Win 8.1 to 7 downgrade bios not fully acpi compliant

[jamesb1996]

I am trying to downgrade a dell inspiron 3531 from 8.1 to 7 by using a memory stick but when booting from from the usb stick it loads files and just comes up with bios not fully acpi compliant error. Have been told to install with a dvd but havn't tried this yet. Read a few threads about this error but no others seem to have the error so early.

 

[Anshad Edavana]

Have been told to install with a dvd but havn't tried this yet.

Installing from DVD is less likely to solve the issue.I would suggest carefully reading the below tutorial and follow instructions as a first step.

Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7

Usually most of the Dell machines are downgadable if correct BIOS settings are applied.

 

[Slartybart]

You can only downgrade Windows 8 Professional (or higher) to Windows 7 Professional (or higher)

How to Downgrade from Windows 8 Pro to Windows 7 Professional | Dell US

 

[Anshad Edavana]

You can only downgrade Windows 8 Professional (or higher) to Windows 7 Professional (or higher)

"Windows 8 Pro" users are legally eligible to downgrade to "Windows 7 Pro" without any additional cost. Microsoft is kind enough to provide this offer but it doesn't means one should stick with "Win 7 Pro". They can install any other version but the downgrade won't be free - user should buy a separate license at their own cost.

Understanding downgrade rights


In case of "Windows 8 Core" edition, there is no free downgrade offer so the user should buy a retail version of "Windows 7" anyway. Which edition to buy is the choice of the user.

 

[jamesb1996]

Tried the guide and created a uefi bootable usb but now just freezes after loading the files. Cannot get into windows setup

 

[Anshad Edavana]

I checked Dell support site and it seems that Dell officially supports installing "Windows 7 x64" on your model.

Product Support | Dell US

Tried the guide and created a uefi bootable usb but now just freezes after loading the files. Cannot get into windows setup

Try installing in MBR mode.

1. First create the install USB manually using DISKPART instead of "Rufus".

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

2. Make sure to disable "SecureBoot" in BIOS and also enable "Leagacy" support. I couldn't get a manual so not sure where the settings are exactly located. Probably you will find them in the "Boot" tab. If i recall correctly, "SecureBoot State" and "Boot Mode" are the settings to be changed.

3. Plug the USB disk and power on system. Press "F12" to open boot menu. You may see your flash drive listed twice in the menu - one with "UEFI" prefix and one without it. Make sure to select the one without "UEFI" prefix for an MBR install.

4. If USB boots without hang/BSOD, use DIKPART to remove the GPT partition structure and perform a clean installation of "Windows 7".

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/119713-diskpart-pc-startup.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

 

[jamesb1996]

Tried many different ways including diskpart, rufus, wintoflash, unetbootin but each time when booting in legacy mode it shows the bios not fully acpi compliant error and when booting in uefi a red line shows at the top of the screen and the laptop freezes, can't get into windows setup at all. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[theog]

Have you reset the UEFI/BIOS firmware as in the Dell link in post 3.

 

[jamesb1996]

Yeah the problem still occurs

 

[Anshad Edavana]

Try updating BIOS to the latest version and check whether the issue persists.

Product Support | Dell US

 

[Slartybart]

..... Have been told to install with a dvd but havn't tried this yet. .....

Win7 UEFI install media on USB must be formatted FAT32

Have you tried the DVD yet? There isn't a file system issue with DVD install media.

 

[wallywhol]

looks like this was never solved precisely. I Am having the same issue and do have install cds. In fact I have win 7 x64 and 32 OEM version with valid keys. I also have an OEM windows 8 cd. The win 8 will load on my dell inspiron 15-3531. But after a HDD issue I wanted win 7 and the NON acpi error pops up. I would load secure boot and win 8 which works and just go through the online update process to win 10 but the bios key in the inspiron is for win 8.1 so the win 8 OEM i have will not validate. I AM STUCK.

 

[wallywhol]

Will not get into windows setup

 

[wallywhol]

I've also followed the process to set the bios but no dice. It's the InsydeH20 bios. Secure Boot - Disabled. Load Legacy Option Rom - Enabled. Boot list option - Legacy. Still no luck same ACPI error trying to load any version of Win 7

 

[Dave Nyemaster]

The real ACPI fix!

I would suggest downgrading the Bios to an earlier version that doesn' throw the ACPI error. Newer Bios's don't support Windows 7.