Downgrading windows 7 to vista

[adam28]

Hi there, quick question. Basically I'm having all sorts of problems with blue screens and stop errors on starting up my system (bought as windows 7) and it seems it might be a driver problem.
Ideally I would re-install windows 7 but I don't have the disc for this, I do however have an old vista disk.
My question is if I were to boot from CD and install vista, if it were to actually work and get me onto the system, does it wipe clean the hard drive? As there are many photos and such on there I would like to keep.
Thanks for any help, Adam.

 

[gregrocker]

Vista is history. Best to sort the Win7 problems here or find a Win7 DVD to clean reinstall with the Product key on COA sticker: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

First use these steps to upload your blue screen bugcheck report to our Crashes forum where the real geniuses reside: http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

They will help get the issues resolved quickly. For any further issues, post up a new thread in General forum and we'll help you knock that down next.

 

[theog]

Can you post your specs.

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/22550-filling-out-system-specs.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/6936-dont-know-what-hardware-you-have.html
VistaForums SysInfo Tool - Vista Forums

 

[adam28]

I did attempt to post on there but got no real responses, there has been however many that are very similar to mine but after trying a few things I got nowhere and now I cant even get past the login screen to try anything which is why I thought a re-install might be the only option.

 

[theog]

If you have a External HD, you could copy & paste your data.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

 

[adam28]

If you have a External HD, you could copy & paste your data.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

This is brilliant, very handy, thankyou!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello adam28, welcome to Seven Forums!



Here's some interesting info you may find useful and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save; if you can find an exact Windows version that the PC shipped with you can do a clean install using the activation key on the COA sticker attached to the PC though it may require a robo-call to MS to sort the OEM batch-key.

How to Activate Windows 7 by Phone


If you can't find an exact same version, you could use the info in this tutorial to create an "all Versions" installer of any version Windows installer, to install using the same method I posted above.

Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create


After you have made backups of everything you care to save, the best method is to do a complete wipe (secure erase) of the entire Hard Disk Drive first, it over-writes everything, all the old Windows code including all the old drivers/programs, giving you the best possible space to install Windows to.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation