HP - no downgrade to W8 - my shorts (again)

16k_zx81 · Aug 27, 2013

Yeah so a lot of you guys will be all over this and not Im pretending to have any monopoly on knowledge but we just got our asses burned with a business customer.

Advised them to go pick up a machine from a local dealer (an hp) and we would downgrade it to w7 for them.

Got the machine today. They need it by 2pm. HP advise they do not support downgrading.

Not sure to what extent this applies to their desktop machines, but they are now officially off my xmas card list.

Stupid, HP. Really, just a plain dumb policy from a 'service' standpoint.

You may go eat my shorts. (join the line)

I mean, WTF? Exactly how many customers would want to stick with W8?

nlinecomputers · Aug 27, 2013

How is this any different then any other OEM? Downgrading is something the END USER does not the OEM. I don't think any of them will support anything other the then OS they shipped. Doesn't stop you from downgrading.

Edit. Forgot that Lenovo has several systems that are predowngraded to Windows 7.

cyabro · Aug 27, 2013

You mean downgrade to Windows 7?

Is the machine they got a Windows 8 Pro machine or just Windows 8?

You can only downgrade a Windows 8 Pro machine, using the downgrade rights from Microsoft.

BillMoney · Aug 27, 2013

if you want to downgrade to windows 7 get a Lenovo. Lenovo has win 7 drivers on their website for most win 8 machines

nlinecomputers · Aug 27, 2013

BillMoney said:
if you want to downgrade to windows 7 get a Lenovo. Lenovo has win 7 drivers on their website for most win 8 machines

Lenovo has pre downgraded systems. Ship with Windows 8 and Windows 7.

cyabro · Aug 27, 2013

nlinecomputers said:
Lenovo has pre downgraded systems. Ship with Windows 8 and Windows 7.

So do HP, here in New Zealand anyway.

SAG · Aug 27, 2013

BillMoney said:
if you want to downgrade to windows 7 get a Lenovo. Lenovo has win 7 drivers on their website for most win 8 machines

You can also order them (for the most part) with Windows 7 pre-installed instead of Windows 8.
I placed a decent order a few weeks back with my Lenovo supplier and had all 12 of them set with Windows 7.

brandonkick · Aug 27, 2013

You should be able to downgrade win 8 pro on any system, by using call Microsoft and giving them the installation/hardware (forget what it's called) ID out of your current windows 8 install.

They will give you a one time use windows 7 activation key which is different from a regular windows 7 key.

The only question will be if there are functioning windows 7 drivers out there for your hardware.

BillMoney · Aug 28, 2013

brandonkick said:
You should be able to downgrade win 8 pro on any system, by using call Microsoft and giving them the installation/hardware (forget what it's called) ID out of your current windows 8 install.

They will give you a one time use windows 7 activation key which is different from a regular windows 7 key.

The only question will be if there are functioning windows 7 drivers out there for your hardware.

This is only for Windows 8 Pro! Windows 8 Core does not have a free downgrade.

And yes Lenovo has pre downgraded but if you bought a win 8 machine already and want to downgrade it a month later, they have the drivers available easily. I have done this for a few customers.

16k_zx81 · Aug 28, 2013

BillMoney said:
This is only for Windows 8 Pro! Windows 8 Core does not have a free downgrade.

And yes Lenovo has pre downgraded but if you bought a win 8 machine already and want to downgrade it a month later, they have the drivers available easily. I have done this for a few customers.

Lenovo=1
HP=0

"DV x000 series"

Your Honor, members of the Jury, I rest my case.

AlphaCS · Aug 28, 2013

Just throw start8 on it and be done.

BillMoney · Aug 28, 2013

16k_zx81 said:
Lenovo=1
HP=0

"DV x000 series"

Your Honor, members of the Jury, I rest my case.

Does HP get the death penalty yet?

16k_zx81 · Aug 28, 2013

AlphaCS said:
Just throw start8 on it and be done.

Yeah but that doesnt get rid of the interface-previously-known-as-metro which I think is the aspect that primarily makes people want to drive over their computer with a tank.

If could just ditch that altogether it would be a lot more useable with a start menu instead.

GEGeek · Aug 28, 2013

Has anyone tried installing Classic Shell on these Windows 8 machines?
Gives the look and feel of Windows 7. Might be the easy way out of all these situations.
Maintains driver integrity and no need to purchase Win7 OS.
Classic Shell Just a thought.

nlinecomputers · Aug 28, 2013

16k_zx81 said:
Yeah but that doesnt get rid of the interface-previously-known-as-metro which I think is the aspect that primarily makes people want to drive over their computer with a tank.

If could just ditch that altogether it would be a lot more useable with a start menu instead.

Start8 and Startisback both can be set so that they never show the Metro interface. You can turn off charms and basically never see it again. Might have to change a few default file associations to better Windows programs.

AndyM · Aug 28, 2013

Slightly off topic, but I was running Windows 8 on my home PC, which I won in a competition. Had nothing but problems with it. Every month, it would fail to boot due to system corruption. "Upgraded" it to Windows 8.1 Pro Preview. Not only is it more stable (I've had no issues at all!), but I can set it to boot directly to the desktop. If a customer should ask me about the Metro interface, I will just tell them that its a full screen "Start Menu" that Microsoft has implemented.

Note that I am not brave enough to implement Windows 8 on my works PC's.. NO WAY!!

Andy

brandonkick · Aug 29, 2013

BillMoney said:
This is only for Windows 8 Pro! Windows 8 Core does not have a free downgrade.

And yes Lenovo has pre downgraded but if you bought a win 8 machine already and want to downgrade it a month later, they have the drivers available easily. I have done this for a few customers.

I know that. I assumed I guess that this machine did have windows 8 pro and that HP was just being asses about it.

AlphaCS said:
Just throw start8 on it and be done.

Although in reality this IS an effective solution, most won't agree to it/with it.

16k_zx81 said:
Yeah but that doesnt get rid of the interface-previously-known-as-metro which I think is the aspect that primarily makes people want to drive over their computer with a tank.

If could just ditch that altogether it would be a lot more useable with a start menu instead.

Actually that is exactly what StartW8 and StartisBack do.

I've been using it for months upon months now with no issues.

rsarceno · Aug 30, 2013

You should visit the site more often

Someone posted this before which save my butt!

reesk92 · Sep 2, 2013

cyabro said:
You mean downgrade to Windows 7?

Is the machine they got a Windows 8 Pro machine or just Windows 8?

You can only downgrade a Windows 8 Pro machine, using the downgrade rights from Microsoft.

you have to pay extra for pro to go down to something thats techically lower than 8 pro at what point does it become cheaper to just buy a win 7 license and just do it manually

johnrobert · Sep 3, 2013

I put StartisBack on every win8 computer that crosses my path without asking owner, nobody has ever complained.

I hate Win8 with a passion

HP - no downgrade to W8 - my shorts (again)

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