Windows 7 users can downgrade to XP
Microsoft and its PC partners are going to allow Windows 7 users to downgrade not just to Windows Vista, but also to Windows XP, Microsoft officials are confirming.
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6.4.2009 Downgrade from Windows Vista SP1 to XP SP3
The introduction of Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista and of Service Pack 3 for Windows XP, along with the June 30 retail and OEM availability cut-off date for XP, have generated a consistent a mount of confusion over the future of the two
Windows clients.
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6.6.2008 XP downgrade program may continue to hurt Windows 7
Most people know that come the release of Vista, most businesses chose to hang onto to Windows XP due to lacking reviews of the new OS, and the fact that XP did everything they wanted.
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17.6.2009 Microsoft caps Windows 7 to XP downgrade program at April 2011
Microsoft has kept itself quiet on details of the Windows 7 to XP downgrade program until today.
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20.6.2009 As Windows XP Deadline Looms, OEMs Turn To Vista Downgrade Rights
Microsoft (NSDQ:MSFT) may be preparing to discontinue sales of Windows XP, but some OEMs have found a way to circumvent the software giant's June 30 deadline.
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25.4.2008 Should Microsoft downgrade Vista vulnerabilities?
The man who wrote the book on Microsoft's highly rated SDL (Security Development Lifecycle) believes buffer-related security vulnerabilities found in Windows Vista should be downgraded because of back-up mitigations built into the operating system.
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12.3.2007 Microsoft sued over Vista-XP downgrade
Microsoft is under legal siege again over Vista. This time, a consumer is suing the company for using its monopoly power to force her to pay to downgrade from Vista to XP on a new laptop.
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14.2.2009 Microsoft sued over Vista-XP downgrade
Microsoft is under legal siege again over Vista. This time, a consumer is suing the company for using its monopoly power to force her to pay to downgrade from Vista to XP on a new laptop.
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17.2.2009 Microsoft offers free Vista-to-XP downgrade help
Microsoft said Monday it would offer free technical support to small businesses that buy new PCs with Windows Vista in the next three months, its latest attempt to convince users that moving to Vista is a good idea.
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10.7.2008 How to Downgrade from Windows Vista Business or Ultimate OEM Edition and Install Windows XP Professional
A lot of users still don’t getting used to Windows Vista. A lot of reviews have been labeling Windows Vista as bloated, hard to use, tons of compatibility issues, inconvenient, not user friendly, not stable and etc.
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22.8.2008 Activate Windows 7 Pre-Beta 6801 with Vista Beta or RC Product Key without Crack
Already download and install Windows 7 Pre-Beta build 6801? You probably have to leave the product key field blank during installation in order to complete the setup of Windows 7.
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1.11.2008 Windows 7 RC Brings Windows XP Mode Beta and Windows Virtual PC Beta
The Release Candidate of Windows 7 will bring with it the first Beta development milestones for Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC.
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29.4.2009 Microsoft Office 2010 Beta 2 Leaks, Public Beta Expected in November
After Microsoft announced yesterday that Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 will be sent to testers this week, more exciting news comes from the Office 2010 section.
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21.10.2009 Visual Studio 2008 Beta 2, .NET Framework 3.5 Beta 2
Visual Studio 2008 is the next generation development tool for Windows Vista, the 2007 Office system, and the Web. The Beta 2 release includes most of the products found in the Visual Studio product line. MSDN Subscribers can also download these files from
MSDN Subscriber Downloads. Thanks to pacpis for this news.
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27.7.2007 Can we have a Windows 7 beta 2 please?
I’ve been running Windows 7 beta 1 for now eight weeks and I’ve put this beta thorough a serious workout.
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21.2.2009 Windows Defender Beta 2
Overview
This release includes enhanced features that reflect ongoing input from customers, as well as Microsoft?s growing understanding of the spyware landscape.
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14.2.2006 Windows VistaBootPRO 2.0 Beta
PROnetworks announced that VistaBootPRO 2.0 Beta, the newest version of the original program developed by the PROnetworks Betas Team and the Beta Testing Forum, is now available for download. This is an update to the original VistaBootPRO 1.0 Beta. There are lots of new features and improved GUI interface. Full support for Windows Vista Beta 2 and Build 5456 has been added as well.
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15.7.2006 Safari 3.0.4 Beta for Windows
Experience the web, Apple style, with Safari: the fastest, easiest-to-use web browser in the world. With its simple, elegant interface, Safari gets out of your way and lets you enjoy the web, up to 2 times faster than Internet Explorer.
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16.11.2007 Windows 7 Beta 1 Just Around the Corner?
Microsoft has not only wrapped up the first Beta of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2, but is also close to releasing the first Beta of Windows 7.
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4.12.2008 Windows 7 beta 1 review
I’ve now had my hands on Windows 7 beta 1 build 6.1.7000.0.081212-1400 (the build that is widely expected to be made available to beta testers by Microsoft early in January) and have had some time to compose my thoughts and feelings about this latest release.
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29.12.2008 Windows 7 beta on MSDN?
Just as many are waiting for the Windows 7 beta to be announced at CES, we have a Microsoft blog saying its available on MSDN!
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8.1.2009 Windows 7 Changes Since Beta for the RC
We’ve been quite busy for the past two months or so working through all the feedback we’ve received on Windows 7.
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26.2.2009 Windows 7 Beta 1: Two Months Later
I've been running the software since Jan. 9. It's time for an update on the experience.
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9.3.2009 Windows 7, a few more changes from Beta to RC…
Building on the recent post on some changes since Beta) on some of the changes you will see in the Release Candidate.
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13.3.2009 Windows 7 Beta Is Dead
This is it! Today, August 1st, 2009 is the final expiration deadline for Build 7000, which is the first and only Beta development milestone of Windows 7.
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1.8.2009 DOWNLOAD Windows Vista Beta 1
links updated
This is Unofficial Download page of Windows Vista Beta 1. Windows Vista codename Longhorn, the next generation OS from Microsoft
This is Beta 1. Build 5112 for those inclined to such information.
Please post this on other forums and sumbit this to other news sites to help us. It will increase the traffic to the page dramatically!
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Windows Vista Beta 2 Videos
After installing Beta 2 of Microsoft's upcoming operating system, I decided to grab a few videos of the GUI in action. Read more for videos.
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Windows OneCare Beta Goes Live
Microsoft is waving goodbye to Symantec and McAfee it seems. On Tuesday, the company opened the doors to its Windows OneCare Live beta, a PC protection and maintenance service that offers an antivirus and firewall, along with tune-up and backup functionality.
Any Windows XP SP2 user can now register to download the latest beta release.
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1.12.2005 Windows Onecare Now Available for Anyone to BETA Test
So what's Windows OneCare?
It's the new antivirus, firewall and and backup solution being provided by Bill.
The BETA version is now available to everyone that speaks english
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16.12.2005 Windows Workflow Foundation Beta 1.2
Overview
Windows Workflow Foundation is the programming model, engine and tools for quickly building workflow-enabled applications on Windows. It consists of a Microsoft WinFX name space (System.Workflow), an in-process workflow engine, and designers for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005.
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16.1.2006Microsoft will allow Windows 7 downgrade to XP
After many requests and company IT departments pushing Microsoft to make Windows 7 available to downgrade not only to Windows Vista, but to Windows
XP, Microsoft has finally officially stated that the downgrade will be available if company's or users require a downgrade. The downgrade will
not only allow consumers to downgrade to Microsoft most recent predecessor, Vista, but will allow users to downgrade to Windows XP, and technically
allow users to go back to Windows 2000 or even Windows 95.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
07.04.2009Microsoft confirms Windows 7 downgrade rights
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.
Read full
story.....
neowin.net -
16.04.2009OEMs to Continue Shipping XP
If you already own an XP license and are still hesitant to switch to Vista, Microsoft's "downgrade rights" policy, which initially began to be
exercised in 2001, may be in your favor if you would still like to purchase a machine running Windows XP after the June 30, 2008 deadline when
Microsoft will stop offering the operating system. OEMs such as Dell have said that they still have no plans to stop offering XP as an option:
"Dell has the ability to exercise 'Windows Vista downgrade rights' on your behalf in the factory if your business is still reliant upon
Windows XP and you'd prefer to have Windows XP Professional preinstalled on your PCs," according to their new downgrade policy section for XP.
"Downgrade Rights means that anyone with a Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate operating system can downgrade to Windows XP
Professional provided they have the media for Windows XP Professional."
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27.04.2008Microsoft sued for charging consumers to downgrade to XP
When Windows Vista was released to market on January 30th, 2007, Microsoft gave consumers the option to downgrade to Windows XP if they were not
satisfied with the new operating system. However charging consumers $59.25 to downgrade to a different operating system has stirred some trouble
for Microsoft. A Los Angeles resident, Emma Alvarado, has filed a class action lawsuit in the US District Court of the Western District of
Washington in Seattle. The plaintiff is not demanding anything but a refund because the company charged her for downgrading her Lenovo PC from Windows
Vista to Windows XP Professional.
Read full story.....
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16.02.2009Downgrade Plan for Windows 7 PC's
Deja Vu here? Just like they did with Windows Vista, Microsoft will ship Windows 7 in OEM machines with a license that allows customers to easily
downgrade to either Windows Vista or its 8-year-old predecessor, Windows XP. This license applies to businesses who buy VLK licenses and
consumers who buy a desktop or laptop with Windows 7 pre-installed.
While giving downgrade plans has been common in Redmond in the past,
a downgrade from an operating system released in 2009/2010, to one released 8-9 years ago seems a bit crazy. However, given the skepticism that, even
to this day, with nearly 2 Service Packs RTM'ed, still surrounds Windows Vista, Microsoft was essentially forced into providing that downgrade path.
Windows XP will soon be near-obsolete - even according to Microsoft, who will be ending mainstream support tomorrow. The availability of
that downgrade path is unfortunate, due to the number of advancements that have inevitably occurred over the past 8 years. If Windows 7 holds up to
peoples' expectations, maybe they won't have to step into the time machine, and we can finally continue on, full speed ahead, into the future.
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13.04.2009Giving up on Vista? Here's how to downgrade to XP
Microsoft's decision last week to delay the end of Windows XP sales five months means users have just that much longer to jilt Vista and return to
the older -- and some say more mature -- operating system. But even with XP's reprieve, few PCs come with anything but Vista. Even if you wanted to
take advantage of the wider window of XP opportunity, you might not know where to start.
For the rest of us, just what does it take to turn back the clock? Read on for more
about the trip to Windows yesteryear.
What is a downgrade? To Microsoft, "downgrade" describes the licensing rights it grants
to older operating systems. Downgrade doesn't mean the process for rolling back Windows from Vista to XP, since there isn't such a procedure, not in
the generally accepted use of "upgrade." In an older-to-newer move, developers usually make it possible to retain all the digital detritus on the
drive, from already-installed applications and Word documents to iTunes tracks and family photos, while updating the system files. Not so in a
downgrade.
winbeta.org - 02.10.2007
Microsoft extends XP downgrade option for OEMs to 2011
Microsoft will be extending the Windows XP downgrade option until 2011. While Microsoft has threatened to halt the option on numerous occasions, it
has yet to set a date, write it in stone and actually make good on the promise. Windows XP has been the corner stone for Microsoft as Windows Vista
was largely rejected by businesses and consumers due to its initial rocky start. With Windows 7 right around the corner Microsoft will be looking to
phase out XP but still must do so in a cautious manor.
Read full story.....
neowin.net - 20.06.2009
Microsoft will allow Windows 7 users to downgrade to XP
Mary Jo Foley: Microsoft and its PC partners are going to allow Windows 7 users to downgrade not just to Windows Vista, but also to Windows XP,
Microsoft officials are confirming.
Some company watchers have been wondering about the downgrade rights
that Microsoft will offer when Windows 7 ships. When AppleInsider reported this weekend that HP was going to offer Windows 7
users the ability to downgrade to XP, I asked Microsoft about the story.
Here’s what a spokesperson representing the
company’s Windows client division told me via e-mail on April 5...
winbeta.org - 07.04.2009
Dell charging to downgrade to XP
Dell has announced that it will stop selling new computers with Windows XP from today, unless buyers spend an extra $50 to downgrade their
operating system.
Customers looking to buy models from the company’s Vostro line will be offered Vista Business as the operating
system but Dell will downgrade the system for an extra $50. Some of the company’s XPS gaming systems will also be charging for the
downgrade.
The move will raise eyebrows, since the company may be seen as trying to cash in on the unpopularity of Microsoft’s latest
operating system.
neowin.net - 19.06.2008
XP downgrade program may continue to hurt Windows 7
Most people know that come the release of Vista, most businesses chose to hang onto to Windows XP due to lacking reviews of the new OS, and the fact
that XP did everything they wanted. Of course, many plan to make the move to the upcoming Windows 7, bypassing Vista entirely, but according to
InfoWorld, this could be harder than expected.
Read full story.....
neowin.net - 17.06.2009
As WinXP Deadline Looms, OEMs Turn To Vista Downgrade Rights
Microsoft may be preparing to discontinue sales of Windows XP, but some OEMs have found a way to circumvent the software giant's June 30
deadline.
In yet another sign of the market's resistance to Windows Vista, Dell Computer, Hewlett Packard (NYSE:HPQ), and Sony on
Wednesday all confirmed plans to exercise the downgrade rights Microsoft offers with OEM versions of Windows Vista Business and Vista Ultimate in
order to continue offering XP-equipped PCs to their customers.
Downgrade rights, which Microsoft also offers to volume licensing customers,
give users the ability to roll back to the previous version of the product they're using. Downgrade rights have existed since 2001 for Windows,
but many Microsoft partners say they've been seeing a recent uptick in the number of customers exercising downgrade rights to roll Vista back to
XP Professional.
neowin.net - 25.04.2008
Source: Vista downgrade rights extended to July 2009
Never mind that Microsoft has kicked off a hyped ad campaign to convince the public to buy Windows Vista PCs, - it's also given users more time to
switch back to Windows XP.
OEMs have been given an additional six months to sell PCs running Windows Vista with the ability to
downgrade to Windows XP using an accompanying recovery disc...
winbeta.org - 03.10.2008
Vista-downgrade lawsuit revised; Microsoft now accused of price-gouging
The California woman suing Microsoft Corp. over Windows Vista's downgrade rights revised her lawsuit yesterday to focus her charges on the
requirement that users buy the most expensive versions of Vista if they want to replace that operating system with Windows XP.
winbeta.org - 08.03.2009
Microsoft to simplify downgrades from Vista to XP
Microsoft is simplifying the
processes via which its
PC-maker partners will be able
to provide "downgrade"
rights from Windows Vista to
Windows XP for their
customers.
Microsoft
will implement the first of
the policy changes for its
Gold Certified (top-tier) OEM
partners within the next
couple of weeks. The company
will streamline
downgrade-rights policies and
procedures for the broader
channel somewhat later, said
John Ball, general manager of
Microsofts U.S. Systems Group.
Under current
licensing terms, Microsoft
allows customers buying PCs
preloaded with Windows Vista
Ultimate and Vista Business to
roll back to Windows XP until
they are ready to make the
move to Vista. For OEMs, the
process via which these rights
can be activated has been
quite cumbersome, Ball
acknowledged...
winbeta.org - 28.06.2007
As Windows XP Deadline Looms, OEMs Turn To Vista Downgrade Rights
Microsoft may be preparing to discontinue sales of Windows XP, but some OEMs have found a way to circumvent the software giant's June 30 deadline.
In yet another sign of the market's resistance to Windows Vista, Dell Computer, Hewlett Packard, and Sony on Wednesday all
confirmed plans to exercise the downgrade rights Microsoft offers with OEM versions of Windows Vista Business and Vista Ultimate in order to continue
offering XP-equipped PCs to their customers.
winbeta.org - 24.04.2008
New data: 1 in 3 business PCs drop Vista for Windows XP
When Microsoft stopped selling new licenses to Windows XP on June 30, it gave users and PC makers a "downgrade" loophole so that those who wanted XP
could still get it, even though they still had to buy a Vista license.
According to data from the exo.performance.network, 35 percent of Vista-equipped PCs
have been downgraded to Windows XP. "That's way out of proportion for even the dramatically unpopular Windows Vista," says
Randall C. Kennedy, an InfoWorld contributing editor, whose company Devil Mountain Software developed the Windows Sentinel
tool and analyzes the exo.performance.network data. (More than 3,000 PCs are monitored worldwide using the tool, in both the
free InfoWorld Windows Sentinel version and in the more extensive version provided to Devil Mountain clients.)
winbeta.org - 18.08.2008
Dell triples charge to downgrade PCs to XP for $150
More than five months after Dell stopped selling its popular Inspiron line of consumer desktop and laptop PCs with Windows XP, Dell is offering the
systems with the aging operating system for a surcharge of $150 over the newer Windows Vista. It's now selling Inspiron consumer PCs with XP
for three times June's surcharge! Dell's Inspiron 1525 notebooks and 530 desktops can be ordered with Windows XP Professional pre-installed
for an extra $150, according to the company's Web site.
Read full story.....
neowin.net - 08.12.2008
Microsoft offers free Vista-to-XP downgrade help
Microsoft has said it would offer free technical support to small businesses that buy new PCs with Windows Vista in the next three months, its latest
attempt to convince users that moving to Vista is a good idea. And if those efforts are for naught, Microsoft will help those users downgrade from
Vista to Windows XP, the same maneuver several large computer makers, including Dell and Hewlett-Packard, have used in recent months to continue
offering the older operating system to buyers.
The offer, dubbed Windows Vista Small Business Assurance, is available to businesses with
fewer than 50 employees or 25 PCs, and it provides free telephone support through the end of October to companies that buy new PCs with Vista Business
or Vista Ultimate between now and Sept. 30, according to details posted on the Microsoft Web site. Only businesses buying new hardware can take
advantage of the free support; companies upgrading existing computers from, say, Windows XP, don't qualify.
neowin.net - 10.07.2008
Dell extends window for XP systems
Dell has extended the availability of systems preloaded with Windows XP, citing customer demand for the older operating system. The vendor started to
charge purchasers of certain lines to downgrade the operating system from Vista to XP last week.
However, Dell has said on its website that
XP machines will still be available in the Inspiron and XPS ranges. "We are able to offer the opportunity to purchase a Dell desktop with an OEM
Windows XP licence until 26 June at 5.59am central time," said the company. "After 26 June you have the option to purchase Windows Vista Business or
Windows Vista Ultimate with a downgrade service to Windows XP Professional.
neowin.net - 24.06.2008
Want Windows 7 Beta 1? Here's what you have to do...
PDC attendees got the Windows 7 pre-beta build, and Microsoft told them that a public beta would be available in early 2009. But you don't want to
wait until then, right? You want Beta 1, right now. Well, I can't give you that, but I can tell you how you can get your hands on a physical copy
of the Windows 7 Beta 1 DVD. You'll need $100 and a desire to visit one of the upcoming episodes of the MSDN Developer Conference (MDC).
Read full story.....
neowin.net - 04.12.2008
