Can I downgrade to windows 8.1 and later upgrade again to windows 10?

shivam said:

Hello everyone :)

I am using HP 15-ab031tx notebook, and it came with windows 8.1 single language. I upgraded to windows 10 single language on 11th Feb, and though it's awesome, for now I would like to roll back to win 8.1. But I would like to upgrade again later.
Can I do that?
If yes, can I do that after July 29?

Feb 11th ?
Win 10 RTM did not come into being until July 29th, 2015.
Before that, we only had Windows Technical Previews which later renamed to Insider Previews.

Sure you have the date right ?

shivam,

As long as you actually upgraded to Windows 10 sometime after July 29, 2015, the answer to all your questions is yes.

I beg to differ.
1. The OP's first question is if it is possible to roll back to Win 8.1
Depending on how the OP defines the term " roll back".
If the OP meant using the built-in Go Back to Windows 8.1 option in the Settings, then it depends on............
If the OP had the Win 10 installed less than 30 days ago, and that the windows.old has not be deleted.
Otherwise, the OP can not roll back to Win 10 without reinstalling Win 8.1 with an installation media and a valid product key.
That is why I asked about the "Feb 11th" date.

2. The OP said " If yes, can I do that after July 29?"
I assume The OP meant after July 29th 2016.
The answer will be NO, not unless the OP is willing to purchase a Win 10 licence. There will be no more free upgrade after July 29th 2016.

davidhk said:

Feb 11th ?
Win 10 RTM did not come into being until July 29th, 2015.
Before that, we only had Windows Technical Previews which later renamed to Insider Previews.

Sure you have the date right ?

Sorry, I have edited the post

You are welcome to beg to differ.

1. You are correct. It does depend on the OP's definition of "roll back".

2. Microsoft has stated that once a device has been upgraded to Windows 10 during the free upgrade period that it would remain eligible for free upgrade for the life of that device. So you are begging to differ with Microsoft, not me.

davidhk said:

I beg to differ.
1. The OP's first question is if it is possible to roll back to Win 8.1
Depending on how the OP defines the term " roll back".
If the OP meant using the built-in Go Back to Windows 8.1 option in the Settings, then it depends on............
If the OP had the Win 10 installed less than 30 days ago, and that the windows.old has not be deleted.
Otherwise, the OP can not roll back to Win 10 without reinstalling Win 8.1 with an installation media and a valid product key.
That is why I asked about the "Feb 11th" date.

2. The OP said " If yes, can I do that after July 29?"
I assume The OP meant after July 29th 2016.
The answer will be NO, not unless the OP is willing to purchase a Win 10 licence. There will be no more free upgrade after July 29th 2016.

Thanks for the reply. That does make sense.
Yeah by rollback I meant going back within 30 days.
But then what's the use of the media creation tool? Is it just to create a media with an unlicensed copy of windows?

OK. Thank you.
In that case you can revert back to Win 8.1 provided you have not deleted the windows.old from your C drive.
Left click at Start button > left side, click Settings > select Update & Security > left side, click Recovery > right side, under Go back to Windows 8.1, click the Get started button > just follow the prompt from then on.

As to installing Windows 10 after July 29th, 2016........
My understanding is, once you go back to Windows 8.1, you are no longer considered to have Win 10 installed in the past.
If you want Win 10 again after July 29th 2016, you will have to buy a Win 10 licence.

davidhk said:

My understanding is, once you go back to Windows 8.1, you are no longer considered to have Win 10 installed in the past.
If you want Win 10 again after July 29th 2016, you will have to buy a Win 10 licence.

Your understanding is incorrect. Going back to Windows 8.1 does not erase the digital entitlement on Microsoft activation servers. On the activation page of settings -> updates & security if the computer was an upgrade, it will show the activation type as digital entitlement. The digital entitlement for Windows 10 for that computer is permanently stored on Microsoft activation servers and re-installing Windows 8 does not erase it.

NavyLCDR said:

You are welcome to beg to differ.

1. You are correct. It does depend on the OP's definition of "roll back".

2. Microsoft has stated that once a device has been upgraded to Windows 10 during the free upgrade period that it would remain eligible for free upgrade for the life of that device. So you are begging to differ with Microsoft, not me.

Thanks for the reply
That really would be so relieving if that was true!
Can you provide a link or something that confirms this? Sorry if I am asking a lot