Downgrading 7 to vista

['putertutor]

I have a customer who wants to downgrade from Windows 7 Professional to Vista Business - he is running some specific software that is incompatible with 7. I know this can be done, and is allowed under the downgrade rights, but neither he nor I has a copy of Vista Business.

Wher can I find a copy of Vista Business? I will not be using the license, as that will come from the customer, clearly. I have tried to find a copy locally with no luck (small town) and would really like to help this customer, but haven't yet found the software.

 

[johnrobert]

A technet account would be handy

 

[gikstar]

Do you have a subscription to Microsoft TechNet? I suspect that it is available there.
If you have a Vista Ultimate disk, it has all the versions on it... just put in a key for the Vista Business O/S and it will install that.
You may be able to find that version via a torrent site.

You didn't say if it's for a specific brand of computer or if an OEM is needed.

 

['putertutor]

ISO vs. original media

I don't have a technet account, and just starting out as I am, I don't have the funds to get one. Discussing the issue with a tech from a company I used to work for, he suggested I find and download an iso, which I did. Now, however I am having second thoughts, and before I complete this downgrade, I wanted to get feed back as to the appropriateness of the process, which follows:

-Download an ISO for Vista Ultimate (oem) & create the install disk
-Install Vista Ultimate over Win7 Premium
-Use Win7 key when activating (by phone most likely)

After reviewing the Windows downgrade procedures, I believe this is accurate, but I am worried about the downloaded iso. I am pretty sure that if I have a valid key for Win7, I am allowed to use that for the downgrade to vista, is that accurate? Or does the OS have to be on the original media (i.e. an original windows install disk)?

Frankly, the details of the downgrade process have me a bit twisted (they are complex, to say the least) and the last I would want is to get my customer in hot water.

 

[NETWizz]

I don't have a technet account, and just starting out as I am, I don't have the funds to get one. Discussing the issue with a tech from a company I used to work for, he suggested I find and download an iso, which I did. Now, however I am having second thoughts, and before I complete this downgrade, I wanted to get feed back as to the appropriateness of the process, which follows:

-Download an ISO for Vista Ultimate (oem) & create the install disk
-Install Vista Ultimate over Win7 Premium
-Use Win7 key when activating (by phone most likely)

After reviewing the Windows downgrade procedures, I believe this is accurate, but I am worried about the downloaded iso. I am pretty sure that if I have a valid key for Win7, I am allowed to use that for the downgrade to vista, is that accurate? Or does the OS have to be on the original media (i.e. an original windows install disk)?

Frankly, the details of the downgrade process have me a bit twisted (they are complex, to say the least) and the last I would want is to get my customer in hot water.

You can't install Vista over 7...

You can only install 7 over Vista (and if you match architecture)...


You will have to nuke and pave... You can make an image, first! <== Then you can recover directly to 7 no problem.



I see no reason why the software won't work with 7 though! What software is it? There is probably a way to make it compatible... or a shim or something.

 

['putertutor]

The downgrade rights allow 7 to be downgraded to vista or even xp...

I'd post a link to windows downgrade rights page, but I'm still a noob and it won't let me. Google "understanding downgrade rights", that's what I am referencing.

 

[cyabro]

As far as I know, if someone wants to use the downgrade rights to Vista business or xp pro, they have to own a license for that O/S.
If they can't supply you a license key to use (which can come from any other machine they own) then they can't downgrade.

 

['putertutor]

This is what is confusing to me. Some references indicate that, yes, if you want to downgrade from 7 to vista or xp, you must have a valid xp or vista license and key. Others indicate that the existing win7 license will work for the vista or xp downgraded install.

Activation, as I understand, will almost certainly require a phone call, rather than online, which is fine as it is often pretty quick and simple. At this point I have decided to image the drive (thanks netwizz) and do the downgrade. If it works, yay for me! If not, I will take it back to 7 and continue to look for a solution.

 

[angry_geek]

You're overcomplicating this. If he has 7 professional, just install XP mode. Then install his software in the VM. XP mode is a free download for 7 pro, ultimate, and enterprise.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

['putertutor]

Yes, except his request was for Vista. I suggested XP, but he declined. Then I strongly suggested xp, then he strongly declined. I saw the end of that road pretty quickly.

 

['putertutor]

UPDATE:

So I made the install disk, installed vista premium and was never asked for a key

So I ran all the updates and all went well. I even went through the os verification process as I added Office to the machine. All went well, but never a request for a key

Am I about to be arrested?!? I contacted MS and their response was that I was correct and above board, but to be honest I think they themselves get confused by their policies sometimes.

What are your thoughts? Have I violated the eula, or some other ms policy?

 

[angry_geek]

Yes, except his request was for Vista. I suggested XP, but he declined. Then I strongly suggested xp, then he strongly declined. I saw the end of that road pretty quickly.

I'm not saying to go to XP, but to install XP mode. It's a virtual machine running on top of the host environment. But it seems to be too late for that. You're not going to be arrested, but it sounds like you just installed a cracked OS.


Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

['putertutor]

Just re-read your post and misunderstood the first time through. But, yes, it was too late. I was thinking that as well, about the cracked os, so I will go back to the original 7 and try your route.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

 

[pcspek]

What a palava !

 

['putertutor]

Ok, I'll bite. What's a palava?

 

[NETWizz]

I am still not sure the application wouldn't have worked under Windows 7. What was it?

I have NEVER found something that works on Vista but not 7 except Deer Hunter.

 

['putertutor]

He is using an application called Windows Steady State. It works in Vista but not 7

 

[angry_geek]

He is using an application called Windows Steady State. It works in Vista but not 7

This is why it's important to include as much information as possible when asking for help. This leads us in an entirely different direction. He's running a kiosk or public system. There are other options besides steady state.

 

[FoolishTech]

All this mess over Steady State!!!

I believe all of the relevant functionality from Steady State can be replicated in Windows 7 without additional software.

See this MS blog post for an explanation and links to whitepapers on how to setup the various functionality.

 

['putertutor]

I am fairly certain I gave all the information needed. Yes, I am aware of the ability to use group policies and other tools to mimick steady state. Unfortunately none of these is a good fit for the scenario, which is why I didn't mention it in the first place. Perhaps that was my mistake, but I didn't want to go down this very road as a distraction.

Steady state offered a relatively intuitive interface for the end user to manipulate computer and user permissions. None of the solutions I have seen to date offer such an user friendly interface, an important requirement of my customer. He has several machines in a 'boarding school' environment and must set specific permissions for each individual student, as they will each have a different set of privileges - some may have free access to the internet, others very limited, and others none. Some may have more freedom in what programs they are allowed to run, etc. It is a fairly dynamic set up that doesn't necessarily fit well with group policies, or with other software like deep freeze, at least not with the level of knowledge he has.

In the end, my customer's request was to downgrade his machine from 7 to vista, and nothing more. I had a fairly lengthy discussion with him regarding his options, and given his budget, my desire to not have to micromanage his network, and his decent but not great knowledge of ms systems, just downgrading to vista was the best option.