Microsoft confirms Windows 7 downgrade rights

[SonsOfLiberty]

http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=571

TechARP had been constantly giving updates on the Windows 7 Downgrade Rights Program all these days. Now Microsoft has confirmed the same in a blog post, regarding Windows 7 Downgrade rights program.

Users can downgrade to Windows XP and Windows Vista from Windows 7 via OEMs for 6 months after Windows 7 General Availability. For customers and businesses running Windows XP, Microsoft still recommends an upgrade to Windows Vista before moving onto upgrading Windows 7. If the user needs to run Windows XP Professional on new PCs and if they are running Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate already, they have the automatic right to downgrade to a previous version of Windows for the life of that PC and the downgrade media may be obtained by an OEM for Windows XP for the service life of that PC (OEMs can choose to provide downgrade media).

The end user downgrade rights are available only to Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate editions and the user can downgrade to the corresponding previous versions of Windows, such as:

* Windows Vista Business
* Windows Vista Ultimate
* Windows XP Professional (both 32bit & 64bit)
* Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

And what about General Availability of Windows 7?

"We are currently in the development stages for Windows 7 and expect it will take approximately 3 years from Windows Vista Consumer GA to develop. The specific release date will be determined once Microsoft meets its quality bar for release."

:source: Source: http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/04/15/microsoft-confirms-windows-7-downgrade-rights

[Skiz]

"We are currently in the development stages for Windows 7 and expect it will take approximately 3 years from Windows Vista Consumer GA to develop. The specific release date will be determined once Microsoft meets its quality bar for release."

This was the only part that I found of interest, but I'm not even sure what it exactly means. :huh:

[SonsOfLiberty]

Their quality release won't be until Windows 7 SP1 :lol:

[Overlord]

Their quality release won't be until Windows 7 SP1 :lol:
Sad, but true.

[mbucari1]

Their quality release won't be until Windows 7 SP1 :lol:
Sad, but true.
NOT true. I've been using windows 7 for nearly 4 months starting with the 7000 build (currently using 7057), and I LOVE IT! It's Much faster and more stable that windows vista AND xp IMO. I was running Xp on this machine for 2 and a half years before win 7 (minus a few months to test drive vista) and Only stuck with it because it seemed better to me than XP. But after using 7, I'm singing it's praises. It's not even RC1 and I know I'll never go back to XP.

[SonsOfLiberty]

Are you using a activation so you can use for more than 30 days? I mean it still has the bug where it will delete stuff randomly on External Drives, it's deleted my buddies music twice now.

[mbucari1]

Are you using a activation so you can use for more than 30 days? I mean it still has the bug where it will delete stuff randomly on External Drives, it's deleted my buddies music twice now.
I'm using the serial provided with the download and it says I'm activated. I don't use external drives, but I have 5 HDD's from 3 different manufacturers and haven't had any problem with data loss / corruption. In fact, MS seems to have resolved an issue I was having in XP. While reading from or writing to my TB drive in xp, hardware interrupts would consume half my processor making the computer almost unusable. No issues like that in vista :)

[Skiz]

I'm using Windows 7. Have been for six weeks or so and am using build 7000. I also skipped using Vista completely. Never even tried it. Did a reformat from XP right into Win7.

That being said, I don't know how you can say Windows 7 is "more stable that XP". :blink:

I have a Microsoft mouse that won't even work correctly. It isn't a cheap one either, but their more (most?) expensive one - the MS Laser Mouse 8000. The movement can at times be very jittery for no apparent reason. This never happened in XP. I also cannot scroll with my mouse wheel. It's a Microsoft product ffs...

I have issues with PDF files and Reader - Reader is very iffy and Adobe has no qualms about admitting it. They've clearly stated that they do not yet support the OS. I cannot print a PDF file from IE, FF, Chrome, or Reader. I must save it and then open it in Photoshop and print from there.

The taskbar auto-hide does not work properly. Auto-hide will randomly stop hiding. If I go back into properties and reselect and reapply the settings, it will hide one time and thats it. When I bring up the taskbar again, it stays visible again. The only way to fix it is to reboot the PC.

I tried changing some icons and that was a huge mistake. Many of my icons are now invisible. Windows 7 did not include all of the icons that the final release will. Thus, when I tried to change back to the default ones, they weren't there. File folders don't even exist anymore. I worked for hours on it and finally got most of the icons back to a state that is good enough. I'm not messing with them again.

Those are just a couple of the problems I've run into. I can't recall a single problem I had in XP in all the years I used it, yet I've run into a slew of them in just a few weeks with Win7. :unsure:


@ SonsOfLiberty - The Windows 7 builds are working for more than 30 days. They expire on August 1st and go into a limited use status.

[clocker]

Don't use Adobe...try Foxit.
Free and works perfectly.

Not sure about your mouse problems.
My Logitech MX1000 is fine and the old MS wireless was too. Might try reinstalling your motherboard chipset drivers (which should have all the USB drivers).

I use a Vista Icon pack I got from somewhere.
I stuck it in C: Windows/ System 32 folder and changed several icons and use it for my Sleep and Reboot shortcuts...again, works perfectly.

You might try getting a newer version of the OS...latest available is 7077, I think.

I wouldn't say Win 7 is "more stable" than XP...I never really had problems with either.

[mbucari1]

yeah, foxit is the way to go. also, use cutepdf for printing pdf. Works flawlessly for me.

I'm using the same mouse that I bough in '99, no problems with it and win 7 :).

I don't use taskbar autohide and don't change my icons, so I haven't experienced any problems there.

But just to let you know, I was experiencing some problems with the 7000 build which were resolved when I upgraded to 7057 build. I suggest you download a newer release and upgrade. You don't haveto reformat, just extract the iso to a folder on any hd, make sure you have at least 16GB free on C:, and run setup.exe.

[Skiz]

Never heard of Foxit, so I'll give it a shot. Thanks. :smilie4:


You don't haveto reformat, just extract the iso to a folder on any hd, make sure you have at least 16GB free on C:, and run setup.exe.

Really? Doesn't that create a second install of Windows though?

[SonsOfLiberty]

I think it just over writes the newer system files and adds the updates, I assume upgrading is just like upgrading to SP1.

[tesco]

I'm using Windows 7. Have been for six weeks or so and am using build 7000. I also skipped using Vista completely. Never even tried it. Did a reformat from XP right into Win7.

That being said, I don't know how you can say Windows 7 is "more stable that XP". :blink:

I have a Microsoft mouse that won't even work correctly. It isn't a cheap one either, but their more (most?) expensive one - the MS Laser Mouse 8000. The movement can at times be very jittery for no apparent reason. This never happened in XP. I also cannot scroll with my mouse wheel. It's a Microsoft product ffs...

I have issues with PDF files and Reader - Reader is very iffy and Adobe has no qualms about admitting it. They've clearly stated that they do not yet support the OS. I cannot print a PDF file from IE, FF, Chrome, or Reader. I must save it and then open it in Photoshop and print from there.

The taskbar auto-hide does not work properly. Auto-hide will randomly stop hiding. If I go back into properties and reselect and reapply the settings, it will hide one time and thats it. When I bring up the taskbar again, it stays visible again. The only way to fix it is to reboot the PC.

I tried changing some icons and that was a huge mistake. Many of my icons are now invisible. Windows 7 did not include all of the icons that the final release will. Thus, when I tried to change back to the default ones, they weren't there. File folders don't even exist anymore. I worked for hours on it and finally got most of the icons back to a state that is good enough. I'm not messing with them again.

Those are just a couple of the problems I've run into. I can't recall a single problem I had in XP in all the years I used it, yet I've run into a slew of them in just a few weeks with Win7. :unsure:


@ SonsOfLiberty - The Windows 7 builds are working for more than 30 days. They expire on August 1st and go into a limited use status.
For your mouse you probably need to install the drivers.

Hold off on the upgrade until the RC or RTM release is leaked. That's what I'm doing. It should be soon, I think.:unsure:

Also the only problem I have with Windows7 is that when I lock the pc then log back in my programs in my taskbar disappear (ones that are 'pinned' appear to be not running, it turns back to a shortcut). I can see them all running by using alt+tab, or by minimizing the currently active window. And also when I give each window focus it reappears in the taskbar.:huh:
I had this problem with it since I first installed 32bit, then after formatting and installing the 64bit version, but I can't find anything on google about this problem.

The other thing I miss is "move" which you see when right clicking a running program in the taskbar in vista/xp/2000/etc. It was useful for finding programs that are on the second monitor (tv which is turned off).

[mbucari1]

Never heard of Foxit, so I'll give it a shot. Thanks. :smilie4:


You don't haveto reformat, just extract the iso to a folder on any hd, make sure you have at least 16GB free on C:, and run setup.exe.Really? Doesn't that create a second install of Windows though?
Nope, It overwrites the previous installation. All your settings, personal files and installed programs remain intact.

I suggest you grab a copy ASAP.
x64 http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/showthread.php?t=345468&highlight=windows

x86 http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/showthread.php?t=345252&highlight=windows

[Skiz]

I'm using Windows 7. Have been for six weeks or so and am using build 7000. I also skipped using Vista completely. Never even tried it. Did a reformat from XP right into Win7.

That being said, I don't know how you can say Windows 7 is "more stable that XP". :blink:

I have a Microsoft mouse that won't even work correctly. It isn't a cheap one either, but their more (most?) expensive one - the MS Laser Mouse 8000. The movement can at times be very jittery for no apparent reason. This never happened in XP. I also cannot scroll with my mouse wheel. It's a Microsoft product ffs...

I have issues with PDF files and Reader - Reader is very iffy and Adobe has no qualms about admitting it. They've clearly stated that they do not yet support the OS. I cannot print a PDF file from IE, FF, Chrome, or Reader. I must save it and then open it in Photoshop and print from there.

The taskbar auto-hide does not work properly. Auto-hide will randomly stop hiding. If I go back into properties and reselect and reapply the settings, it will hide one time and thats it. When I bring up the taskbar again, it stays visible again. The only way to fix it is to reboot the PC.

I tried changing some icons and that was a huge mistake. Many of my icons are now invisible. Windows 7 did not include all of the icons that the final release will. Thus, when I tried to change back to the default ones, they weren't there. File folders don't even exist anymore. I worked for hours on it and finally got most of the icons back to a state that is good enough. I'm not messing with them again.

Those are just a couple of the problems I've run into. I can't recall a single problem I had in XP in all the years I used it, yet I've run into a slew of them in just a few weeks with Win7. :unsure:


@ SonsOfLiberty - The Windows 7 builds are working for more than 30 days. They expire on August 1st and go into a limited use status.
For your mouse you probably need to install the drivers.

Hold off on the upgrade until the RC or RTM release is leaked. That's what I'm doing. It should be soon, I think.:unsure:

Also the only problem I have with Windows7 is that when I lock the pc then log back in my programs in my taskbar disappear (ones that are 'pinned' appear to be not running, it turns back to a shortcut). I can see them all running by using alt+tab, or by minimizing the currently active window. And also when I give each window focus it reappears in the taskbar.:huh:
I had this problem with it since I first installed 32bit, then after formatting and installing the 64bit version, but I can't find anything on google about this problem.

The other thing I miss is "move" which you see when right clicking a running program in the taskbar in vista/xp/2000/etc. It was useful for finding programs that are on the second monitor (tv which is turned off).

I tried letting Windows install the mouse itself but that didn't work. Afterwards, I found the drivers online on M$s website as I didn't have the disc. Everything works but the scrolling now. I'm confident they'll fix it in a future (or retail) release but as for now, it's annoying.

[tesco]

For your mouse you probably need to install the drivers.

Hold off on the upgrade until the RC or RTM release is leaked. That's what I'm doing. It should be soon, I think.:unsure:

Also the only problem I have with Windows7 is that when I lock the pc then log back in my programs in my taskbar disappear (ones that are 'pinned' appear to be not running, it turns back to a shortcut). I can see them all running by using alt+tab, or by minimizing the currently active window. And also when I give each window focus it reappears in the taskbar.:huh:
I had this problem with it since I first installed 32bit, then after formatting and installing the 64bit version, but I can't find anything on google about this problem.

The other thing I miss is "move" which you see when right clicking a running program in the taskbar in vista/xp/2000/etc. It was useful for finding programs that are on the second monitor (tv which is turned off).

I tried letting Windows install the mouse itself but that didn't work. Afterwards, I found the drivers online on M$s website as I didn't have the disc. Everything works but the scrolling now. I'm confident they'll fix it in a future (or retail) release but as for now, it's annoying.
It's a driver problem not a windows7 problem.;)

[peat moss]

Its reached escrow stage , so any day now . Escrow means once on the store self it will look like build 7077 but hopefully no bugs .


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 build 7077 RC-Escrow


Entering code escrow

“Code escrow” refers to a phase in a product’s development when additions or modifications to the project’s appearance and functionality is halted. Developers will then be tasked with eliminating bugs in the code until the team is satisfied that it can be shipped to manufacturing (RTM) to create retails discs.

Windows 7 entered its code escrow phase with build 7077. The Windows 7 that you see on shelves at the end of the year will look and function exactly as it does in build 7077, but stomping bugs and creating a polished product is more critical than ever.

[tesco]

The other thing I miss is "move" which you see when right clicking a running program in the taskbar in vista/xp/2000/etc. It was useful for finding programs that are on the second monitor (tv which is turned off).
Incase anyone is wondering I found a workaround for this.
Use Win+Shift+Left/right to move a window between monitors.
This is actually even better than 'Move'. :happy: