Downgrade from 8 to 7

Is there an easy way to buy a desktop that has Windows 8 preinstalled, but then to downgrade to Windows 7? I see that MS has explained how to do it, but when you simply buy a Windows 8 desktop, does it come automatically with downgrade rights, or would a seprate Windows 7 license have to be purchased?

 

Wouldn't it be easier to buy a desktop PC with Windows 7 on it? That's what I did a few months ago.

 

Yes it would. I didn't realize that they are still being sold that way, although the store that I might need to purchase from doesn't have cheap models available with Win7.

 

Here's a link to some Dell Windows 7 machines.

I'm sure you can find some of these units available at places like Newegg. Mine came from Sam's Club for only $350.00 (Intel Core i3 2120 @ 3.30GHz w/4 GB of RAM) including a wide screen monitor.

 

IMO, going from W8 to W7 is an upgrade rather than a downgrade! (from an XP user!).

 

LOL!

I like 7 better myself too...even if it's only Home Premium.

 

Having just installed W8 on my new build comp and been Upgraded to W8.1, I don't know why you would want to go backwards.
I installed Classic Shell 4.0.2 which gives me W7 Start Menu. It's then much easier to learn your way round W8. Neil.

 

This computer will most likely be purchased at Costco, where the folks I'm helping shop for, like to buy their stuff. Dells are out. The last three I've bought all required significant hardware repair (granted, they were all generally low-end units).

Anyways, I use classic shell even on my Win7 laptop. I'll see if they want to use that on Widows 8, thanks for the suggestion. It is beginning to look like the selection would be much greater this way.

 

For those who don't like the W8 user interface, it may seem that way. But when it comes to security, performance, and support for the latest hardware, W8 is definitely an upgrade.

If the complaint is primarily the UI, then I recommend you check out Start8. Start8 brings back the familiar W7 Start Orb and Start Menu and lets you boot directly to the Windows Desktop instead of the new Windows 8 "Start Screen" that so many people don't like. Then W8 works and looks and feels almost exactly like the familiar W7. It cost $5 (after a 30-day trial period), but is well worth it, IMO.

See also Classic Shell. This product also brings back the Start Orb and menu, is free and very popular too. However, it has extra features and goodies that many (including myself) feel is unneeded "fluff ". And perhaps because it is a free product it does not "appear" to have the "polished feel" of Start8. That said, it works very well.

See Start8 vs. Classic Shell for a good comparison.

No doubt, W8 has a bit of a learning curve. But, if like me, you just don't like the Window 8 "Start Screen" and "tiles ", Start8 (or Classic Shell) is a much better (and cheaper) solution than "downgrading" to Windows 7.

 

PCWorld.com > Report: Windows Start menu to return in Windows 8.2

 

Glad to read all this. The more I think about it, I think I'll advocate going with Windows 8 and tweaking it, rather than downgrading.

The reason why the new computer is being purchased is because of EOL of XP; going with 8 gives this new purchase a longer lifespan.

Well thanks for the replies. I'll mark this as solved, although I'd be more than happy to read any other replies to this topic. I suppose if folks drink enough coffee they can go around and around on this....

 

I think that is good advice, especially with a new UEFI based motherboard which W8 uniquely supports.

Interesting read about 8.2. Thanks for posting that.

 

No problem. Got my finger's crossed it's more than just a rumor.

 

I agree, but since Start8 and Classic Shell work so well and are dirt cheap or free, if buying or building a new computer before 8.2, they should not hesitate to get W8 on it.

 

You do have a point there.

The public's dislike with Windows 8 has caused new computer prices to drop according to a report I read back in the summer. Maybe you can find a real steal this time of year, or maybe even a better one after the first of the year.

 

The dislike of the "forced" new and totally different UI in W8 sure didn't help PC sales. But I think the fact most everyone was still very happy with Windows 7 had/has a major role too. But the mass migration to handhelds has had a much bigger impact on the drop in PC sales than anything else.

 

No doubt about it.