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AndrewFordWG

How to go back to Windows 7 after installed Windows 8 on my computer?

I had Windows 7 but I downloded Windows 8 (free preview) but know I want windows 7 back?

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Answer

Andre Da Costa

MVP
|
Article Author

How to restore Windows 7, Vista or Windows XP

If you have a Windows.old folder at the root of the drive where Windows 8 was installed, you could try uninstalling Windows 8 using that folder. See the follow articles for instructions. They reference Windows 7, but the same principles apply when using Windows 8:

How to uninstall Windows using the Windows.old folder:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971760

If there is no Windows.old folder there then that means you did a clean install.

If you have any critical data on the drive, try backing up manually to a external hard disk using copy and paste.

If you don't have any installation media, you can download a copy from the following link that corresponds with the edition of Windows 7 you download. You will need to have your Windows 7 product key ready to do the installation.

If Windows 7 came preinstalled on your computer, the product key should be attached to a COA sticker at the bottom of your computer (if its a laptop) or the top or side if its a desktop computer. If its a retail upgrade or full version package, check the Windows 7 package.

If you downloaded it from the Microsoft Store:

Find your Product Key if your purchased from Microsoft Store:

http://store.microsoft.com/Help/FAQ?err=t2#at2

COA Certificate of Authenticity:

http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/content.aspx?pg=coa

What is the Windows Certificate of Authenticity?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-is-the-Windows-Certificate-of-Authenticity

Windows 7 (English) with Service Pack 1

• Windows 7 Home Premium (x86) - X17-58996

• Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) - X17-58997

• Windows 7 Professional (x86) - X17-59183

• Windows 7 Professional (x64) - X17-59186

• Windows 7 Ultimate (x86)* - X17-59463

• Windows 7 Ultimate (x64)* - X17-59465

ImgBurn - In addtion to supporting the creation of CD's from .ISO files,
it supports a wide range of other image file formats, and it's free.
(BIN, CUE, DI, DVD, GI, IMG, MDS, NRG, PDI and ISO)
http://www.imgburn.com/

http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/G/Burning+ISO+Images+with+ImgBurn

Note: Always use the slowest burn speed (4x or 2x) if offered a choice.

------------------------

Boot from the Windows 7 DVD
Click Install Now
Accept License Agreement
When the option is displayed to select an installation type, click (Custom Advanced)

select the disk partition where you would like to install Windows 7 Click Next.

You will receive the following warning:

The partition you selected might contain files from a previous Windows Installation. If it does, these files and folders will be moved to a folder named Windows.old. You will be able to access the information in Windows.old, but you will be able to use your previous version of Windows.

(At all cost, do NOT click anything named Format or Delete or Partition. So even doing a custom install, your personal files are still preserved. Click OK

Setup will now start the installation. During the installation, your machine will be restarted several times.

When the installation is complete, you can complete the Out of Box experience such as selecting your laptop, create a username, password, your time zone. You can then proceed to download the latest updates for Windows and reinstall your applications and drivers.

You can then recover your personal files from the Windows.old folder and reinstall all your applications and drivers.

http://notebooks.com/2010/11/09/how-to-recover-documents-music-and-email-after-upgrading-with-the-windows-old-folder/

Best,
Andre
Windows Insider MVP
MVP-Windows and Devices for IT
twitter/adacosta
groovypost.com

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Answer

thomas ferguson

This appears on the download page for Windows 8 release preview:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/download

Important: If you decide to go back to your previous operating system, you'll need to reinstall it from the recovery or installation media that came with your PC, which is typically DVD media. If you don’t have recovery media, you might be able to create it from a recovery partition on your PC using software provided by your PC manufacturer. Check the support section of your PC manufacturer’s website for more information. After you install Windows 8, you won’t be able to use the recovery partition on your PC to go back to your previous version of Windows.

Now that you want to remove the Windows 8 OS, you will need to reinstall your previous system from backups or the original installation media.

If you want help with this process, please describe the type(s) of backups you have or the installation media used for your previous system. Also, some information of the make and model of the system would be useful.

Tom Ferguson