Updated: July 13, 2020 (September 10, 2012)
Charts & IllustrationsWindows 7 and 8 Professional OEM Licenses Compared
The use rights and licensing rules for OEM copies of Windows Professional versions 7 and 8 are similar, but Windows 8 Professional licenses do not include the right to substitute (downgrade to) Windows XP Professional. Most midsize and large organizations acquire a Windows Professional license from an OEM when they purchase a new PC; this chart outlines the licensing terms that accompany this license.
Note that if a customer adds Software Assurance (SA) to an OEM license or purchases a Windows Professional Upgrade license through volume licensing, some of the use rights outlined here become more favorable, and additional use rights may be provided.
| Use Right or Licensing Rule | OEM Windows 8 Professional | OEM Windows 7 Professional |
| Version downgrade. Install and use prior version(s) instead of purchased version.1 | Allowed downgrades:
– Windows 7 Professional – Vista Business |
Allowed downgrades:
– Vista Business – Windows XP Professional |
| License reassignment. Move |
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