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I've deleted partitions installing Win7 over 8 - How screwed am I?
I'll try to give as much info as I can, but keep it as brief as I can. Also, I'm flippin' exhausted and can't see straight. Wish me luck...
Got a new Toshiba laptop at work today, with Win 8 pre-installed.
The laptop needed to be downgraded to 7, as that's what we are set up for at the office. So, finding it *much* less easy than I thought it would be, I turned to the internet for help. Buyer beware.
My issue: I followed the info I was given to prepare for a clean install of Win7. Before shutting down Windows 8, I changed these settings and booted from the Win7 disc:
- Launch CSM
- First boot to CD/DVD/ODD
- Disable Secure Boot
The laptop booted from Win7 disc fine and I followed the steps until I got to "Where do you want to install Windows?" The instructions I had (from multiple places) said that if was going to do a clean, plow-over-everything install, I should delete existing partitions and start from scratch, disc-space wise.
So I started deleting...
Now, it seems, I have 3 partitions left with the following options:
Disk 0 Unallocated Space - 838.0 MB
Can not be installed to this disk...GPT style.
Refresh, New and Load Driver
Disk 0 Partition 1 - 688.5 GB
Can not be installed to this disk...GPT style.
Refresh, Delete, Format, Load Driver and Extend
Disk 0 Unallocated Space - 9.4 GB
Can not be installed to this disk...GPT style.
Refresh, New and Load Driver
So Plan B:
I removed the Win 7 disc from the drive and, on reboot to the installed Win 8 OS, get this:
"For Atheros PCIE Ethernet COntroller v2.1.1.1(12/23/11)
Check cable connection!
PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel PXE ROM.
No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key"
My main question:
How do I install Windows 7 from here? Win 8 was pre-installed, which means I have no hard copies.
I don't care about anything on the computer. I don't need to save anything, so I can plow over the drives at any time.
OK - so much for keeping it short or intelligible. My eyes have been closing for the last 10 minutes. If, as you read this, the content has veered off into video games or nice chicken recipes, please forgive me. I've tried to re-read/edit, but I can't do it. I'll revisit and edit as needed in the morning.
If you have any questions or need any clarification, please forgive my omissions and don't hesitate to ask.
Any and all input is appreciated.
Thanks so much for your help.