Windows 7 turned into Windows 8, how did it do it?

Windows 8 did not install itself.

And you very well could have clicked on the executable of the windows 8 iso, but it gives a warning before unzipping it. So it could have been possible, however unlikely you didn`t realize what was happening.

I may have overlooked something obvious but... why not force a restart in Safe Mode from msconfig, much easier than hitting the required function key at exactly the right time - it will take effect on next restart.

pjd

This might very well be a case for a re-install, but I'm not sure that the issue defines the issue.

I have Windows 7 on my computer.
I took some Windows updates the other day
I did not see anything saying "Windows 8"
The next time I started my computer I saw the boot screen coming up looking like Windows 8 (blue square instead of colored squares).
Then I noticed my desktop icons (google chromes) had lost their color and were now plain white.
I managed to search online to find out how to make them colored again, however next boot they were plain white again.
Then I tried rebooting and attempted hitting F8 to go into Advanced Boot Options and nothing happened.
I eventually ended up in "msconfig" and noticed my operating system (and there was only one choice) was Windows 8.
So I searched how to get into Advanced Boot Options in Windows 8 and found that F8 does not work for this operating system, which verifies that I have Windows 8.
This apparently from I understand is what happens with Windows 8. BUT my computer boots up in Windows 7.
Question 1: How the hell did my computer go to Windows 8
Question 2: Can I reverse this? (I tried doing system restore to 3 days before this happened and it did not work)
Question 3: Is my only option to reinstall Windows 7? (I am pretty sure it is)

Sure, lots of things point to Windows 8, except you boot to Windows 7.

This sounds more like malware than a magical upgrade.

There is another thread with the same symptoms, I'll look for it later.

First, a few suggestions. If one has already been offered, please excuse the duplication (I must have missed it).

Try a restore point going back to a time before the suspect Windows update (that wasn't the cause, but it's a good timeframe reference).
See System Restore (it sounds more ominous than it is - think restore points)
Also pay attention to Step 7 - lots of people miss that important information.

If that doesn't cure what ails ya...

Run a few quick malware scans just to make sure there isn't anything lurking.

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free (click here to download, select the free version)
"Save as" the install package to your Desktop
Double click the mbam-setup file on your desktop to install and run Malwarebytes (Mbam)

Answer YES to all authorization prompts and then follow the Mbam setup prompts.
Do not make any changes to default settings.
When the install is finished, verify that only the following two options have checkmarks,
change to match if necessary.
[a] Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware
[a] Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware

Make sure that there is NOT a checkmark next to:
[..] Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware PRO

Then click the Finish button.

Allow Mbam to update, then
Select Perform Quick Scan from the options on the Scanner tab, then
Click the Scan button.

After the scan is complete
Click on Show Results
A window displaying any detected malware is shown
Select all malware (make sure all objects are ticked [a]), then
Click on Remove Selected

The Mbam report file pops up in your text editor when Mbam has completed the removal process.

Select all of the text in the report (Ctrl+A) and paste the text in a new post on this thread.

   Note

If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you are asked to restart the computer.
The restart is REQUIRED to allow Mbam to complete the removal of the malware.
Failure to restart means that the malware is still present on your machine.

You want to restart in Normal mode, not in Safe mode.

---

AdwCleaner is a two step process. Scan then Clean

Step 1: Download and Scan

Click here to download AdwCleaner (author: Xplode)
>> save the application to your Desktop.

• Right-click AdwCleaner.exe on your Desktop and select Run As Administrator to run the scanner with full privilege rights.
  AdwCleaner is a standalone executable, there is no install.
  
• Click on the Scan button.
  >> AdwCleaner begins scanning your system. It might take some time to complete, be patient
  
• When the scan has finished, click on the Report button
  >> the AdwCleaner log: AdwCleaner[R#].txt is opened in your default Text editor.
  [R#] gets incremented every time you run AdwCleaner - the highest number is the most recent.
  
• Look through the log for any recognizable entries - don't worry about other details in the log.
  i.e. I use Textpad on my system and AdwCleaner flags it as a possilbe threat because I configured Textpad to replace Notepad. AdwCleaner says "Hey, that's not quite right - you should take a look a this - did you make this change"
  
• Paste the entire AdwCleaner log in your next post.
  AdwCleaner logs are located in the C:\AdwCleaner folder if you need to reference them again.

Advanced System Care is unneeded garbage, get rid of it

Not one person I know here uses it or endorses it.

Thanks for the feedback re system restore.

Advanced SystemCare Ultimate sounds like a good idea.... but the 'tools' inside are of questionable value on Win7.

I only recommend a few tools outside of what windows offers - too many cause more harm than good, especially Registry Cleaners or Tweakers (CCleaner is the only such tool and I very carefully guide members on using the registry part of it, if I suggest that at all).

Most of these utilities are throwbacks to previous releases of Windows (XP and previous). Windows 7 is a more robust OS - applying old tweaks to a newer OS is akin to putting bald tires on a new car.

I'm so against the use of these so-called 'utilities' that I recommend that you uninstall Advanced SystemCare Ultimate 7 and I'll ask if you have any other similar 'tools' installed.

There are numerous on-demand malware scanners available - AdwCleaner is one of the best, along with Malwarebytes. Each has it's own strengths and one might find something another does not.

So no.... they are not the same. Please run AdwCleaner and report the findings. If after this scan and possibly one more, the only option left would be either a repair install or a clean install. Other members might have other suggestions or opinions on a final solution.

Let's see if there's something on your system first, if it can be removed/repaired and go from there, ok?

Bill
.

Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware that, and common sense on the net and you should be good.

Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Protect, Detect & Remove Malware From Your PC