Computer won't boot properly after reverting from Windows 10

[PJR]

Hello. The problem is with my parents' computer. Their computer was upgraded some time ago from XP to Windows 7 (it can still boot into XP if needs be). They recently agreed to me upgrading it to Windows 10, but didn't like it, and wanted me to return it to Windows 7. This was within the 30-day period, so that option was taken. However, the reversion to Windows 7 failed. Part way through the boot process, it will fail by simply starting the reboot over again.

It CAN boot into safe mode, including with networks. And I've used msconfig to turn on and off about every option I can find, but I can't find out what is stopping it booting properly.

I've tried the option for it to repair itself, but to no avail (it can't find anything wrong). They couldn't find (probably never had) their Windows 7 installation disk, but I've downloaded the iso from Microsoft, burnt it to a DVD, and tried using that to repair it, but still no good (just to be clear, I haven't tried a fresh installation). I have managed to get their printer working in safe mode.

In order to retain their settings, I really don't want to have to do a fresh installation. I'd rather find out what's wrong and fix it.

How can I find out what's causing the problem so that I can fix it?

 

[PimpleMaze]

I also wonder why windows 7 is broken after downgrading from windows 10.. guess microsoft isn't too happy about people downgrading. i tried it several times, even on clean installs of windows 7, but it never downgraded without major errors and driver issues. one more reason i never installed windows 10 on any important system.
I guess your best bet to get rid of the windows 10 residue is to do a clean install of windows 7, after you backed up every importand file and program data.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello and welcome PJR mate check this out first http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html but I personally am of the opinion you will need to do a clean install because it smacks of 10 remnants being left behind and I always do a wipe of the drive not just a format before installing an OS.

Having said that my preference is to clone the original drive and use the clone for whatever you are going to try with the system ie a dual boot upgrading etc and if it fails then you just swap out the clone and replace the original drive back in but that is just me.

Now just what settings are you referring to on that machine?? or do you mean data?

 

[Megahertz07]

As I understood it is booting Win 7 on safe mode and can also boot Win XP.
First of all, boot Win 7 on safe mode and backup all the user data.
Try to open device manager to see if a driver is missing. Win 7 must be using a Win 10 drive, that's why it doesn't boot normally.
Do you have the Win 7 key?
You can also try to "upgrade" to same Win 7 installation. Boot on safe mode and launch the Win 7 installation setup. Choose install - update and it will reinstall win 7 and will keep all installed programs and user data.

 

[PimpleMaze]

You can also try to "upgrade" to same Win 7 installation. Boot on safe mode and launch the Win 7 installation setup. Choose install - update and it will reinstall win 7 and will keep all installed programs and user data.

you can't do an upgrade from safe mode

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I agree with Megahertz but personally I would be sticking in a new drive and if you have the key get an ISO for the version of Windows you have and just clean install it then transfer any data over from the old drive. It goes before saying only have the new drive in when you do that.

The ISO can be got from here Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool <no bloatware and you only need to make a bootable DVD (I prefer a disk) or USB stick.

 

[Megahertz07]

I'm a great fan of Clean Install.
You can learn a lot trying to fix a installed Windows:
- How difficult it can be to fix simple things as Windows Update that don't work.
- At the end, you're going to find out that you spent much more time to fix it than if you did a clean install.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I'm a great fan of Clean Install.
You can learn a lot trying to fix a installed Windows:
- How difficult it can be to fix simple things as Windows Update that don't work.
- At the end, you're going to find out that you spent much more time to fix it than if you did a clean install.

Me too frankly the whole issue around updates right now has me wondering what is going on because if you were to research any updates that were not particularly clear you can spend a lot of time tearing your hair out and frankly I have better things to do.
Any data can be retrieved after the install from the drive the OS was originally on.

 

[PimpleMaze]

I'm a great fan of Clean Install.
You can learn a lot trying to fix a installed Windows:
- How difficult it can be to fix simple things as Windows Update that don't work.
- At the end, you're going to find out that you spent much more time to fix it than if you did a clean install.

I've never seen a clean install of windows without a bunch of errors in event log.
fixing those, plus tweaking windows to my liking, installing all my programs and preferences, restoring backups, getting everything updated and the way i had it running before, can take me a week or more.
and there are still the usual files and settings that i forgot to include in a simple backup, so i end up restoring full backups to get ,for example my firefox passwords, back again, make new backups, install again... ...

(--I need Internet Explorer to upgrade windows update, but IE (7?) on a fresh install is outdated, you have to update IE through windows update first... lol. bless Mozilla for firefox portable..)

i would only recommend a clean install as a last resort. after a major infection, or fcked up registry, (or in this case, with probably a lot of driver and registry issues).
Finding a fixes for issues requires a bit of learning, and a lot of time, but saves you a lot of trouble.
keep the clean install for the big spring cleaning. but always keep good backups!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Myself only because I can afford it after a clean nstall and th updates are pretty well finished clone the drive to a smaller one thne just keep imaging. Then it is only a matter of swapping out the wrecked OS and straing with the clone and gettting the data onto it form the messed up drive.

 

[torchwood]

Id install the OS on C,
run everything else on D, back up D then copy it across after the clean install.

On a further point, IE will be taken out as a pre-requisite to install updates shortly, alledgedly this month.


Roy

 

[Layback Bear]

I just did a Clean Install of Windows 7.

I.E. 8 would not upgrade to I.E. 10 or 11.
I could not get Windows 7 Updates with I.E. 8.
Using I.E. 8 I downloaded Firefox and use it to download I.E. 11.
Installing I.E. 11 was one of the steps I had to do to get Windows 7 updates to work properly.

I don't know if this helps everybody but it did help me.

Jack