How do I license Windows 7 Pro from Windows 8 Pro downgrade?
I have a client who purchased a new HP All-In-One that came preinstalled with Windows 8.1 Pro (no Win7 downgrade option).
Under the MS licensing terms, she is entitled to exercise the Windows downgrade rights, so she has asked me to install Windows 7 on the AIO for her.
After installing Windows 7 Pro, all of the drivers and standard software she'd use, I now need to activate the Windows 7 pro.
I've read that you can do this by using any Windows 7 Pro product key during the install and then doing the activation by phone and talking to a MS representative and explaining that I'm downgrading. But it says that I need to have the Windows 8.1 pro COA...
The problem is that the HP AIO has no COA. There is NO sticker on the computer or any accompanying documentation that displays the product key.
We are legally entitled to do this... How do I proceed?
Under the MS licensing terms, she is entitled to exercise the Windows downgrade rights, so she has asked me to install Windows 7 on the AIO for her.
After installing Windows 7 Pro, all of the drivers and standard software she'd use, I now need to activate the Windows 7 pro.
I've read that you can do this by using any Windows 7 Pro product key during the install and then doing the activation by phone and talking to a MS representative and explaining that I'm downgrading. But it says that I need to have the Windows 8.1 pro COA...
The problem is that the HP AIO has no COA. There is NO sticker on the computer or any accompanying documentation that displays the product key.
We are legally entitled to do this... How do I proceed?
ASKER
Well this and every other Windows 8/8.1 computer I have used in the past 6 months has not had the sticker (COA). So it must be embedded in the BIOS.
I will test the software you linked, but the system has already been rebuilt with Windows 7... and to do this, UEFI had to be disabled. So it may not be very successful in extracting anything.
I will test the software you linked, but the system has already been rebuilt with Windows 7... and to do this, UEFI had to be disabled. So it may not be very successful in extracting anything.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Great explanation Masq. I'll give that utility a whirl and revisit my hex to ascii conversion.
You should write an article about this so it's easier for people to find in a Google search.
You should write an article about this so it's easier for people to find in a Google search.
Let's check it works for both of us first :) !!
ASKER
I used the Microsoft OA3Tool to perform the SLIC extraction from the computer in question, but when I try to use that Key to download 8 or 8.1 ISO's it fails verification... So maybe it didn't work.
I'm going to try the same procedure on a HP laptop I installed yesterday that came with Win7pro pre-installed and has 8 pro recovery media.
There was no COA label anywhere with this system so I can only assume the SLIC is in the BIOS again and the recovery media would use a HP product key that is built into their OS image/installer as a blanket product key.
I'll let you know if I get the key from the BIOS and it works on a "test" Windows 8 pro install.
I'm going to try the same procedure on a HP laptop I installed yesterday that came with Win7pro pre-installed and has 8 pro recovery media.
There was no COA label anywhere with this system so I can only assume the SLIC is in the BIOS again and the recovery media would use a HP product key that is built into their OS image/installer as a blanket product key.
I'll let you know if I get the key from the BIOS and it works on a "test" Windows 8 pro install.
Thanks for the update - the extracted key isn't designed to work for manual activation of Win8 but it is the evidence you need for Microsoft to give you a one-time activation key for the Win 7 downgrade.
reecem27, how did you get on with Microsoft?
& BTW
https://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/Windows_8/A_13637-Where-is-my-Windows-8-Activation-Key.html
Thanks for the suggestion!
& BTW
https://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/Windows_8/A_13637-Where-is-my-Windows-8-Activation-Key.html
Thanks for the suggestion!
ASKER
Despite the very frustrating conversation with microsoft to obtain a Windows 7 Professional product key for software activation, this was the exact answer I was looking for.
Thanks again.
Nice article BTW.
Thanks again.
Nice article BTW.
ASKER
Can I just provide an update on this for you. You may wish to amend your article explaining the procedure:
Once you have the Windows 8/8.1 Pro SLIC (whether it's the OEM one from Toshiba/HP etc. extracted from the registry or the unique product key extracted from the UEFI BIOS) keep a record of this for proof of authenticity and eligibility for the Windows OEM Downgrade rights (http://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/what_to_do_downgrade_rights.aspx#fbid=00VMZRHQwDm).
Then you can install Windows 7 Pro (from an OEM DVD or USB flash drive) and use the Windows 7 Product Key that corresponds to the installer you are using to input during the installation.
Once Windows is installed, you need to perform the software activation manually by calling the Activation Center, proceeding with the usual activation steps and press the appropriate button that will connect you to a licensing technician.
Explain that you are exercising your downgrade rights and provide them with the authentic Windows 7 Pro product key. TIP: You can use the same Windows 7 Pro product key in this procedure over and over as many times as you require provided the product key isn't "blocked".
Once they validate that it is a genuine key, and you read the 9 blocks of 6 numbers, they will provide you with the corresponding activation string.
Once the activation is complete, you can breathe a sigh of relief that the software is activated according to the Microsoft Software License Terms and will be compliant with any software licensing audits performed provided you keep evidence of the original Windows 8/8.1 pro product key (or even a copy of the computer's invoice that specifies it has Windows 8/8.1 pro pre-installed).
Microsoft WILL NOT provide a downgrade product key or a Windows 7 pro product key. They will activate an existing Windows 7 Pro product key as part of fulfilling the OEM downgrade rights obligation. As I mentioned earlier - ANY Windows 7 Pro license key will be suitable as long as it matches the installer used (ie. OEM DVD = OEM Key, Retail DVD = Retail Key, Volume License = Volume License Key).
Once you have the Windows 8/8.1 Pro SLIC (whether it's the OEM one from Toshiba/HP etc. extracted from the registry or the unique product key extracted from the UEFI BIOS) keep a record of this for proof of authenticity and eligibility for the Windows OEM Downgrade rights (http://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/what_to_do_downgrade_rights.aspx#fbid=00VMZRHQwDm).
Then you can install Windows 7 Pro (from an OEM DVD or USB flash drive) and use the Windows 7 Product Key that corresponds to the installer you are using to input during the installation.
Once Windows is installed, you need to perform the software activation manually by calling the Activation Center, proceeding with the usual activation steps and press the appropriate button that will connect you to a licensing technician.
Explain that you are exercising your downgrade rights and provide them with the authentic Windows 7 Pro product key. TIP: You can use the same Windows 7 Pro product key in this procedure over and over as many times as you require provided the product key isn't "blocked".
Once they validate that it is a genuine key, and you read the 9 blocks of 6 numbers, they will provide you with the corresponding activation string.
Once the activation is complete, you can breathe a sigh of relief that the software is activated according to the Microsoft Software License Terms and will be compliant with any software licensing audits performed provided you keep evidence of the original Windows 8/8.1 pro product key (or even a copy of the computer's invoice that specifies it has Windows 8/8.1 pro pre-installed).
Microsoft WILL NOT provide a downgrade product key or a Windows 7 pro product key. They will activate an existing Windows 7 Pro product key as part of fulfilling the OEM downgrade rights obligation. As I mentioned earlier - ANY Windows 7 Pro license key will be suitable as long as it matches the installer used (ie. OEM DVD = OEM Key, Retail DVD = Retail Key, Volume License = Volume License Key).
This website gives you clues how to extract it from the bios. http://www.top-password.com/blog/how-to-recover-windows-8-oem-product-key-embedded-in-bios/