Microsoft will only allow downgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 7/Vista

Redmond, WA, United States (4E) – In a step to push Windows XP users to run the latest Microsoft operating systems, Microsoft will only allow the downgrade from Windows 8 to either Windows 7 or Vista and not XP. Only users with Professional operating systems are allowed to downgrade, such as Windows 8 Professional and Windows 7 Professional.

Three years from now, Microsoft will no longer support the 11-year old Microsoft XP operating system.

CDW technology specialist Kenny Chan stated on a Microsoft licensing professionals blog:

“So no downgrade rights to XP. Also note that the soon-to-come Office 2013 will not support XP. So we can see they are trying to strangle the life out of XP.”

Aside from Professional licenses, enterprise license agreements are also allowed to downgrade to previous versions of Microsoft’s operating system. The option to downgrade to previous OS editions became very popular after many Windows Vista users opted to revert to Windows XP because of Vista’s problems.

“What I don’t know is how long Microsoft will keep XP available for download on VLSC (Volume License Service Center) for volume licensing customers after the debut of Windows 8,” Chan added.

Microsoft reiterates that it is the customer’s responsibility to “obtain the earlier version separately.”

Downgrading from Windows 8 isn’t as simple as, say, downgrading from Windows Vista to XP. Top downgrade from Windows 8, a user must have to boot into legacy mode by changing the computer’s bios.

The first batch of Windows 8-powered computers and mobile devices will come out in October.

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