Does the Windows 7 Downgrader tool still work?

Foxhack

Limp Gawd
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Feb 27, 2012
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I recently got a legit copy of Windows 7 Pro, which I plan to use to downgrade my current Windows 7 Ultimate install. While there's nothing wrong with Ultimate, it has a ton of features I don't need, and the only thing I need Pro for is Windows XP mode.

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with the tool mentioned in this blog post (which was also mentioned in a thread at Microsoft's forums.) The post is from four years ago, so I don't know if it's still possible to do this.

The download page for the tool also mentions that I have to use a version of the install discs that matches my current OS service pack - in this case, SP1. If that's true, then where can I download it? Does Microsoft offer an ISO download with the service pack already installed?

And don't worry, I plan to make a complete restorable backup of my main system drive before attempting this. I don't want to end up bricking my system. (I have OEM Acronis True Image 2015, I'll just clone my system drive to my old SSD.)

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
 
I don't understand why you'd honestly waste the time with a downgrade but that's me personally - upgrades are bad enough, I can't even begin to get into what could go wrong with a downgrade so my default advice applies here: make the necessary backups as required, image the system drive as it stands so you can do a restore if needed, but when it comes to Windows 7 Pro, just do a clean install unless you absolutely no bullshit simply don't have any other choice. I get that some folks have software they either a) can't replace or b) don't have the installers for anymore or c) have serial numbers and registration keys of some kind that they may not have around anymore so that could prevent reinstallation of something as well but, seriously I would never dream of a downgrade - it's clean installs or nothing for me but that's my position on the matter. :)

As for the Windows 7 Pro SP1 ISO yes, you can get it following the instructions in this post I made recently:

Have to reinstall Windows 10.. where to get iso?

I just tested that method again and it still works, I see the Windows 7 Pro SP1 ISO for direct download after pushing that Javascript code into the console on the page when loaded.

The downgrade tool in question isn't an official Microsoft product, but you already know that, and I've seen some horror stories from years past of people that used it and ended up with borked installations and they eventually gave up trying to fix the issues created by the use of it and did clean installs. I'm not saying that'll be the case in your attempt, I'm simply stating that a clean install is pretty much the recommended course of action unless as stated you really have no alternative but to do this makeshift downgrade process.
 
Please forgive me, but are you going from a pirated Windows 7 Ultimate edition to legit 7 Pro? It sounds like it based on your description.

If that's the case you absolutely want to clean install. Those cracked versions come with a bunch of crap needed to activate. Clearing that all out is a good idea.
 
I don't understand why you'd honestly waste the time with a downgrade but that's me personally - upgrades are bad enough, I can't even begin to get into what could go wrong with a downgrade so my default advice applies here: make the necessary backups as required, image the system drive as it stands so you can do a restore if needed, but when it comes to Windows 7 Pro, just do a clean install unless you absolutely no bullshit simply don't have any other choice. I get that some folks have software they either a) can't replace or b) don't have the installers for anymore or c) have serial numbers and registration keys of some kind that they may not have around anymore so that could prevent reinstallation of something as well but, seriously I would never dream of a downgrade - it's clean installs or nothing for me but that's my position on the matter. :)

As for the Windows 7 Pro SP1 ISO yes, you can get it following the instructions in this post I made recently:

Have to reinstall Windows 10.. where to get iso?

I just tested that method again and it still works, I see the Windows 7 Pro SP1 ISO for direct download after pushing that Javascript code into the console on the page when loaded.

The downgrade tool in question isn't an official Microsoft product, but you already know that, and I've seen some horror stories from years past of people that used it and ended up with borked installations and they eventually gave up trying to fix the issues created by the use of it and did clean installs. I'm not saying that'll be the case in your attempt, I'm simply stating that a clean install is pretty much the recommended course of action unless as stated you really have no alternative but to do this makeshift downgrade process.

I understand. Thank you for that link and your comments. I'll be sure to make a backup of my current system before trying this.

I would go for a clean install but I have lots of stuff on this OS partition that I can't back up to reinstall at the moment. The last time I did a clean install, I had lots of issues with file permissions, and I need to be sure that won't be a problem next time. I WILL do a clean install in the future, once I have a week to sort out all installed software, photos, saved data, and so on, but I can't do it right now.

Please forgive me, but are you going from a pirated Windows 7 Ultimate edition to legit 7 Pro? It sounds like it based on your description.

If that's the case you absolutely want to clean install. Those cracked versions come with a bunch of crap needed to activate. Clearing that all out is a good idea.

No, it's not cracked! I actually bought my current OS here from janas19, back in 2012! The OS is 100% legit. I planned to sell my uninstalled 7 Ultimate after I got a replacement OS and everything worked fine. I would never pirate Windows because of the reasons you stated. I'm not smart enough to deal with all those things.

You're absolutely right in asking me this. If my OS WAS cracked I'd do a clean install. I did that for a buddy who had a PC with a cracked Windows XP for years, I got him a legit OS and installed it for him (and then I got him 7.) I don't deal with cracked OSes, ever. It's too risky.

Thanks to both of you. :)
 
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