Windows 8 downgrade to Windows 7

quarryman

I picked up a new laptop with Windows 8 installed. I upgraded to Win 8.1.

However I'm having compatibility issues with programs that I never had on Win 7. (I know I can use the "compatibility" option for each program but I'm getting limited success). Also, the interface in Win 8 is just not my thing (and yes I know I can install classic shell etc).

So I really just want to go back to Windows 7.

Now, it used to be the case that you just needed your CD key and the CD and off you went. It seems now that Win 8 licences are locked to the PC.

If I wipe the HDD and install Windows 7, how do I get back to Windows 8 if needed?

mp22

You might be better off setting up dual boot,make a partition on your hd and install 7 onto it.

janeparker

It is better to keep both O.S. on machine. In case of non-compatible applications, you can prefer Windows 7 while rest of programs are managed on Windows 8 successfully.

Windows 8 is launched metro interface feature that makes it unique from all previous versions.

Regards:
Jane

unkel

quarryman wrote: »

I'm having compatibility issues with programs that I never had on Win 7.

Out of interest, what programs? Anything mainstream that was running fine on Windows 7 should be patched by now in the latest versions, I would have thought.

quarryman wrote: »

the interface in Win 8 is just not my thing

You said you upgraded to 8.1, so you even got the start button back. I'm running start8 on top of that (cost me €3.49) and it works a treat. Windows 8 is lighter, faster and it looks to be more stable too than Windows 7

gctest50

quarryman wrote: »

.......
If I wipe the HDD and install Windows 7, how do I get back to Windows 8 if needed?

Good news - Windows 7 will work away for months without buying it ( if you want to try it out )


Run this, it will show the licence keys of Win8 etc

( Print the results in case they get lost )

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

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Go here and download Windows 8 ( not 8.1 )

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

When you run the download thingy you'll get an option to

"Install by creating media"

It will give you the option of either USB or and .ISO file - choose whichever way you want

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Then onto Windows 7 ............

You now need to download the Windows 7 .iso

http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59465.iso <

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64 bit .iso

You can "fix" this .ISO to give you a choice of which version ( Home,Professional,Ultimate ) you want to install with :

http://code.kliu.org/misc/winisoutils/ ( or you can do it "manually" )

Once you have the download "fixed", this tool makes it easy to make a DVD or fixup a USB drive install Windows 7:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool



.

Capt'n Midnight

Reminder

As a general rule if you bought a computer with windows preinstalled then it's an OEM copy with no downgrade rights and you would have to buy a separate license for the other version of windows.


have you tried the compatiblity settings ?

quarryman

Thanks for the replies.

My issues mostly relate to older games I like to play from time to time that just have niggly problems with Win8. Some of them are resolved with the compatibility settings but others are caused by Windows 8 overlay and refusal to let some programs always sit on top.

It's just lots of little things. Googling the problem usually produces a solution on an individual game but it gets tiring when everything used to work so perfectly on Windows 7.

I'm using a 128GB SSD so partitioning and having both versions of Windows available is not really an option due to the importance of storage space.

I think I'll persevere with Win 8 a bit longer and struggle on.

danger_mouse_tm

I know you're a bit limited on space because of your ssd but if you didn't want to mess with a dual boot option (can be a bit tricky especially getting rid of it!) you might want to try and download a program called vmware player which will allow you to install multiple virtual machines inside of your windows 8 install. You might even want to experiment with the many free linux distros out there.

unkel

quarryman wrote: »

I'm using a 128GB SSD

So am I

quarryman wrote: »

so partitioning and having both versions of Windows available is not really an option

I'm currently using 33GB out of an available 111GB, so plenty of space for dual booting with W7 if I so wished

The 8.1 upgrade freed up many GB, did you check yours? You might have more space than you think

That said, I'm the first to concede that dual booting just to run some incomptabile programs is far from ideal...

Mr McBoatface

In general with OEM pc's from the bigger manufactures windows 8 has the serial number embedded in the bios . Using a program called RW everything you can retrieve that serial number see link - http://www.nextofwindows.com/how-to-retrieve-windows-8-oem-product-key-from-bios/

Just some general information here - OEM manufacture like Dell, HP etc also embed a "SLIC 2.1" entry in the bios, Windows 7 installation media can be setup to detect the SLIC 2.1 entry in the bios and automatically activate the Windows 7 during the installation. If you are an IT repair man you can create a "multibrand installation DVD" - http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/15733-Windows-7-DVD-(Multi-Brand-Multi-Edition)-Activation?. Further more on Windows 7 if you delete the "ei.cfg" file from the windows installation media you can select from the various different version of Windows 7 - http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/how-to-create-a-universal-windows-7-disc-aio-with-both-32-and-64-bit-versions.145356/

OP in you case you if you have downgrade rights but have no windows 7 media you can just install Windows 7 from the official digital river iso's - http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/digital-river/66a8439b-0d16-4b70-92f7-1c8486a46ebf. You can install either windows with your supplied windows downgrade 7 serial or you could try using the OEM cert and key suitable for your system - http://techdoors.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/activating-windows-7-oem-way/

You must of course verify that you have downgrade rights.

Capt'n Midnight

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx