Reverting a messed up Windows 7 /Windows 10 PC to Windows 7

[Melissa2012B]

My old refurbed PC has been a mess since it was upgraded to Windows 10. Hardware problems.

So I need to revert it back to Windows 7 and use it as a backup PC. I've already moved everything to a newer refurbed PC with Windows 8.1.

The problem is, I don't have any system disk. It was bought refurbed and didn't come with one.

In another forum they told me how to find the old Windows 7 key and save that file ( emailed to my newer PC ) and download a 3GB Windows 7 ISO file that could be put on a disk using Free ISO Burner, and used to reset the HD to Windows 7. I did it and it failed miserably. All it does now is boot to black screens.

I'm thinking it would be a good idea if I could make a Windows 7 system disk of some kind, that could format the HD with Windows 7 and get all vestiges of 10 off there, THEN try again to reinstall 7.

Anyone know how I can do that, when all I have is an 8.1 PC now, and no 7 system disks AT ALL?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
If you have an iso of win-7 with sp1 on it you should be able to right click the iso and Burn disk image should be the top option
A dvd would be needed not a cd.

Otherwise I'd use rufus and a usb flash drive personally I believe option 2 here
USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create - Windows 7 Help Forums

Had you created a system image well before upgrading you'd be sitting pretty right now restoring 7 would be easier than falling off a log
Create Backup Image with Macrium Reflect by Britec - YouTube

 

[Melissa2012B]

Hi,
If you have an iso of win-7 with sp1 on it you should be able to right click the iso and Burn disk image should be the top option
A dvd would be needed not a cd.

Of course, that's what I've been trying it on.

Otherwise I'd use rufus and a usb flash drive personally I believe option 2 here
USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create - Windows 7 Help Forums

Had you created a system image well before upgrading you'd be sitting pretty right now restoring 7 would be easier than falling off a log
Create Backup Image with Macrium Reflect by Britec - YouTube

Oh! I actually have TWO cloned drives from the other day, in the safe. Put one on the dock and boot from it? Then just format the old HD in the PC?

 

[WinDozeUser]

I'm not sure what Microsoft's policy is about the resale of OS's, but I have two Win7SP1 Home Premium Retail versions and only have 1 Win7 System. In other words, one of them is available for use on any PC with key included. The version I could offer was purchased as a download with official key and has worked perfect for me, but no longer have a use for it. If, for whatever reason you can not get your old Win 7 key for use then message me.

If I have broken any known forum rules with this offer, please let me know!!

Bottom line, It's easy to download a version of Win7 via an authorized Microsoft site and create a USB installer from it. This is the quickest way to install the OS...until you have to download and install the 200+ updates!!!

 

[Melissa2012B]

I tried booting off the clone just now - had to set the BIOS to boot off it - but it wouldn't work. Looks like this old PC is just good and kaput.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
If it's a clone on another hdd just remove the win-10 hdd and put the clone in.
You might try to disable win-10 hibernation first in power options or using command prompt as admin
Enable or Disable Hibernate in Windows 10 Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

 

[Melissa2012B]

It's a clone of an upgraded to Windows 10 HD that I want to use to format the old HD from Windows 10 to Windows 7. Not gonna work?

It's acting like the BIOS is messed up, but I cant fathom why it would be. It was working fine until I tried this DVD ISO thing, to install Windows 7 over Windows 10.

 

[Melissa2012B]

Hi,
If you have an iso of win-7 with sp1 on it you should be able to right click the iso and Burn disk image should be the top option

OK, I just tried it this way too. It came up into a Windows install screen, then started flickering and flashing and showing vertical striped mess screens. So either the BIOS is messed up, or the video driver or video card.

It was doing this when it had the wrong video driver for Windows 10, and Windows 10 kept updating to the wrong one.

The ISO was found and downloaded using Windows ISO Downloader, and picking Windows 7 SP1 64 bit.

Wait! THIS may be the problem! When I looked at the reg codes on the original HD, it said Original Edition: Windows 7 HomePremium OEM:COA

SO by picking the Windows 7 SP1 ISO, I was apparently picking the WRONG one. There's an option for the OEM COA!

 

[johnhoh]

It came up into a Windows install screen, then started flickering and flashing and showing vertical striped mess screens. So either the BIOS is messed up, or the video driver or video card. It was doing this when it had the wrong video driver for Windows 10, and Windows 10 kept updating to the wrong one.

These symptoms suggest your video card is bad. Do you have another video card you can use, or do you have onboard motherboard video? If so I would remove the video card and use onboard video.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Try this little utility to see what iso's it comes up with
Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool

 

[Melissa2012B]

I'm wondering if it needs to be a DVD-RW so it can also be written back and forth to and from?

No...I cant even get the BIOS to come up right. The PC is kaput. Thanks everyone.