I hate windows 8! How do I re-install 7 and keep programs, files etc?

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  1. Posts : 3,133
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP 1
       #11

    gregrocker said:
    You should always keep your data and the latest System image backed up externally in case of HD failure or what you have experienced.
    I totally agree with gregrocker. I have system images saved on multiple HDDs just in case one fails and being able to restore my computer has saved me much aggravation and down time.
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  2. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #12

    Windows 8 is terrible we all know that

    Didn`t you look at 8 before you installed it on your pc ?

    You didn`t make a disk image of 7 ?

    I hope you get it back to how you had it. :)
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  3.    #13

    Do you have a Win7 Pro Upgrade disk? If not its provided in the Clean Reinstall tutorial. You can install it without having Vista or XP on the HD. When you boot the installer the fact that it sees any other OS will normally alllow use of the Upgrade version key during install, even if you correctly delete all partitions to create new ones during Clean Install Windows 7 .

    However if it rejects the Upgrade key during install, skip the key and wait until after install to do the quick registry workaround given in Option Three in Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
    to activate Upgrade version with no qualifying OS on the HD.
    Last edited by gregrocker; 08 Feb 2013 at 11:26.
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  4. Posts : 64
    Windows 7 64 bit, Windows 8 32 bit.....Not too impressed so far
    Thread Starter
       #14

    Agreed.
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  5. Posts : 1,379
    Win7 Pro 32-bit, Win8 Pro 32-bit
       #15

    Huludrock said:
    I bought Windows 8 pro, installed it over Windows 7 pro, and I hate it! How do I downgrade without losing functionality of programs etc.? The upgrade was easy, but I doubt the downgrade will be. Help!!
    Did you do the in-place upgrade (where it keeps all the apps and settings)?

    IF so, you should have been left with a windows.old folder -- which you should NOW be able to use to restore your original Win7 setup.
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  6. Posts : 64
    Windows 7 64 bit, Windows 8 32 bit.....Not too impressed so far
    Thread Starter
       #16

    Yes I did but how would that make a smooth downgrade possible?
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  7. Posts : 6,830
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32-Bit & Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
       #17

    Hi Huludrock,

    Do you have a Windows.old folder inside your C:\Windows ? If so you might want to take a look here
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971760
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  8.    #18

    The downgrade path in the KB is Win7 to Vista.. Do we know for sure that this works for 8>7?

    I still advise Clean reinstalling the Seven Pro using it's key which is only no longer useable during the period that its being used to qualify for running Windows 8 Upgrade and that is being abandoned.

    Is the Seven Pro an Upgrade version itself? If so you'll need to follow the extra steps I gave earlier to Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version if no other OS is on the HD when you boot the installer, resulting in Upgrade key being rejected. If its Factory OEM then follow these steps to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. If it's full version Win7 Pro then there are no worries as it can go anywhere.
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  9. Posts : 6,830
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32-Bit & Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
       #19

    The steps in KB is the same steps from WINDOWS 8 TO WINDOWS 7 . Change the Vista disc to a Win7 disc. Windows.old is same for Windows vista and Windows 7.
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