Windows 10: Downgrading a Windows 2025 licence key

I work at a hospital, and we received a Windows Server 2025 Standard 16 core licence key from a partner as part of an order. Is there a way to downgrade this licence to Windows Server 2019? We use a program that supports only 2019 and we would like to use the 2025 key for installing a new server for it since we don't have any 2019 server keys available.

:)

 

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>

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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.

 

Reinstalling Windows 10 without a licence key

Hi,

I have a 10 year old laptop which originally was running Windows Vista. Due to the manufacturer date of the laptop, I was entitled to the free upgrade to Windows 7, which I kept until the roll-out of the Windows 10 upgrade. When my laptop upgraded to Windows
10, I did not pay for the upgrade and did not receive a licence key.

1. If I go to the Windows 10 download tool and select install with the 'keep Nothing during the upgrade' option, will I require a licence key?
   
2. Can I build the laptop from scratch if it was originally a Visa machine or will I need to step from Vista to 8.1 to 10?

Regards

Keith

 

Downgrading licence in Windows 10

Original Title: Downgrading licence

Hi guys

Looking at the replies about the downgrading licence it looks as though I might have made a mistake upgrading.Would it have the same effect if I went for Linux.

F.W.