[Plastic Nev]

A question that so far I have not seen a direct answer to.

After July29th when Windows 10 is officially released and you take up the offer to upgrade, then find you don't like it and want Windows 7. or even 8.1 back whichever way you choose to do so, will it cause problems with registration of the operating system?

 

To explain in a little more depth.

I keep a spare hard drive that has a regularly updated complete clone of my computers own hard drive for backup purposes. Under normal circumstances, should the main drive die, I just remove it and replace it with the spare holding the clone, and I am back up and running again.

 

So, let's assume I upgrade my computers hard drive to Windows 10 after July 29th. For whatever reason I don't like or want it, so I then replace the now Windows 10 holding drive and fit the spare that still contains Windows 7 as a clone in order to revert to Windows 7.

 

Because the product key, which of course is common to both the main and the spare drives, will now be registered to Microsoft as having been upgraded to Windows 10 on the Microsoft data base, what is likely to happen after changing back to Windows 7?

When the operating system is checked, as it always is during Windows updates for example, the Microsoft data base is suddenly going to see the product key, and therefore the system has reverted to Windows 7, is it going to throw spanners in the works? Or put up the "This version of Windows is not genuine" warnings or maybe other problems?

 

Edit to add, there will be quite a few people like me using a clone as backup, also many who will be using mirror images on external drives, the same question will apply whether a clone or a mirror image is used.

 

Nev.

Edited by Plastic Nev, 08 June 2015 - 07:25 AM.

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Short answer: your product key will still be valid for the original Windows version you upgraded from, but it might have to be installed on the same drive as it was originally (or Windows 10 was installed).

[Aura]

Short answer: your product key will still be valid for the original Windows version you upgraded from, but it might have to be installed on the same drive as it was originally (or Windows 10 was installed).

[Plastic Nev]

I have since found that Microsoft in their wisdom have included a roll back feature within Windows 10, more here :-

 

https://techingiteas...rom-windows-10/

 

So if it is allowable via that method, I see no reason why there should be a problem with other methods.

 

Nev.

[AlicePhoebe]

I keep backup my computers regularly too, i will backup my data and system before upgrade to windows 10. Windows 10 cannot downgrade, only to reinstall the system.  if do not like it, just restore it, then the backup data will be used

Edited by AlicePhoebe, 10 June 2015 - 02:41 AM.

[TechTorpedo]

I'm looking for a good excuse to wipe my pc clean again, so going to upgrade, and if i don't like it, time for the format scrubber!

[Chrunos]

I keep backup my computers regularly too, i will backup my data and system before upgrade to windows 10. Windows 10 cannot downgrade, only to reinstall the system.  if do not like it, just restore it, then the backup data will be it 

it never hurts to take backups. Sometimes, you will find it really helpful

[AlicePhoebe]

 

I keep backup my computers regularly too, i will backup my data and system before upgrade to windows 10. Windows 10 cannot downgrade, only to reinstall the system.  if do not like it, just restore it, then the backup data will be it 

it never hurts to take backups. Sometimes, you will find it really helpful

 

it can be downgrade http://www.cnet.com/...s-10-right-now/

There is a rollback tool Easeus System GoBack http://www.easeus.com/system-go-back/

Someone used it?

Edited by AlicePhoebe, 30 July 2015 - 09:33 PM.

[Aura]

You have 30 days after the upgrade to Windows 10 to do a "rollback" to the version of Windows you upgraded from.

[Ztruker]

You have 30 days after the upgrade to Windows 10 to do a "rollback" to the version of Windows you upgraded from.

 

Unless you run tight on disk space. Then Win 10 starts deleting stuff and one of the first to go is Windows.old which is used for Rollback. Several people have already been hit with this.

 

I'd never depend on rollback working. I always create an image backup before doing anything as major as an upgrade.

[Aura]

Windows 10 will delete the windows.old folder without confirmation? Instead of emptying the temp locations? Well this can certainly pose an issue, and I can see why.