
MatthewL Posted September 9, 2014 Author Posted September 9, 2014 Well with the use of classic shell and 8.1 update it seems to be far user friendly, will see what he makes of it.
nicholab Posted September 22, 2014 Posted September 22, 2014 What would the downgrade rights be with Windows 8 standard and EES?
DMcCoy Posted September 22, 2014 Posted September 22, 2014 Volume license Windows Upgrade will take you back to 95 if you really want. Sorry, no 3.11 Microsoft Volume Licensing Brief - Downgrade Rights
nicholab Posted September 23, 2014 Posted September 23, 2014 Once you have used you MAK key to activate can you change back to using KMS?
DMcCoy Posted September 23, 2014 Posted September 23, 2014 You can install the KMS client key, yes. Just remember the 4 activation limit for Vista onwards (and you can lose one when you sysprep too)
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