Windows 10: Downgrade Win10 Pro to Home - key eligibility?

I upgraded to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 7 Pro ~5 years ago. My Windows 7 Pro key came from MSDNAA when I was in university. Since getting that Win 7 key was so long ago, I don't recall why exactly I have Pro (whether I chose it, or that was my only option).

I've seen online a method to downgrade to Windows 10 Home Edition, but I need a valid Home key.

1) Do (did) "wild card" Windows keys exist? Ie. Could my single key be usable for more than one Edition of Windows?

2) If yes, is there a way to tell?

3) Also if yes to (1), could that multi-Edition use have been lost when I upgraded to Windows 10?

submitted by /u/DarthBobLoblaw
[link] [comments]

:)

 

Product Key not valid for downgrade

The problem is Microsoft never handled it.

Downgrade rights is handled by Lenovo, etc.

This is the information I saved before Microsoft pulled it:

Here is the information about Downgrade rights. It is an old Microsoft link which they removed but the information still apples>

Device Partner Center

Downgrade rights for Windows software
The following OEM versions of Windows software are eligible for downgrade rights.

[table][tr][td]Windows 10 Pro includes downgrade rights to:

• Windows 8.1 Pro
• Windows 7 Professional

[/td][td]Windows 8.1 Pro includes downgrade rights to:

• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows Vista Business

[/td][td]Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate include downgrade rights to:

• Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, or Windows XP x64 Edition

Note Other OEM Windows 7 versions (for example, Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Home Premium) do not include downgrade rights.[/td][/tr][/table]

Note downgrade rights are only available as long as Microsoft provides support for that earlier version,
as outlined in the
Windows lifecycle fact sheet.

Steps for an end user to downgrade Windows software
To downgrade eligible Windows software, end users must:

• Purchase a PC preinstalled with Windows software.
• Accept the Microsoft Software License Terms.
• Perform the downgrade process to the eligible downgrade product using the media/key from a genuine, previously licensed OEM or retail product.

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That's why I advise you to contact Lenovo.

 

How to Windows 10 Pro OEM downgrade to Windows 7 Pro

Understanding downgrade rights
Updated 11/30/2016

Important: the information on this page is intended for system builders and the downgrade rights that apply to their customers. If you are a customer of a direct OEM, please contact your OEM for more information about downgrade rights. If
you are a direct OEM, please contact your Microsoft Account Manager.

Downgrade and down-edition rights are an end-user right that Microsoft offers to customers for certain OEM products which meet the technical requirements for a Windows software downgrade. Downgrade rights are documented in the Microsoft Software License
Terms that customers accept upon first running Windows and Windows Server software. Thanks to downgrade rights, end users who have acquired a later version of the software (such as Windows 10 Pro or Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard) can use an earlier version
of the software until they are ready to migrate to a later version technology.

If a product includes downgrade rights, the license terms for that product will indicate which earlier versions of the software may be used.

Downgrade rights will vary depending on if the software was acquired via volume licensing, OEMs, or full packaged product (FPP).

Downgrade rights for Windows software
The following OEM versions of Windows software are eligible for downgrade rights.

Windows 10 Pro includes downgrade rights to:

• Windows 8.1 Pro
• Windows 7
  
  Professional

Windows 8.1 Pro includes downgrade rights to:

• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows Vista Business

Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate include downgrade rights to:

• Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, or Windows XP x64 Edition

Note Other OEM Windows 7 versions (for example, Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Home Premium) do not include downgrade rights.

Note downgrade rights are only available as long as Microsoft provides support for that earlier version, as outlined in the
Windows lifecycle fact sheet.

Steps for an end user to downgrade Windows software

To downgrade eligible Windows software, end users must:

• Purchase a PC preinstalled with Windows software.
• Accept the Microsoft Software License Terms.
• Perform the downgrade process to the eligible downgrade product using the media/key from a genuine, previously licensed OEM or retail product.

The downgrade process

Follow these steps to downgrade to an earlier version of Windows software:

• Use genuine Windows media and a corresponding product key for the version of Windows that is eligible for downgrade. The media/key should come from a previously licensed product from the OEM or retail channel.
• End users who are licensed separately through Microsoft Volume Licensing (VL) may provide their VL media and key to a system builder to facilitate the downgrade on their own systems.
• Insert the downgrade-eligible version of Windows media and follow the installation instructions.
• Enter the product key.
• If the software was previously activated, it cannot be activated online. In this case, the appropriate local Activation Support phone number will be displayed. Call the number and explain the circumstances. When it is determined that the end user has an
  eligible Windows license, the customer service representative will provide a single-use activation code to activate the software. Please note that Microsoft does not provide a full product key in this scenario.
• Activate the software.

For scenarios involving large volume downgrades, end users are encouraged to consider VL which provides the benefits of reimaging rights and volume activation, which can make the process of downgrading much easier.

Authorizing a third party to exercise downgrade rights for an end user

Because downgrade rights apply to end users, they are not designed for third-party facilitation, which has many complications. Also, such facilitation is not suitable for carrying out on a large scale.

 

Usable Product Keys for Enterprise downgrade to Pro


Hello wetenhr, and welcome to Ten Forums.

You could downgrade to Windows 10 Pro using the generic key under step 1. You'll still be using the same version that you currently have installed, but you will be able to update to the latest version and build via Windows Update.

When it's finished downgrading, you could try to activate Windows 10 Pro with your Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate key. If unsuccessful, you may need to purchase a Windows 10 Pro key from the Store to use to activate with.