While Windows 7 remains the best client for your customer, some customers may still require downgrading to earlier OS’s.

Downgrade rights for Windows 7 are an end-user right, documented in the Software License Terms that customers accept upon first running Windows software and Windows 7 end user downgrade rights will be available for approximately 18 months after the general availability of Windows 7 (April, 2011) or the release of a Windows 7 Service Pack, whichever is earlier.

Customers must:
Purchase a PC preinstalled with Windows 7.
Accept the Windows 7 Software License Terms.
Perform the downgrade or authorise an OEM to perform it.
See additional details and FAQ, by clicking here

Follow these steps to downgrade to a previous version of Windows:
1. Obtain genuine Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate and a corresponding product key.
• The media should come from a prior legally licensed version from the OEM or Retail channels.
• Additionally an end user, who is licensed separately through Microsoft Volume Licensing (VL) programs, may provide their VL media and key to their system builder to use to facilitate the downgrade on only their systems.

2. Insert Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate media in the CD drive and follow the installation instructions.

3. Type the product key.
• If the software was previously activated, you won't be able to activate it online.
• In this case, the appropriate local Activation Support phone number will be displayed.
• Call the number and explain the circumstances.
• Once it is determined that the end user has a valid Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate license, the customer service representative will provide a single-use activation code to activate the software.

4. Activate the software. OEM Versions of Windows 7 Eligible for Downgrade Only certain OEM versions of Windows 7 include downgrade rights:
• Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate include downgrade rights to Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate.
• Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate temporarily includes downgrade rights to Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, or Windows XP x64 Edition. Other OEM Windows 7 versions (for instance, Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Home Premium) do not include downgrade rights.

Should the above not be clear please
click here for more details or contact Sonja Coetzer on +264 61 387 900. sonja.coetzer@comztek.com.