How do I format Windows 8 installed drive back to Windows 7

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  1. Posts : 60
    Win 8 duals Win 7 64bit
       #1

    How do I format Windows 8 installed drive back to Windows 7


    I have made this huge mistake of installing Windows 8 Developer Preview on top Windows 7, with an .exe file. Downloaded from torrent.
    It seems it has expired and the system restarts without a prompt every 2 hours.

    I have all my files, programs and their paths, savedatas piled up in Drive D, so I'd like to format Drive C, and reinstall Windows 7. I have not made a system restore DVD the first time I opened the PC, back in Win 7. I have a Windows 7 Repair dvd, but it says it's only for Samsung computers, mine's Asus. And I have a 8 GB USB flash.

    So can I format Drive C, where Windows 8 is installed on top Windows 7, and restore Windows 7? I have an x64 system, so do you have a verified x64 "Windows 7 boot from USB and install" iso file?

    Thanks in advance.
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  2. Arc
    Posts : 35,373
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 64-bit
       #2
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  3. Posts : 1,533
    Windows 7 Professional x64 Service Pack 1
       #3

    dorruk said:
    I have made this huge mistake of installing Windows 8 Developer Preview on top Windows 7, with an .exe file. Downloaded from torrent.
    It seems it has expired and the system restarts without a prompt every 2 hours.

    I have all my files, programs and their paths, savedatas piled up in Drive D, so I'd like to format Drive C, and reinstall Windows 7. I have not made a system restore DVD the first time I opened the PC, back in Win 7. I have a Windows 7 Repair dvd, but it says it's only for Samsung computers, mine's Asus. And I have a 8 GB USB flash.

    So can I format Drive C, where Windows 8 is installed on top Windows 7, and restore Windows 7? I have an x64 system, so do you have a verified x64 "Windows 7 boot from USB and install" iso file?

    Thanks in advance.
    You will need to format the drive and install a new copy of Windows , unless you installed Windows 8 to a different partition.
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  4. Posts : 60
    Win 8 duals Win 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    windude99 said:
    You will need to format the drive and install a new copy of Windows , unless you installed Windows 8 to a different partition.
    Unfortunately it's on the same partition. I executed an update file that updates Windows 7 to Windows 8. I can format the whole drive C though, provided it won't touch the files in drive D.

    And Arc, it tells me to put the Windows 7 installation DVD in the tutorial. The deal is, where do I have the proven-to-be-working ISO file of the DVD?
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  5. Arc
    Posts : 35,373
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 64-bit
       #5

    Do you have your windows 7 license key ?
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  6. Posts : 60
    Win 8 duals Win 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Arc said:
    Do you have your windows 7 license key ?
    nope. Possible to download it externally?
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  7. Arc
    Posts : 35,373
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 64-bit
       #7

    Is it there in the COA sticker on the body of the machine ? How have you got your windows 7 initially, and how it was activated earlier ?
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  8. Posts : 60
    Win 8 duals Win 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Arc said:
    Is it there in the COA sticker on the body of the machine ? How have you got your windows 7 initially, and how it was activated earlier ?
    Yeah, found that sticker. There "is" a product key. But I don't think I can just type the key and get a Win 7 download link. So what do I do with it?

    Btw the laptop initially came with Windows 7 out of the box, I was not prompted to activate or sth. like that.
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  9. Arc
    Posts : 35,373
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 64-bit
       #9

    If it is the 25 character windows 7 product key, you can use it to activate your installation. Go to microsoft's digital river and download the appropriate version it was initially, burn it in a dvd, and follow the tutorial given earlier.
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  10. Posts : 1,533
    Windows 7 Professional x64 Service Pack 1
       #10

    Here is where you get your legal copy of Windows 7, since you have a product key: Windows 7 ISO x86 and x64 Official Direct Download Links (Ultimate, Professional and Home Premium) « My Digital Life
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