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Microsoft: Windows 7 Downgradeable to XP

Techtree News Staff, Apr 07, 2009 1532 hrs IST

Windows XP to live more years

Microsoft's beloved operating system Windows XP might just get another extension. With Windows 7, the software giant Microsoft and PC makers will offer Windows 7 downgrade options. Under the downgrade option, PC buyers would be able to downgrade Windows 7 to Vista or even Windows XP. Of course, there would be certain conditions applicable.

Microsoft's Windows 7 looks good enough to repair Windows Vista's woes. While the public beta is available and being used, Microsoft is rumored to be releasing Windows 7's release candidate this summer. AppleInsider reported that HP got the green signal for extension of rights to sell Windows XP loaded systems till April 30, 2010. Also, HP would be offering volume-license users the option to downgrade to Windows XP.

Mary Jo Foley, who writes on All About Microsoft Blog, questioned Microsoft on the Windows XP downgrade rights. Foley stated that Microsoft will offer downgrade rights to users for downgrading Windows 7 to earlier Windows versions. So, basically, users can downgrade Windows 7 to Windows XP, Windows 2000, or even Windows 98.

Getting back to the HP-related downgrade arrangement, Microsoft's spokesperson warded off the possibility of HP-exclusive downgrade rights. Microsoft said that the downgrade policies will be applicable to all main OEM partners and not as a special arrangement. Microsoft's spokesperson stated, No dates have been announced for the end of Windows 7 downgrade right facilitation to Windows XP.

To be noted, Microsoft and its OEM partners offer downgrade rights on only two Windows Vista versions Business and Ultimate. Either of these versions could be downgraded to XP Professional. Not to be forgotten that the OEMs charge customers a price for the downgrade. Customers buying new machines with Windows XP downgrade from Windows Vista this summer would also be eligible for free Windows 7 upgrade.

It is interesting that people are actually concerned about downgrade options even before the release date of Windows 7 is announced. On the other hand, Apple offers upgrades to their Mac OS X operating systems, and a preview of the Snow Leopard is expected at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2009 starting June 8.

It would be unfair to compare these options since a majority of corporate customers are concerned about supporting their infrastructure, services, and products with multiple operating systems from the same company. Yet another wait and watch game for customers to check out what's in store with regard to Windows 7.

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Tag keywords

Windows 7 Windows XP Windows Vista AppleInsider All About Microsoft Blog Windows 2000 Windows 98 Worldwide Developer Conference 2009

Discussion Board

dana

,sharjah, on Sep 11, 2009 01:34 PM

very nice

jagannath

,bangalore, on Jul 16, 2009 10:36 PM

good...................

sati

,bangalore, on May 31, 2009 09:43 PM

HI

sachin

,nanded, on May 12, 2009 05:37 PM

currently i am using Windows 7's trial version released by microsoft . i am feeling comfortable but request to microsoft for "please include shortcut for "MY COMPUTER" like "windows key+E"

balamurugan

,kallakurichi, on Apr 11, 2009 05:22 AM

very good software in the world

saumen

,dehradun, on Apr 09, 2009 03:03 PM

want to know about windows xp 7

hashem

,makka, on Apr 08, 2009 08:31 PM

classic

Rajiv Bajaj

,Pune, on Apr 08, 2009 10:10 AM

I think it is a bad idea to go for a downgrade to XP simply because of the fact the free patch support for Windows XP will definitely end a lot before patch support for Vista or Windows 7. Why pay full price for Windows 7 and then get an older operating system XP? Does not make sense. Also Microsoft is sending out a wrong message with the downgrade options, that they don't have faith in their new OS. Also after having a very sluggish computing experience with Windows Vista, I finally migrated over to the Kubuntu KDE 4.2 desktop for all my work and haven't looked back since. No activation woes .. woohoo and the 3d effects even work beautifully on an Intel 945 chipset.

naveenchaudhary

,meerut, on Apr 08, 2009 03:29 PM

naa naa, by downgrade MS doesnt mean that they will take back Win7 Disk, actually downgrade means that company will provide XP installation disk along with Win7 Disk or Win7 preinstallation. Dell use to provide Windows XP downgrade option with WinVista Business. So by downgrade you can either install XP or Win7 or both.

Software user

,Earth, on Apr 08, 2009 08:56 AM

Another rubbish! Waste time! Crashes on PCs. Build in many back doors, loop holes for others to get into your system. Same as other MS product Leak your information, expose your private date, designed for virus attack. Another Trap again.

amrik

,melbourne, on Apr 08, 2009 12:02 AM

iwant window7

Anonymous

,Portland, on Apr 07, 2009 09:10 PM

Reading that Win-7 will be downgradable to XP makes me wonder what those in charge at MS are thinking. Not to bring up the OS Wars but when Apple went from OS9 to OSX they used a form of virtualization so that people could still use the old OS and classic applications as well as grow into using the new OS. Over time Apple discontinued this using this method and put its full support behind OSX. Why couldn't MS do something similar? Granted XP has a foothold that no other operating system has and is stable. People like that and it will be hard to get people and companies to upgrade considering the cost involved as well as the growing pains from a new OS. But by allowing their latest greatest OS to substituted for the older OS is only going to hinder the expansion and development for Win-7 when developers can still fall back on XP. If Windows 7 is to grow and develop they need to cut (maybe just trim) the old wood. And that old wood is XP. XP doesn't need to die, it just needs to be moved aside so that Windows 7 get a fair shot at success.

Mark

,NYC, on Apr 07, 2009 06:41 PM

I suspect large corporates would be happy to stick with XP for a very long time and to gradually upgrade it through service packs. No company with tens of thousands of desktops wants to have a different OS and/or UI forced upon them unless it brings significant cost savings, productivity gains or a tangible reduction in risk.

John

,Raleigh, on Apr 07, 2009 05:35 PM

Well if average Joe user now sees that he can still use his windows xp system instead of something new and different then I highly doubt he is going to make a switch. I wouldn't be surprised if Windows 7 was a bigger flop than Vista just because of the fact its new and Joe the user still doesn't HAVE to make the switch.

John

,Raleigh, on Apr 07, 2009 05:28 PM

Well if average Joe user now sees that he can still use his windows xp system instead of something new and different then I highly doubt he is going to make a switch. I wouldn't be surprised if Windows 7 was a bigger flop than Vista just because of the fact its new and Joe the user still doesn't HAVE to make the switch.

naveenchaudhary

,meerut, on Apr 07, 2009 04:10 PM

great news, it confirms that microsoft hadnt stop xp support or sales. good news. xp is the best and faster than vista or other, one more thing, is there any difference between vista ultimate and Windows 7 ? i did not realize any difference between both of these OSse.

Jeff

,DC, on Apr 07, 2009 05:20 PM

My experience with 7 has been good so far. It seems more stable than XP and runs a bit faster than it. The downside for a lot of users is that it has the same basic interface as Vista, and most folks hate that. Also an annoyance for me is that the beta doesn't have native FTP support working yet, the final release will, but it's still a bit annoying imo. Even with this problem I still prefer it to either XP or Vista personally.

ddmiller

,Cape Girardeau MO, on Apr 07, 2009 04:42 PM

I wonder if this has anything to do with corporations telling hardware vendors that they would love to replace their computers but don't want to new operating system.

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