Downgrade 8.1 Pro to 7 Ultimate (not Pro)

[DarthMan]

Hi.I am currently running Windows 8.1 PRO on my main PC and 7 on another.I'd like to downgrade my Windows 8.1 Pro to 7 ultimate and keep all apps , files , settings just everything witouth having to re-install.I don't rly hate the Windows 8.1 menu as I got used to Win 8.0 menu in like 30 mins to 1 hour.I learned fast , but the new OS gave me problems , especially driver problems after a recent update of nVidia GT 220 video driver.I did system restore points and reinstalled an older version and after many tries , I fixed the dwm.exe problem.Basically dwm.exe from system32 couldn't start , so the taskbar was white and metro screen didn't work.I couldn't even connect to my network because it is metro based.I had to use rasphone.exe to do it.
So is there a way I can install 7 ultimate in this way?
I don't want to greet any more problems like this and also Win7 is much better designed for desktop.There's also an app which doesn't run on 8.1/8 but does on 7 and it has the aero glass that I love and missed because of 8.

 

[DarthMan]

8.0 worked perfectly.I never had problems with it.The problems started after upgrading to 8.1 and I heard that a lot of people got problems with the new OS after upgrrading or even by doing a fresh install and remove all apps.

 

[Computer0304]

One problem is that you can't downgrade 8.1 pro to ultimate because Microsoft's eula saids that 8.1 pro could only downgrade to Win7 Professional. If you already have the media, your other choices are to either dual boot or do a completely clean install. You could keep docs, pictures, videos, and music to a usb drive and do a clean install but apps and settings cannot be kept. If dual booting, you can carry over settings one by one but you will have to reinstall apps like you have to do if doing a clean install.

 

[DarthMan]

I knew that u can't downgrade 8.1 Pro to 7 Ultimate , but I heard that it is possible to use some software to be able to downgrade and eep all files.Maybe that was just a joke.BTW I also noticed that when I boot Windows 7 the install takes about 30 to 45 mintues max , while when booting the Windows 8.1 disc from bios it takes 10 mintues jsut to load and both os'es are 64 bit.I think I'll copy everything to another hdd.I currently have 3 hard disks , 1 of about 1 terra partitioned in 3 , one of ~ 120 GB unpartitioned and 1 of ~ 250GB partitioned in 2 hard disks.
BTW I considered downgrading to Windows 7 Pro , as I have an original licence of Win 8.1 , but they did not offer disks for Win 7 Pro not they did offer licences for any edition of 7.The first day a new os comes , they drop support for an old 1.Ex is when 8.1 came they dropped support for * I mean they didn't offer disks and licences for 8 anymore.I've got the licence for free from school , but u are forced to upgrade to the latest version of Mcrosoft Windows when the licence expires.When my auncle bought XP a long time ago , the licence he got was lifetime and u didn't have to renew it like in these days so I had no problems with the OS he gave me when downloading genuiune products.

 

[theog]

Is this a OEM manufacturer's PC with Pre-installed Windows 8 Pro?

 

[DarthMan]

No.I've got the licence for free from school.
I upgraded my ram and Windows is still actoivated so 100% it is not OEM.

 

[gregrocker]

Do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which steps will help you prepare for, execute and maintain a perfect Win7 install based on what's worked best here for tens of thousands of happy users.

Note that you'll want to delete all partitions during the booted install so back up everything.

You can also shrink 8 to install Win7 to a dual Boot but I've done this repeatedly on all of my machines and never go back to Win8 so why bother?

 

[Kari]

Hi.I am currently running Windows 8.1 PRO on my main PC and 7 on another.I'd like to downgrade my Windows 8.1 Pro to 7 ultimate and keep all apps , files , settings just everything witouth having to re-install.

One thing is for sure: you cannot keep your installed software when downgrading. Not a single app or program, so in any case you need to reinstall all software after downgrading.

A clean install as Greg suggested in previous post is your best shot.

 

[Computer0304]

Do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which steps will help you prepare for, execute and maintain a perfect Win7 install based on what's worked best here for tens of thousands of happy users.

Note that you'll want to delete all partitions during the booted install so back up everything.

You can also shrink 8 to install Win7 to a dual Boot but I've done this repeatedly on all of my machines and never go back to Win8 so why bother?

Hi.I am currently running Windows 8.1 PRO on my main PC and 7 on another.I'd like to downgrade my Windows 8.1 Pro to 7 ultimate and keep all apps , files , settings just everything witouth having to re-install.

One thing is for sure: you cannot keep your installed software when downgrading. Not a single app or program, so in any case you need to reinstall all software after downgrading.

A clean install as Greg suggested in previous post is your best shot.

Hey thats what i said. But it's okay. No hard feelings.

 

[gregrocker]

Members here feel free to repeat others suggestions to give them heft, perhaps add helpful tutorial links they've collected and other suggestions. This kind of thoroughness via teamwork is one of the reasons we have become the top tech forums in history.

 

[Computer0304]

Members here feel free to repeat others suggestions to give them heft, perhaps add helpful tutorial links they've collected and other suggestions. This kind of thoroughness via teamwork is one of the reasons we have become the top tech forums in history.

Ok i understand