Windows 8 Accidental Overwrite Windows 7

[aquethys]

Hi everyone. I installed Windows 8 today. I did partition the disk like in a guide, however, I missed where to install...
I downloaded a Windows 7 iso image today and burned it to a disk, will I be able to install Windows 7 again from a disc?
I still have Windows.old folder in my C drive, is there any way to dual boot Win8 and Win7? Thanks!

 

[gregrocker]

You can roll back to Win7 using windows.old, then correctly boot the Win8 installer to install to a second partition. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971760/

Or you can http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 to the second partition.

 

[AddRAM]

What do you mean you missed ? You should have installed 8 on the partition you created.

W8 is terrible! Don`t bother installing it.

 

[DMHolt57]

Welcome to the forum Aquethys! In the .iso there is a folder named Sources. In this folder is a second instance of the setup.exe file. Running this file gives you the option for a custom install. This allows you to choose the partition you want to install on. The setup.exe file in the root directory of the .iso will only install to the C:\ drive, therefore overwriting any info on the drive or placing it in a folder named windowsold...

 

[gregrocker]

Always boot the installer, never run it from OS.

 

[aquethys]

Welcome to the forum Aquethys! In the .iso there is a folder named Sources. In this folder is a second instance of the setup.exe file. Running this file gives you the option for a custom install. This allows you to choose the partition you want to install on. The setup.exe file in the root directory of the .iso will only install to the C:\ drive, therefore overwriting any info on the drive or placing it in a folder named windowsold...

How do I open the iso file?
Do I click setup.exe while logged in?
Does this mean that my entire c drive will be wiped and my data cleared?
Ugh.

 

[gregrocker]

To install Win8 to the partition you wanted you needed to boot the DVD you burned, select Custom Install, then choose the drive you want Win8 installed upon. You must have chosen the wrong drive or run the DVD from Win7.

Have you rolled back to Win7 or reinstalled it yet? Do you want to do that now? If so don't just ignore my advice but reply to it so I can help you.

 

[aquethys]

To install Win8 to the partition you wanted you needed to boot the DVD you burned, select Custom Install, then choose the drive you want Win8 installed upon. You must have chosen the wrong drive or run the DVD from Win7.

Have you rolled back to Win7 or reinstalled it yet? Do you want to do that now? If so don't just ignore my advice but reply to it so I can help you.

Yes please, I want to reinstall it from windows.old...is that possible? If so, do I just reboot windows 8 with the cd in the disk drive?

 

[gregrocker]

First of all back up your files from windows.old then follow the steps in the blue link showing how to roll back to Win7 using windows.old. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971760/

If you have any problems, then boot the Win7 installer to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to the other partition you had originally planned for Win8. It will still configure a Dual Boot menu.

 

[aquethys]

First of all back up your files from windows.old then follow the steps in the blue link showing how to roll back to Win7 using windows.old. How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder

If you have any problems, then boot the Win7 installer to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to the other partition you had originally planned for Win8. It will still configure a Dual Boot menu.

Even with a CD with windows 7 if I restart my computer a Windows 7 installation does not pop up,.

If I click on the CD under my computer...and run setup.exe it says
The version of this program is not compatible with the version of windows you're running.


Downloading 32 bit now to see if that works..

 

[gregrocker]

Why are you still trying to do anything with the Windows DVD from within an OS - which is how you overwrote Win7 to begin with?

THe correct way to install either OS is to boot the DVD to install to the partition you intend for it.

How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD

Do you get a prompt to "Press any key to boot disk?"

If not the disk is burned incorrectly. Confirm the ISO file and burn another using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

 

[aquethys]

Why are you still trying to do anything with the Windows DVD from within an OS - which is how you overwrote Win7 to begin with?

THe correct way to install either OS is to boot the DVD to install to the partition you intend for it.

How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD

Do you get a prompt to "Press any key to boot disk?"

If not the disk is burned incorrectly. Confirm the ISO file and burn another using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

Start Windows from a CD or DVD

Apparently if the screen does not show up I need to configure BIOS. How do I do this on Windows 8? I burned with ImgBurn and it still doesn't show up .

 

[AddRAM]

Did you download windows 8 properly and from the right source ?
Did you burn it ( not copy it ) TO A DVD NOT A CD using ImgBurn at a slow speed ?
Do you get the option to press any key with the DVD in the tray when you boot the pc ?

You should just be able to use a function key to bring up your boot menu.
You don`t really have to go into your bios to accomplish this.
Listen to Gregs advice.

You do not configure your bios with W8.
You have not even installed W8 yet.

 

[gregrocker]

It shows in the tutorial how to enter BIOS setup, set DVD drive to boot first, followed by HDD. Did you do this? Now reboot again, watch for prompt to boot DVD.

If this doesn't work then Tap the one time BIOS boot menu key after rebooting to trigger the DVD drive:
Asus - F8
HP/Compaq - Esc
Sony - F2
Acer - F12
Gateway - F10
eMachnes - F10
Toshiba - F12
Dell - F12
IBM/Lenovo - the blue Thinkvantage button