Downgrade rights, 8 Pro to 7 Pro, Dell installation media

seepy83

Platinum Member
Nov 12, 2003
2,132
3
71
If my understanding is correct, OEM Windows 8 Pro installations include downgrade rights to Windows 7. (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2832566 http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/downgrade_rights.aspx#fbid=NbbxG5A8zFV).

I have a 1 month old Dell Precision M4800 that I purchased 2nd hand (the price was too good to pass up...about 60% of what it would have cost from dell, and the warranty will transfer to me anyway). Dell support just told me that I do not have downgrade rights, and that customers need to purchase a computer with Windows 7 installed and have upgrade rights to Windows 8. According to those Microsoft articles I linked to above, that's completely false.

Anyone know what's true?

6 or so years ago, I was handling a new PC roll-out for about 100-150 computers, and at the time Dell was shipping us computers with both Vista and XP installation media. We purchased Vista licensing, but the downgrade rights allowed us to install XP. I expected basically the same thing with 8/7 since Microsoft's terms look like they support that.
 

G73S

Senior member
Mar 14, 2012
635
0
0
no it applies to the Pro edition

contact Microsoft and they will help j00