Want to install Windows 7 BIOS over Windows 10 UEFI w/o losing data

[vdashv]

Hello,

I currently have Windows 10 installed on my laptop in UEFI.

I want to install Windows 7 BIOS over it without losing any data (doesnt matter if settings lost, I want s/w installed to stay that way)

Can this be done? Please guide me on the same.

Thanks
vdashv

 

[AddRAM]

Windows 7 Bios ??

What is that ?

Are you saying you want to install Windows 7 ?

Do you have a W7 activation key ?

You should just leave it alone. Once you customize W10 you will never know the difference.

You have to backup your data if you don`t want to loose it. And you will have to reinstall your programs.

It`s really not worth the effort.

 

[beetle]

Boot into UEFI mode or Legacy BIOS mode when installing Windows 7/8/10 from your USB or DVD.



If you install Windows 7/8/10 using the wrong mode, you won’t be able to use the features of that firmware mode without reformatting the hard drive.

 

[vdashv]

Windows 7 Bios ??

What is that ?

Are you saying you want to install Windows 7 ?

Do you have a W7 activation key ?

You should just leave it alone. Once you customize W10 you will never know the difference.

You have to backup your data if you don`t want to loose it. And you will have to reinstall your programs.

It`s really not worth the effort.

Windows 7 set to BIOS boot mode.

Yes. I have an OEM CD.

I dont want W10.

 

[AddRAM]

So then just follow this tutorial.

Clean Install Windows 7

But you should really use another drive to install 7 on. ( As a safety precaution )

I`ll ask you again, do you have a Windows 7 activation key ?

If you do not have a key then you can`t activate Windows 7 and you will have to reinstall Windows 10.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Simple answer is no
All personal files/ programs would have to be reinstalled there is no downgrading path to save existing data.

As stated it is best to experiment installing win-7 on a totally different hdd or ssd so the current win-10 install is unaffected and you can get it back simply by reinstalling the other hdd or ssd it's installed on.
Turn off Fast start inside win-10 first then replace the hdd it's on,
Fast Startup - Turn On or Off in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Tutorials

 

[AddRAM]

Exactly

 

[Megahertz07]

As mentioned, you should try installing win7 on a different disk or make a disk image before you play.
New laptops not always accept win7. You wrote that you have a Win7 OEM. Has it been used on another computer? OEM license can't be moved from one computer to another.
To install Win7 you must disable fast boot and secure boot (OS=other) on BIOS. Set CSM to enable.

 

[SIW2]

OEM license can't be moved from one computer to another.

If it doesn't activate straight away with the COA key, call MS on the free phone number. Wait patiently till an operator answers.

http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2012-07/cp120094en.pdf

 

[DBX]

I would give Microsoft a call to see if they would allow you to downgrade Windows 10 to Windows 7.

Note if you have more than 16GB on your computer with a Home Premium Edition, downgrading to Windows 7 Home Premium wont see more than that. So you may want to think about it first.

A downgrade to Windows 8.1 Home Premium will see up to 32GB I believe.

 

[AddRAM]

There`s no such thing as Home Pro

Windows 7 is either Home Premium or Professional

Windows 10 is either Home or Pro

 

[DBX]

Thanks. I made the correction. Home Premium is what I meant. The "professional" home version.

 

[alphanumeric]

If it's custom factory OEM install media, it will only work if there is a Windows 7 SLIC table in the BIOS. No SLIC table, no activation. If that device never shipped from the factory with Windows 7 preinstalled, it almost certainly won't have a SLIC table for Windows 7. Plus as mentioned, the only way to do this is to clean install Windows 7 wiping out Windows 10. There is no way to retain the currently installed programs. The current Windows 10 key, will not work in Windows 7, no way no how.

 

[Layback Bear]

From post #12

Thanks. I made the correction. Home Premium is what I meant. The "professional" home version.

So we don't get caught in work games.

Their is no such thing as The Professional Home version.

It's either Windows 7 Home Premium.
Or Windows 7 Professional.

Two different versions of Windows 7 operating systems.
Two different COA keys to activate with.

Jack

 

[alphanumeric]

One thing I am thankful for, is that Microsoft dropped all those confusing versions with Windows 8 and 10. And went with just Home and Pro on the consumer side.

 

[DBX]

From post #12



So we don't get caught in work games.

Their is no such thing as The Professional Home version.

It's either Windows 7 Home Premium.
Or Windows 7 Professional.

Two different versions of Windows 7 operating systems.
Two different COA keys to activate with.

Jack

Yes - I know this. I do this for a living. My original response was a typo on my part, which was pointed out, and corrected. I just wanted to have fun with it.

There is no such thing as a "Home Professional' Version. So we are on the same page.