If I buy windows 7 will I be able to downgrade from Windows 8.1?

You don't actually "downgrade", but rather perform a clean install of Windows 7 if you have, or can find a legitimate copy of the Windows 7 version you need. They're hard to find at this point. Windows 7 will only have Security support for another 5+ years. You will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 from July 29th. 2015 through July 29th. 2016 if you currently have Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 . This is a free upgrade to the Windows 10 version, from the Windows version you are running in 7, 8 and 8.1 .

Yes. But there’s no downgrading exactly. You would overwrite Windows 8.1 with 7.

But there’s little reason to buy 7 with Windows 10 coming out July 29th. If you’re having trouble with 8.1 I suggest installing a free start menu like Classic Shell.

http://www.classicshell.net/

Upgrade for free to Windows 10 when it’s released then you can get rid of Classic Shell since 10 will have a start menu.

Yes but rather pointless at this time because windows 10 is released next month. All windows 7 and 8 users can upgrade for free as MS are looking to move away from 7&8 as best they can (Hence no windows 9)

Only if you buy a copy of Windows 7 separately.

If you buy the Win 7 setup discs, you can keep both, just make a partition on you C: drive.

yes

no