Messed up Windows 10 install now cannot get Windows 7 back.

I am trying to get Windows 7 back on to my computer - Compaq Presario 5226UK.

I downloaded Windows 10 and created an ISO to install it. This was my mistake.

The situation is this - I should have done the download and install through Windows 7 and the process would have dealt with the transfer to Windows 10 an its' activation. Now I have Windows 10 that will not activate because I did not use the installer method and I can no longer get Windows 7 back.

The Windows.old file was created, but in the recovery section of Windows 10 there is no option to "Go Back to Windows 7".

I have put the HP Windows 7 Repair Disc in and tried to boot from it, but there is no option that would allow e to restore Windows 7.

Also, I have tried to get the Windows 7 ISO from Microsoft, but they tell me to contact HP when I put in the product key. There are no downloads I can find on HP.

So is there anyway to get Windows 7 back, where I can go through the proper method to install Windows 10?

Can anyone offer some advice, please.

Thanks.

PS I have discovered a Factory Image that contains to files - Program Data and Recovery. Program Date contains an .etl file, and Recovery has a log file called Reload.xml.

You can always get Windows 7 back, IF you back up the OS regularly.
I use an external disk to back up my OS weekly. I use Clonzilla-live to do this.

First I would use MiniTool partition wizard to format the hard drive.
Then take your Windows OS disk and load Windows again.
If you don't have this disk then that's what the backups are for.
Works for me. Good luck

phenix, even though what you said is correct, it doesn't help adm with his situation.

Adm, did you start the upgrade from within Windows or booted with the ISO?

Did you backup your user files (documents, pictures, audio, video, etc.)? The recovery process would most likely wipe the HDD clean.

You want to "recover" not repair. Did you create the HP recovery disks when you first got the PC? If not, there should also be a key to press during startup to invoke the recovery process (make sure of backing up the data, copy Windows.old folder to an external and also copy secondary partitions if there are). Check your HP manual for how to start recovery if you can't find out the key.

Thanks for the replies. Phenix - I do not have a back up of the OS, but I keep all personal stuff backed up on a separate hard drive. I do not have an OS disk only the Windows 7 64 Repair Disk I made when I got the computer. Usually this is enough to boot from the select Factory Reset, but this option is now greyed out.

GokAy - I did the upgrade by booting the iso. I realise that was the mistake I made and I should have gone with doing the upgrade through Windows 7. I keep my files on a separate hard drive from the OS, so they should be fine.

I created the only recovery discs I could which were the Windows Repair Disc, this boot to the HP recovery menu, where I can choose to restore or reset to factory settings.

I booted up a Linux Mint Live Disc and found that there is still a "System" partition and a "Factory" partition, but I do not know how to make use of this.

I am looking at downloading a Windows 7 iso, but cannot get one from Microsoft, they say see HP and HP do not seem provide such things outside USA or Canada.

The only options I have to choose from appears to be buy a Windows 7 and start with a fresh install or change completely to Linux. I was hoping to dual boot Windows 10 and Linux Mint.

I created the only recovery discs I could which were the Windows Repair Disc, this boot to the HP recovery menu, where I can choose to restore or reset to factory settings.

This may be what you are looking for. Try factory reset. Can you post a screenshot of it perhaps?