Solved How do i get back windows 7 when i updated to windows 8

[pokomo123]

How do i get back windows 7 home premium 64bit(i think) when i updated to windows 8 consumer preview?? i have a sony vaio and ive tried to download the windows 7 iso to a usb and setup it but it just says No device drivers were found.Make sure that the installation media contains the correct drivers, and then click ok. now i boot it up with the regular hard drive and it goes to vaio care rescue. I tried to use it but when it is saving data and i dont have enough time i have a project due in 2 days but the projects on that computer and the rescue takes 3 days please help

 

[gregrocker]

If you did an in-place Upgrade to Win8 then your files should be there to back up now. If you did a Custom install it may have placed a windows.old folder in the C drive root where you can find and copy out your files.

The error is almost always a bad installer. Follow these steps exactly to Clean Reinstall Windows 7 Factory OEM, using the installer with SP1 ISO provided to write to stick with Universal USB Installer with WIn7 in dropdown menu.

Boot the installer from the Sony F2 BIOS Boot Menu key and follow the steps given.

 

[pokomo123]

what if i cant get out of vaio care rescue(like i cant goto my homescreen/desktop)

 

[gregrocker]

Did you do the Upgrade install where your programs, files and everything remained in place, or did you do the Custom Install which installs the OS fresh and which may have placed your files in C:/Windows.old folder if the installer was not booted?

If you cannot now get into Win8 to get to your files then you can copy them out to external using the Win7 DVD or flash stick installer with this method: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console , or use free Paragon rescue disk to recover data . You may have to only rescue the files you absolutely need to save time.

Once you have your files you can try running Vaio Recovery to see if it will run, or boot the Win7 installer to Clean Reinstall Windows 7 Factory OEM .

I gave you the ISO links for the official Win7 installer with SP1 to burn to DVD or write to flash stick and the tool to do it with. You might have to use another machine to do this, then boot the DVD/Stick to clean reinstall following the steps I gave you.

 

[pokomo123]

im pretty sure it was the custom install because i did see a windows.old and a windows.BLT or something like that

 

[gregrocker]

Only an in-place Upgrade install keeps your files, programs, etc in place so that they might be able to be rescued. Did you see these files while in Win8?

If you ran a Custom install then it might have put the files in a c:/windows.old folder where you can find them by browsing in Win8 or from the Win7 installer or Repair CD I linked earlier.

I don't know why Vaio Recovery said it would take 3 days to Recover. Did it recognize your files and say they could be copied out?

 

[pokomo123]

i dont think i could get out of vaio care and i can choose but it would still take 3 days no matter how much things i take for my rescue. I prefer to try to copying out my files one of the disks methods you gave me. i think that would work more but the thing is i cant escape out of vaio care to my desktop

 

[gregrocker]

If you did not run an in-place Upgrade but instead ran a Custom Install which didn't archive your files in c:/windows.old folder then your files are most likely overwritten.

It is reckless not to back up your files before an Install, in-place Upgrade or Repair.

Shut down the computer by holding the Power button in. Reboot with Win7 installer in the drive and boot it using the Sony F2 key to reinstall. You can browse around for your files before reinstalling.

Or you can run Startup Repair from System Recovery Options to try to start Win8 to copy out your files.

 

[pokomo123]

but how would i get my files back before reinstall

 

[gregrocker]

Did you see your files when booted into Win8? DId Vaio Recovery show you your files and say it could copy them out for you before running Factory Recovery?

Again, if you did an in-place Upgrade your files would all be where they were before. But if you did a Custom install they are overwritten if they were not placed in c:/windows.old folder.

You can browse in to see using the WIn7 DVD/Flash stick installer, Win7 REpair CD, or Paragon Rescue CD I linked earlier. But to copy them out you need another HD, external HD or big enough flash drive. Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

Did you have your files backed up anywhere else before running Win8 install?

 

[pokomo123]

no i did not see the files and yes the rescue says that it can but im not sure if it runs factory recovery. and no i did not have any other place i backed up my files and when i try to add do the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool at step 3 it does not show my usb

 

[gregrocker]

You are trying to write the downloaded ISO to flash stick now? Are you sure the download completed? Win7 Home Premium x64 SP1 English Official ISO download

If the MS download tool will not work use Universal USB Installer with WIn7 in dropdown menu. It never fails, unless your ISO is not intact.

 

[pokomo123]

yes because my sony is unusable now

 

[gregrocker]

What do you mean unusable?

Can you boot the flash stick, DVD or Repair CD using F2 key or this method:
How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD

If you want to try to repair Win8, boot into System Recovery Options to try Startup Repair a few times. You can try tapping F8 key at boot now.

 

[pokomo123]

oh by that i meant i couldnt get out of vaio care

 

[gregrocker]

I told you to hold the Power button in to Shut Down. Then reboot to see if it starts. If not reboot and tap the F8 key to enter Repair My Computer console to run Startup Repair.

If F8 doesn't work then use the WIn7 installer DVD or Stick to browse for your files to copy out to external: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

Then Clean Reinstall Windows 7 Factory OEM or run Vaio Factory Recovery from it's hotkey given on first boot screen.
http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/151566-reinstalling-windows-7-a.html#post1300819

 

[pokomo123]

ok i will be doing the copy and paste

 

[gregrocker]

When copying in WinRE (Windows Recovery) it may appear to hang with the circle spinning. This is normal and means you have to wait. I would copy and paste in smaller amounts so it won't hang so long.

This is really a workaround.

It would be better if you could Startup Repair Win8 via F8 Advanced Boot Options to copy via Explorer in Windows.

 

[pokomo123]

when i click on F8 it just shows a _ blinking

 

[gregrocker]

Running Factory Recovery from Boot on VAIO

Some Vaio's have Factory Recovery on the F8 Advanced Boot Options choice to Repair My Computer. However you said that it will not respond which means the OS is seriously damaged.

Other Vaio's have this procedure for Factory Recovery at startup:

Sony Vaio Laptop Factory Reset Instructions:
================================
1. Turn on or reboot/restart the computer.
2. When the VAIO logo appears on the computer's screen, briefly press the F10 key on the computer keyboard. The VAIO Recovery Wizard appears. Note that depending on the model of Sony Vaio, you may have to press either the F11, F12 or the ESC key to enter this restore mode. This must be done before your operating system begins to load. If you see the Windows logo appear on screen, you'll have to restart and try again.
3. Choose the option on screen that is most appropriate to your needs. You will be presented with three options: you can either create a set of recovery discs, attempt to repair your operating system's installation, or restore your operating system. Repairing your operating system will attempt to fix your computer without deleting any of your personal files. Restoring your operating system will delete everything on your hard drive and return your computer to its original factory settings.
4. Wait for the restore process to complete. Depending on the type of restore you've tried, you may have to wait as little as a few minutes and as much as an hour or more. When the process is finished, the computer will automatically restart itself.

Or you can Clean Reinstall Windows 7 Factory OEM