Revert Back to Windows 7 ???

BuckSkin · 08 Jun 2018

A non-techie-at-all relative has given me the task of reverting their DELL laptop from Windows 10 back to the original Windows 7 Pro.

If push comes to shove, I can wipe the HDD and clean install.

However, in nosing around before getting into so much detail/time, I found a screen that said something to the effect of

"Reset your computer"

with the choice of saving all the files or erasing them.

My question is, if I were to execute this "Reset your Computer" option, will it reset to Windows 7 or just refresh Windows 10 ?

The machine came with Windows 7 Pro and Windows 10 just sneaked in there one night while they were asleep.

SIW2 · 08 Jun 2018

It will reset to windows 10.

If the original recovery partition is still intact, you can apply the wim file from there to get win7 pro again.

If you boot this media

64 bit boot media
17514x64-v5.iso

32 bit boot media
A23x86.iso

It contains WinNtSetup ( under the start menu \install folder ). You can use that to apply the wim file. It might be called install.wim, or could be several split wims ( .swm files)

BuckSkin · 09 Jun 2018

SIW2 said:

If the original recovery partition is still intact

How do I determine that ? Look in Disk Management or where ?

The file you provided the link for, I just make a bootable CD with that, right ?

With just what little I have been blundering around in Windows 10, I can easily understand why they want it back to 7.

Thanks so much.

SIW2 · 09 Jun 2018

Yes you make a bootable cd or usb stick from the iso file Linked above.

Then you boot it. You will get a desktop - the same as you get in windows.. You can look around the drives from there ( using windows explorer - exactly the same way you do in windows ) and find the recovery partition. Somewhere on the recovery partition ( usually in a folder called "sources" ) there will a large .wim file or several .swm files.

You can apply that wim file using WinNtsetup. Then you you should just be able to reboot and go into the reimaged win7 pro. Job done.

[You probably want to format the windows partition before applying the recovery wim to it. Formatting means losing everything currently on there, so copy off any important data first]

BuckSkin · 09 Jun 2018

I downloaded the file,but have not yet made the CD as it is past my bedtime.

Curiosity getting the best of me, I did take a look in Disk Management; there are only two partitions, the C drive and a 549MB System Reserved.
There is no Recovery Partition showing like in our machines.

Does this mean that there is no recovery partition ?

You are a great help and I appreciate it.

SIW2 · 09 Jun 2018

If you don't have recov partition, you will need win 7 installation media.

You could just use the regular MS installation media and the 7 pro COA key ( should be a sticker on the machine - maybe in the battery compartment). Depending on the machine, you might need to add usb 3 and nvme drivers to the regular installation media. What is the machine model and number?

OR you can use Dell recovery media which will activate automatically provided you have the correct slic table in bios. WGC5Y_2FR1DA00_W7SP1PRO64_ENG.iso or the multiligual version G13K9_PW4KGA00_W7SP1PRO64_ROW(DL).iso ( much bigger )

Dell Windows 7 Reinstallation .iso

Dell Windows 7 Pro OEM Reinstallation Guide

BuckSkin · 11 Jun 2018

SIW2 said:

What is the machine model and number?

Thanks for the links and help !

I do have installation discs.

I will find the model info as soon as they bring me the "right" charger; I have no idea what the one they left for it fits.

In the mean time, I have been reading and saw reference that, 31 days after Windows 10 has been installed, the original Windows 7 license expires and is no longer usable.

The original Windows 7 Pro tag is inside the battery compartment; that is how I knew it was Pro.

Can you enlighten me on this expiring license business, or is it just a rumor ?

SIW2 · 11 Jun 2018

The 7 pro key in the battery compartment will work fine.

BuckSkin · 13 Jun 2018

SIW2 said:

The 7 pro key in the battery compartment will work fine.

Thanks for all of your help !!!

Windows 7 Pro is now installed.

Thanks again.