Making Headlines

Offering downgrades doesn't seem like the perfect marketing hook.

With Windows 7, Microsoft is hoping to have developed an operating system so complete and thorough that people won't want to downgrade from it.

That said, it does plan on offering users that option.

According to Ft. Lauderdale computer repair experts, downgrade rights have long been a part of the Windows license for certain versions, particularly for businesses.

That said, the option soon gained greater notoriety with Windows Vista, with which the downgrade right was not only marketed by computer makers.

As a matter of fact, as soon as Microsoft stopped selling XP, some PC makers sold Vista machines that were already "pre-downgraded" to Windows XP.

Taking things a step further, Microsoft is actually expanding that Vista downgrade rights program slightly, the company confirmed on Monday.

Under the new program, PC manufacturers will now be able to ship pre-downgraded machines based on anticipated demand for those systems.

Up until now, according to Boca Raton computer repair organizations, the manufacturers could only ship XP-downgraded machines if a particular customer specified that is what he or she had wanted.

Microsoft is also planning a similar program for Windows 7 that would allow users to go back not only to Vista, should they choose, but also to Windows XP.

Businesses throughout the U.S. with volume-licensing deals that covered Windows have been able to use earlier versions with their PCs for some time.

This marks the first mainstreaming of the process, however.

Microsoft hasn't detailed exactly how downgrade rights will work with Windows 7 - beyond confirming that users will be able to go back to XP - but presumably, rights will be attached to the Ultimate and Professional versions of Windows 7.