Downgrading to Windows 7

The Boke · 14 Sep 2015 at 17:21

Hi all,

I've installed a retail version of Windows 7 on a PC and upgraded to W10. The W7 product key is now allocated to W10.

If, after a few months, I decide to dump that PC can I use the original W7 retail disk and do a fresh install and use the same product key but NOT upgrade to W10 but keep it as a W7 system?

Thanks
The Boke

ED209 · 15 Sep 2015 at 09:51

you can roll back to your previous OS within 30 days of doing the upgrade but if its after this point then a clean install is required.

you can roll back to your previous OS using your windows 7 retail key.

i have done this on a netbook which i upgraded to 10, after a month it had issues so had to do a clean install back to 8.1, all activated and fine on 8.1 but then tagged for W10 use at some point if the issues are fixed

linktoinsanity · 15 Sep 2015 at 11:06

The Boke said:
Hi all,

I've installed a retail version of Windows 7 on a PC and upgraded to W10. The W7 product key is now allocated to W10.

If, after a few months, I decide to dump that PC can I use the original W7 retail disk and do a fresh install and use the same product key but NOT upgrade to W10 but keep it as a W7 system?

Thanks
The Boke

Your old Windows 7 product key should still work yes, and as long as it is a reinstall and you are not using that key with an upgraded Windows 10 installation, it will legally be fine too.

The Boke · 15 Sep 2015 at 12:13

Thanks for your responses guys.

MouthBoy · 19 Sep 2015 at 16:52

Just to add something here.

When I downgraded a laptop from Win10 to Win7 my key was locked out. I needed to contact MS who admitted to me they had an ongoing issue with this. They gave me a new key in the end as they couldnt unlock my old one. Took 2 days to resolve but apart from that no harm done.