Return to Windows 7 from Windows 10 installation

[FrankFitz]

I have been using Win 10 for some time and have found, like a lot of people, it really is not at all stable. Every time there is an update from Windows 10 a new problem appears. I have tried a lot of things but I am simply fed up with the constant problem solving that Microsoft should have done before releasing the software, hear endeth the rant

So, I have a Windows 7 Pro CD (both 32 and 64 bit) which is legitimate having purchase it myself. PC has 8 GB RAM and use it for photo editing a lot and want to keep as much software in place such as Photoshop/NIK collections Office 365 etc. However, cannot see the Windows Old copy as I think I am well past the time limit. Would prefer to reinstall 64 bit to get the best use out of software and memory.

I have a lot of backups offline and cloud so I can recover my image library if anything goes wrong.

I also have a 2 Tb SSD drive (C and two other internal drives the latter mainly have images and the working software such as Photoshop is on the C: drive.

If anyone could give me some help I would be very grateful.

Thanks in advance, Frank

 

[SIW2]

It easy enough to clean install win7. You could use your original win7 key and keep the one you have since bought for something else ( that is if you have recently purchased another one - not clear from your post)

Keeping your programs "in place" is less simple.

You could use Easeus PC Trans to make a backup ( as an image file ) of your programs currently installed in win10.

Then install win 7 ( use your original key if you have it ).

Last "reinstall" your programs using Easeus PC Trans.


There is a giveaway of PCTrans which might still be running, if you are thinking of going that way.

giveaway

 

[Megahertz07]

-Make sure you backup your data files to another disk and then disconnect the backup drive before you install Win 7.
- Run http://www.klinzmann.name/licensecrawler.htm and save results

As win 10 creates more partitions, I suggest you to delete all partitions on the target disk.
Clean Install Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[FrankFitz]

Hi folks

Tried the suggestions on my laptop but got nowhere and ended up back with Windows 10!

Licence crawler does not work and keeps reporting out of memory error, impossible to use. PCtrans is not running either.

I have cleared out an external drive a which is has about 2 Tb space which is enough for the contents of my C: drive. Will back up important applications like Photoshop etc. to the drive and then format and re install windows 7 from my retail CF. Windows 10 has become worse and keep trying to update itself and I simply don't have the time nor the inclination to waste of Microsoft products. Once I have done all that I will get my editing work back up to date, buy an Apple pc and start using it eventually.

My father in law last night told me he is having problems with his PC which sound identical to mine. Moreover, research on the net informs me that there are millions of people with the same problem and Microsoft is ignoring it.

Thanks for your help folks.