I hate windows 8! How do I re-install 7 and keep programs, files etc?

[Huludrock]

I bought Windows 8 pro, installed it over Windows 7 pro, and I hate it! How do I downgrade without losing functionality of programs etc.? The upgrade was easy, but I doubt the downgrade will be. Help!!

 

[theog]

Upgrade to Windows 8 with only a product key - Microsoft Windows

• Make sure you’re on the PC you want to upgrade. This must be a PC that is currently running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3), Windows 8 Release Preview, Windows 8 Consumer Preview, or Windows Developer Preview. (Windows 8 Setup checks that your PC meets all system requirements before it installs Windows 8.)

• Have your product key handy. You can find it in your online order information, in the confirmation email for your purchase, or on the packaging. The product key will look something like this:
XXXXX- XXXXX- XXXXX- XXXXX- XXXXX

• Make a backup of everything you want to keep. Save it somewhere you can get to it later, like an external drive or a DVD.

Restore the the backup image, you made before upgrading to Windows 8.

 

[Huludrock]

Didn't. Any other ideas?

 

[theog]

   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create
​

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

 

[Huludrock]

The computer I installed it on was upgraded from Vista with a fresh install of 7. I have any version of Windows I want but I need to keep the programs the same etc.

 

[Huludrock]

It isn't possible is it?

 

[pseudoware]

My wife didn't like Win8 when I upgraded her OS. I installed a 3rd party start button and set it to boot directly to desktop mode, and it's all good.

Just a suggestion. Easier than going back, at least for me. Good luck.

 

[gregrocker]

You can try the replica Windows 7 Start Menu for Windows 8

Even install replica 8GadgetPack - Gadgets for Windows 8

This makes 8 pretty close to the Win7 desktop experience, although you may have to reset your Control Panel>Default Programs since they first default to the 8 Apps.

If you want to go back to Win7 I'd follow these same steps to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which you are way overdue for if you have the original Vista underlying preinstall. You likely have mounds of corruption carried over from all 3 OS' settings.

Now's the time to get a perfect install with our help which you can backup as an image after setup to use in place of reinstall in the future.

 

[Huludrock]

Well looks like the third party apps are my answer. I was mislead by all the "downgrade from 8 pro to 7 pro is possible with those versions" threads that i saw before I did this. Apparently it only applies if you have no personal info on the pc.

 

[gregrocker]

You should always keep your data and the latest System image backed up externally in case of HD failure or what you have experienced.

 

[LittleJay]

You should always keep your data and the latest System image backed up externally in case of HD failure or what you have experienced.

I totally agree with gregrocker. I have system images saved on multiple HDDs just in case one fails and being able to restore my computer has saved me much aggravation and down time.

 

[AddRAM]

Windows 8 is terrible we all know that

Didn`t you look at 8 before you installed it on your pc ?

You didn`t make a disk image of 7 ?

I hope you get it back to how you had it.

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have a Win7 Pro Upgrade disk? If not its provided in the Clean Reinstall tutorial. You can install it without having Vista or XP on the HD. When you boot the installer the fact that it sees any other OS will normally alllow use of the Upgrade version key during install, even if you correctly delete all partitions to create new ones during Clean Install Windows 7 .

However if it rejects the Upgrade key during install, skip the key and wait until after install to do the quick registry workaround given in Option Three in Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
to activate Upgrade version with no qualifying OS on the HD.

 

[Huludrock]

Agreed.

 

[Mark Phelps]

I bought Windows 8 pro, installed it over Windows 7 pro, and I hate it! How do I downgrade without losing functionality of programs etc.? The upgrade was easy, but I doubt the downgrade will be. Help!!

Did you do the in-place upgrade (where it keeps all the apps and settings)?

IF so, you should have been left with a windows.old folder -- which you should NOW be able to use to restore your original Win7 setup.

 

[Huludrock]

Yes I did but how would that make a smooth downgrade possible?

 

[VistaKing]

Hi Huludrock,

Do you have a Windows.old folder inside your C:\Windows ? If so you might want to take a look here
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971760

 

[gregrocker]

The downgrade path in the KB is Win7 to Vista.. Do we know for sure that this works for 8>7?

I still advise Clean reinstalling the Seven Pro using it's key which is only no longer useable during the period that its being used to qualify for running Windows 8 Upgrade and that is being abandoned.

Is the Seven Pro an Upgrade version itself? If so you'll need to follow the extra steps I gave earlier to Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version if no other OS is on the HD when you boot the installer, resulting in Upgrade key being rejected. If its Factory OEM then follow these steps to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. If it's full version Win7 Pro then there are no worries as it can go anywhere.

 

[VistaKing]

The steps in KB is the same steps from WINDOWS 8 TO WINDOWS 7 . Change the Vista disc to a Win7 disc. Windows.old is same for Windows vista and Windows 7.