Question: Can I install Windows 7 on my Windows 10 Home PC?

[arcticfox345]

Hello, everyone! This is my first post on Windows Seven forums, and will probably be my most lengthy post.

Like the title suggests, I was wondering if it is at all possible to install a windows 7 operating system on my windows 10 computer. If this is is possible I would also like to ask what I would need to do in order to complete this process. Here is a list of some additional questions if the transition from windows 10 home to windows 7 is indeed possible:

1. Do I need to backup my files somehow before transitioning? (Whether that be on an external hard drive or on a USB?)

2. I have heard that Microsoft is no longer updating windows 7 in terms of security updates and similar processes. What should I do to keep everything safe in terms of an antivirus to have etc?

3. Will doing this transition between operating systems damage my computer?

Other than that, I'd really appreciate any other information/advice you guys have to offer regarding this situation. I'm somewhat new to the world of operating systems and computers and the like, so my apologies if this isn't the format, and I apologize as well for the lengthy post.

Look forward to hearing from you all!

 

[Bree]

Welcome to Seven Forums @arcticfox345


Your specs say that you have a 7th gen Intel i5-7400. That may be a problem for running Windows 7.

Windows 10 is the only Windows version that is supported on the following processor generations:

• Intel seventh (7th)-generation processors...

No Windows Updates in Windows 7 and 8 if CPU not Supported



others may be able to offer a workaround, if there is one.

Whatever the case, you'd need to do a clean install of W7, so it's essential to back up all your files first.

 

[AK6DN]

Hello, everyone! This is my first post on Windows Seven forums, and will probably be my most lengthy post.

Like the title suggests, I was wondering if it is at all possible to install a windows 7 operating system on my windows 10 computer. If this is is possible I would also like to ask what I would need to do in order to complete this process. Here is a list of some additional questions if the transition from windows 10 home to windows 7 is indeed possible:

1. Do I need to backup my files somehow before transitioning? (Whether that be on an external hard drive or on a USB?)

2. I have heard that Microsoft is no longer updating windows 7 in terms of security updates and similar processes. What should I do to keep everything safe in terms of an antivirus to have etc?

3. Will doing this transition between operating systems damage my computer?

Other than that, I'd really appreciate any other information/advice you guys have to offer regarding this situation. I'm somewhat new to the world of operating systems and computers and the like, so my apologies if this isn't the format, and I apologize as well for the lengthy post.

Look forward to hearing from you all!

Why do you want Windows 7? Is it the user interface, or some other reason?

I updated from Windows 7 to Windows 10 reluctantly. I wanted to stay with Win 7 because I liked the user interface, and was not interested in the Win 10 version.

That being said, if you stay with Win 10 and install OpenShell (previously known as ClassicShell) from:
GitHub - Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu: Classic Shell Reborn.
you can make your Win 10 system look pretty much like Win 7 from a desktop point of view.

I'm pretty happy now using Win 10 with OpenShell and it is truly an acceptable replacement for Win 7.

 

[arcticfox345]

Welcome to Seven Forums @arcticfox345


Your specs say that you have a 7th gen Intel i5-7400. That may be a problem for running Windows 7.

No Windows Updates in Windows 7 and 8 if CPU not Supported



others may be able to offer a workaround, if there is one.

Whatever the case, you'd need to do a clean install of W7, so it's essential to back up all your files first.

Why is that a problem exactly? Sorry I'm just unfamiliar with how PC stuff works. I'm still newish to all of this. Thank you so much for the reply as well.

 

[arcticfox345]

Why do you want Windows 7? Is it the user interface, or some other reason?

I updated from Windows 7 to Windows 10 reluctantly. I wanted to stay with Win 7 because I liked the user interface, and was not interested in the Win 10 version.

That being said, if you stay with Win 10 and install OpenShell (previously known as ClassicShell) from:
GitHub - Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu: Classic Shell Reborn.
you can make your Win 10 system look pretty much like Win 7 from a desktop point of view.

I'm pretty happy now using Win 10 with OpenShell and it is truly an acceptable replacement for Win 7.

I would say it's a multitude of things. It always seemed smoother in my opinion. Obviously the glassy textures and display look nice but I never wanted to Windows 10 in the first place. So ideally if I'm able to go back then I'd love to.

 

[arcticfox345]

Welcome to Seven Forums @arcticfox345


Your specs say that you have a 7th gen Intel i5-7400. That may be a problem for running Windows 7.

No Windows Updates in Windows 7 and 8 if CPU not Supported



others may be able to offer a workaround, if there is one.

Whatever the case, you'd need to do a clean install of W7, so it's essential to back up all your files first.

Thanks for the reply. And how is my processor a problem? I'm not very familiar with computers to a fault so any info you can give is appreciated. Also if I do this what's the best way to back up my files?

 

[AK6DN]

I would say it's a multitude of things. It always seemed smoother in my opinion. Obviously the glassy textures and display look nice but I never wanted to Windows 10 in the first place. So ideally if I'm able to go back then I'd love to.

Not a very compelling answer. Going back to Win 7 on new hardware may or may not be easily doable.
There are possibly processor and chipset driver issues; legacy Win 7 drivers may not exist for your hardware.

If you have an older legacy Win 7 system you can keep using it (that is what I do for a desktop and laptop I have, for old software compatibility reasons). But these were systems that originally shipped with Win 7.

Personally I would say, unless you are really computer savvy (and you say you are not) I would stay with Win 10 and uses tools like ClassicShell/OpenShell, etc to make Win 10 look passably close to Win 7.

Lots of good threads over on the Win 10 forum on how to make Win 10 look like Win 7.

 

[Barman58]

One other potential issue is that you will need a valid Windows 7 Licence, ( even though the software is no longer supported the validity checks when you go on line are still in place), there are still a number of sources on line for the installer though a lot of these may turn out to be fakes or worse.

If you have a suitable previous "Retail" licence that you are no longer using then this may be reused, but licences that came with an OEM computer or laptop cannot be used on another system.

There are links on this forum to safe locations to download the installer but you must be careful if you need to purchase a licence online, I would estimate that more than 90% of advertised copies of Windows 7 Licences online for sale are not legitimate, look for major software companies or local "Mom & Pop Stores" that may have "New, old Stock" on the shelves. Of course the prices of good legitimate copies of Windows 7 are not cheap They are quite rare now and as with everything its a supply and demand market, as the rarity increases so does the price

The issue of the processors, and also many other items of hardware, is that Microsoft and other manufacturers no longer supply the driver and support software to work with Windows 7 as mentioned above

 

[SIW2]

You will need a win7 license.

Oem machines such as dell t3620 or the optiplex 7050 or hp z240 etc that run 7th gen cpu come with win7 license. If you don't have a valid slic table in bios for win7, you would need to purchase a license.

MS introduced an artificial block in windows updates for gen 7 and newer, which is easily bypassed typically using wufuc or wuacpufix. Or run simplix which does that for you if necessary. You might have to use something like Snappy Driver Installer to find drivers

 

[Megahertz07]

If you have a Win 7 Retail license you can use on your Alienware Aurora R6. If you don't have a Win 7 Retail license it is very unlikely you will find a reliable seller. Don't buy Win 7 Retail license on eBay. Great chances you'll loose money.

You will have to follow this steps.
- Make a disk image of your current drive - OR - buy a small SSD (120G) to install Win 7 (recommended)
- Create a Win 7 installation drive with added SATA, USB3.x and NVMe drivers using Update your Win 7 installation media
- Detach all other drives leaving on only the target drive.
- Boot from the Win 7 installation drive and install Win 7.
- Update using Simplix

 

[arcticfox345]

Not a very compelling answer. Going back to Win 7 on new hardware may or may not be easily doable.
There are possibly processor and chipset driver issues; legacy Win 7 drivers may not exist for your hardware.

If you have an older legacy Win 7 system you can keep using it (that is what I do for a desktop and laptop I have, for old software compatibility reasons). But these were systems that originally shipped with Win 7.

Personally I would say, unless you are really computer savvy (and you say you are not) I would stay with Win 10 and uses tools like ClassicShell/OpenShell, etc to make Win 10 look passably close to Win 7.

Lots of good threads over on the Win 10 forum on how to make Win 10 look like Win 7.

Sorry for my response, honestly I wasn't really sure how to answer it. I just prefer the OS over all. Honestly if it's at all possible to make this OS transition I would do it. I've tried classic shell once, it didn't really work for me, and would honestly just like to have the windows 7 os. Sorry again for sounding stupid.

 

[arcticfox345]

If you have a Win 7 Retail license you can use on your Alienware Aurora R6. If you don't have a Win 7 Retail license it is very unlikely you will find a reliable seller. Don't buy Win 7 Retail license on eBay. Great chances you'll loose money.

You will have to follow this steps.
- Make a disk image of your current drive - OR - buy a small SSD (120G) to install Win 7 (recommended)
- Create a Win 7 installation drive with added SATA, USB3.x and NVMe drivers using Update your Win 7 installation media
- Detach all other drives leaving on only the target drive.
- Boot from the Win 7 installation drive and install Win 7.
- Update using Simplix

Thanks for the reply, this helped a lot. Unfortunately, I do not have a license for windows 7 as far as I know. Are there any sites to purchase them?

 

[arcticfox345]

You will need a win7 license.

Oem machines such as dell t3620 or the optiplex 7050 or hp z240 etc that run 7th gen cpu come with win7 license. If you don't have a valid slic table in bios for win7, you would need to purchase a license.

MS introduced an artificial block in windows updates for gen 7 and newer, which is easily bypassed typically using wufuc or wuacpufix. Or run simplix which does that for you if necessary. You might have to use something like Snappy Driver Installer to find drivers

Thanks for the reply. What exactly is an oem machine (I'm not super PC savy). And is there a way to see if I do have a windows 7 license? I'm just a little confused.

 

[SIW2]

OEM machines come prebuilt by the usual names. acer, asus, dell, lenovo, etc.

That is different from buying the motherboard yourself and then adding your own purchased case, cpu, ram and so on.

There is a kind of in between where companies will do the build for you from a list of suggested components, places like palicomp and others do it. Though that is usually for desktops.



Many oem machines come with tables in the bios that are used to activate win7/8/10.

For win7 it needs to be slic 2.1 table. You probably don't have it on that particular machine.

You can check by using rweverything. Download – RWEverything

click access > acpi then you should get a row of tabs

if there is a SLIC tab click it and scroll down to see if it is version 2.1

If there is an MSDM tab that will be for win8/10 activation.

This one has MSDM which contains the win8 key but no SLIC table . Some machines have both.

 

[arcticfox345]

I don't believe I have a license for windows 7 as far as I know. Is there still a way to purchase one? Honestly if I'm able to get windows 7 I would do anything I could.

 

[arcticfox345]

OEM machines come prebuilt by the usual names. acer, asus, dell, lenovo, etc.

That is different from buying the motherboard yourself and then adding your own purchased case, cpu, ram and so on.

There is a kind of in between where companies will do the build for you from a list of suggested components, places like palicomp and others do it. Though that is usually for desktops.



Many oem machines come with tables in the bios that are used to activate win7/8/10.

For win7 it needs to be slic 2.1 table. You probably don't have it on that particular machine.

You can check by using rweverything. Download – RWEverything

click access > acpi then you should get a row of tabs

if there is a SLIC tab click it and scroll down to see if it is version 2.1

If there is an MSDM tab that will be for win8/10 activation.

This one has MSDM which contains the win8 key but no SLIC table . Some machines have both.


View attachment 413075

Thanks so much for the kind reply. I will take a look at this know. But just to clarify, if there is a SLIC tab and it is 2.1, then I could get windows 7, and if there isn't a SLIC tab then I can't? I just want to make sure. This is super interesting and kind of cool to look at.

 

[SIW2]

If I was your situation I would install win7 using the 30 day grace period. Then see if you can track down drivers and get evrything working.

If you are happy with it, only then buy a license. It is not impossible there might be some insurmountable difficulty with win7 on that particular machine.

Plenty of people have got win7 running great on more recent machines with 8th gen cpus for example , but that doesn't necessarily mean your machine will work fine with it.

 

[SIW2]

Thanks so much for the kind reply. I will take a look at this know. But just to clarify, if there is a SLIC tab and it is 2.1, then I could get windows 7, and if there isn't a SLIC tab then I can't? I just want to make sure. This is super interesting and kind of cool to look at.

It means that if there is slic 2.1 that machine is already entitled to use win7 . You don't need to buy another license.

The absence of the slic table means you need to get a win 7 license from somewhere. Not necessarily immediately because you can run win7 without a license for 30 days.

For example I know the dell 7050 micro with 7th gen cpu came out in early 2017 and it has slic 2.1. table. But that doesn't mean your machine has it.

 

[arcticfox345]

If I was your situation I would install win7 using the 300 day grace period. Then see if you can track down drivers and get evrything working.

If you are happy with it, only then buy a license. It is not impossible there might be some insurmountable difficulty with win7 on that particular machine.

Plenty of people have got win7 running great on more recent machines with 8th gen cpus for example , but that doesn't necessarily mean your machine will work fine with it.

Thank you so much. I just checked. I do not sadly have a SLIC 2.0. Just the MSDM like your machine. I apologize again for the amount of questions, I just want to make sure I understand this. I'd like to take that advice of installing it with the grace period, but how can I go about doing that? Do I just get the windows 7 iso file or something similar? And where could I find the proper drivers for windows 7? I really appreciate your help, since I'm new to a lot of this.

 

[SIW2]

Do I just get the windows 7 iso file

Skip entering the product key during installation. Tick where it says "skip".

You might need to add some drivers to the installation media first for that machine.

You could use this which has the most likely drivers needed for installation for most things.
Update your Win 7 installation media

In addition, find out what your network cards is so hopefully can find win7 drivers for that which can be included