Since the launch of Windows 7 in the final stages of 2009 uptake has been steady and significant. On the back of the positive reaction to the new Microsoft operating system’s usability and productivity –  supported by the creaking incumbent OS and capability of Windows 7 to run efficiently on legacy equipment – many organisations are planning their adoption strategies.

A degree of awareness has been created by Microsoft of the limited time frame for which customers will be able to downgrade new PC OEM installations to previous versions of Windows. To assist your planning process, the scenarios and effects are laid out below.

Interim rights and arrangements

Currently, all PCs purchased via the OEM channel with Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate currently have downgrade rights to N-2 (i.e. Windows XP) as detailed in the current Microsoft Software License Terms.

If you purchase a new device with rights to Windows 7 through an attached OEM Certificate of Authenticity you may use one of the following earlier versions:

·  Windows Vista Business,

·  Microsoft Windows XP Professional,

·  Microsoft Windows Professional x64 Edition, or

·  Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

Transition

The above Windows 7 OEM licensing terms will be amended once Microsoft release Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or 18 months after the original Windows 7 release (April 1^st 2011), whichever is earlier, after which point only allow N-1 rights on newly purchased PCs with Windows 7 OEM will be provided.  This will not impact Windows 7 OEM PCs that are purchased and downgraded prior to the new licensing terms coming into force – equipment purchased ahead of the transition can be downgraded to Windows XP Professional provided the OEM version of Windows 7 is either Professional or Ultimate.

Options

Why has Microsoft taken this action? Clearly to incentivise customers to implement Windows 7 and make use of version rights as they are acquired. For organisations which look to support a single operating system and migrate from XP to Windows 7 a choice of approaches can be taken.             

Each organisation which takes a gradual approach to implementing Windows 7 will have a requirement to manage OEM rights accordingly. Track and ensure that PCs purchased after this date are either not downgraded to a lower OS version than Vista or that Windows SA is purchased within 90 days which will provide downgrade rights to any prior version of Windows.

OEM acquisitions after the change over date can be enrolled in Software Assurance for the operating system within 90 days. Clearly upgrade costs in order to downgrade is an outlay we expect customers would logically not want to make.

The alternatives

1. Plan to migrate all new device purchases after the transition date.
2. Acquire and store hardware in advance of the transition date for fallout with the operating system of your choice.
3. Acquire Windows 7 rights through an Enterprise Desktop Enrolment (EA) and migrate in accordance with you own time scales and leverage capable hardware without the need to refresh.

Summary

• Microsoft is offering free support on XP up until 2013. After that, there will be an opportunity to purchase support on XP for an additional year.
• Purchasing new equipment with a Windows 7 OEM licence will enable to downgrade to XP until April 2011 or until such a time as Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) is released.
• Timing of the SP release is anticipated within the next 6-9months (according to latest estimates).
• The Windows 7 SP1 cut off date would be super ceded by April 2011 if the SP were to be delayed beyond that point.
• Once Windows 7 SP1 is released, you will have to purchase Software Assurance to continue to use XP. (Alternatives are downgrade to Vista, FOC, or move on to W7).
• Be sure to purchase equipment with either Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate versions in order to downgrade to Windows XP Professional.
• Be aware that Windows 7 Ultimate is the only OEM edition which provides features of Windows 7 Enterprise including Bitlocker, DirectAccess, Multi User (language) Interface and BranchCache.