Trying to clean install back to Windows 7 from Windows 8

[Edac]

Hi,

I have a Dell Inspiron netbook which initially had Windows 7 Starter. Since I get free operating systems from my school, I decided to try Windows 8 on it. It's been fun, but I want Windows 7 back now. But, whenever I try to boot from the flash drive with the version of Windows 7 that I want to clean install on my netbook, I get a blue screen that says,

"A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.
If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check to be sure you have adequate disk space. If a driver is identified in the Stop message, disable the driver or check with the manufacturer for driver updates. Try changing video adapters.

Check with your hardware vendor for an BIOS updates. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x0000007E (0xFFFFFFFFC0000420, 0xFFFFF880012427BE, 0xFFFFF88002DCC4C8, 0xFFFFF88002DCBBF0)

*** ACPI.sys - Address FFFFF880012427BE base at FFFFF8800121D000, DateStamp 4ce7745a"

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello Edac mate yo might just get lucky if you can doa factory default if the 8 hasn't destroyd the Dell partition.

From memory it is DEL or F8 this ref say the latter. But anyhow just power off and leave for a few seconds then power on and tap the appropriate key and follow the prompts. Like I sadi I hope the 8 install didn't wreck that partition.
DELL Inspiron - Restore to factory default settings

OOPs missed this too http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

If it did then you will need to make a USB stick ISO and boot from it and use the activation code on the sticker wherever that is located usually a 5 x5 alpha / numeric code.

the tutorial to follow is http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

 

[AddRAM]

Describe the method you use to put the Windows 7 iso on the flash drive. Maybe you should go the old fashioned route and use a dvd.

Use a partition wizard boot cd to delete and make the install partition and mark active. See if that works.

Partition Wizard Bootable CD allows user to manage partition directly with partition manager bootable CD.

http://www.wintobootic.com/

 

[Edac]

ICit2lol - I will try the factory reset method and let you know how it works. Thanks!

AddRAM - it's a netbook with no CD/DVD drive, that's why I used a USB. What I did was this: I bought the windows 7 file from MSDN using my student account, and used the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool to mount the .iso file to a 4 gigabyte USB flash drive. This was done from my laptop, a different computer than the one I wanted to do a clean install on, because the download didn't appear to be working from the netbook. A message said that it didn't work though: it said that there was a problem with the "bootsect" file or application or something because I tried to make a Windows 7 64 bit USB tool on a Windows 7 32 bit computer. so I Googled that problem, and found a solution that appeared to work (when I reran the USB tool, there were no errors). I then turned off my netbook, plugged in the USB, and saw the blue screen. The process that I just described is exactly how I put Windows 8 on the netbook, which obviously worked. I tried ensuring all of the drivers are on the netbook, and I updated them, and did a windows update, and then tried the USB tool again on all 3 different USB ports, but it didn't work any time.

If you need me to clear any of that up I'd be happy to try and explain it more thoroughly or provide addiitional information.

Thanks a bunch for the responses!

 

[gregrocker]

You don't need to buy anything to reinstall Win7 which came with your PC, unless you want to install a higher version. Just download the ISO for your licensed version from Step 1 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7, and write it to flash stick with the tool in Step 2 . Then follow the steps to get a perfect reinstall.

If you still want Starter since you own that version for the life of the machine, download Premium and unlock all versions by running the eicfg removal tool on it.

If the download tool fails again use UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive which always works when the other methods don't.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Edac any luck with the factory default? if not mate just go with Greg and AddRAM you are probably better off that way

 

[theog]

How to use Dell Recovery Partition,make Recovery Disks & how to order Recovery Disks.
Documentation
Dell - Support

 

[Edac]

Unfortunately the Spring semester just started up for me, so I haven't messed with the computer yet. It still has Windows 8. Thank you all very much for the help! And when I get around to working on it again I'll be sure and let you know how it goes.