Windows 10 - Downgrade back to 7 after 30 days

[DaveLembke]

Just wanted to share that I was surprised that I was able to downgrade back to 7 on my one computer. I recently bought a AMD FX-8300 3.3Ghz 8-core for a system that had just a Athlon II x2 215 2.7Ghz because I wanted an additional system to my AMD FX-8350, but one that was a little more power efficient and cheaper, so I got the FX-8300 for $119.99 for it.

This system was put into storage after doing the Windows 10 free upgrade from 7. I did this free upgrade about 3 months ago. I was able to swap out the Athlon II x2 215 2.7Ghz with the AMD FX-8300 x8 3.3Ghz and surprisingly it didnt break the Windows 10 activation. As well as when i had 10 running on this system i realized that... you know what.... I wil take the free upgrade to 10 on a weaker computer of mine that I will put into storage and downgrade this one back to 7.

But would it downgrade after it was upgraded to 10 and then shortly after shut down and put into storage. I booted it up and Windows 10 worked like a charm, went to system restore and saw the option to downgrade back to 7. Figured click and see if it will tell me sorry charlie too late or will it revert back to 7. Surprisingly it reverted back to 7 and quite quickly with the 90GB SSD drive and 8-core processor to process this downgrade. Just 1 reboot after reverting and 7 is running happy and FASTTTT on that 8-core with SSD.

I have a 240GB SSD that I will be putting into it and pulling the 90GB out of it after I clone the 90GB to the 240GB SSD.

Just wanted to share that it seems as though the 30-day period might not apply if the computer wasnt used for more than a specific period of time, because it sat for 3 months and it allowed the downgrade. Thinking I used Windows 10 on it for less than an hour probably. Maybe there are 2 triggers. A first trigger of it having to run for so long before the 30-day trigger applies for lockout of downgrade.

Not sure if anyone has experienced the lock out yet after 30 days and being trapped with 10 or not?   Maybe I got really lucky with this one.


Looking online I saw this neat trick to avoid the 30-day lockout, but I never went through any avoiding of the lockout, I guess whatever routine that performs the wipe of these backup files didnt trigger to dump them and thats why it still worked... http://www.thewindowsclub.com/rollback-windows-10-after-30-days

I also ran Never 10 on this system after and dumped all the Windows 10 data about 5GB. This will prevent 10 from reinstalling itself.

[Salmon Trout]

First thing I do with any machine, new or refurbished, that I become the owner of is install a good free imaging app (I'm using Macrium Reflect this year) and take an image onto an external or my NAS. When I got my current main PC, I did that as soon as I logged in the first time, so I have the Windows 7 factory install. Actually it 8.1 pre-downgraded. As I built up the install I did my usual routine weekly Saturday morning backup alternately to a second internal drive and a USB 3 external, each time deleting the oldest one. When I decided to take the Windows 10 upgrade last July, I did a pre-upgrade image. I really hate doing anything major that I can't go back from.

[patio]

Good Read...

Anyone upgrading to 10 should do this...unfortunately it's been buried.

[SuperDave]

I rolled back my notebook after more than 30 days and it didn't take any special tricks. I just hit Recovery and there it was.

[Luigi master]

I didn't know about this until 30 days was up.

[patio]

I rolled back my notebook after more than 30 days and it didn't take any special tricks. I just hit Recovery and there it was.

Depends on how early on your Win 10 was when you installed...the above scenario in my link didn't start happening til approx 5-6 months from the initial upgrade release i believe.

[Computer_Commando]

Crazier things have happened to me with Win10.

Upgraded Win7-64bit Home Premium & it automatically upgraded & activated to Pro not Home.  Supposedly, it should never have even installed Pro over Home.  Don't know how or why but it's been that way for almost a year.

Activation servers were very bad then & still have problems now; maybe why the 30-day rollback doesn't always hold true?  It could be the 30-day timer is on the activation servers & not on the local machine.  If you leave the computer on for a while, then you might not be able to roll back.

[patio]

Good point.

[Computer_Commando]

Further Evidence:
As part of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update and starting with this Insider Preview build (14371), we’re introducing the Activation Troubleshooter that will help you address most commonly encountered activation issues on Genuine Windows devices including those caused by hardware changes.
https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/06/22/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-14371-for-pc/

[patio]

Nice find...Thanx.

[DaveLembke]

We’ve received feedback from Windows Insiders who have run into activation issues on Genuine Windows devices after making changes to device hardware such as replacing a hard drive or motherboard.

Interesting.... in the past on systems that motherboards were replaced on microsoft gave me troubles with activation. I kept the same box with the license key on outside affixed to panel, the original motherboard died. I replaced motherboard and installed Windows XP Home back to system and when activating online i got message that i needed to contact microsoft. Called the number to activate Windows and talked with some guy in India. He asked questions and I answered. I think I gave too much info when I said that the motherboard died and I replaced it, as for I was told that Microsoft will not grant an activation of the windows key because the license associated on that box is associated with the CPU and Motherboard as a whole. So when the motherboard died and I replaced it, it was not allowed to have the activation. I ended up having to buy a new Windows XP Home SP2 and install fresh. I wonder of this means that they have changed their stance on motherboard swaps where its the same computer box that the OS was issued with and they are now allowing motherboard swapping. 

I have one such computer that is on Windows 7 32-bit and it refuses to upgrade to 10 because it doesnt pass the hardware compatibility test. If they would allow a motherboard swap and Windows 10 activation that would be cool, BUT I have a strong feeling they wont allow it.