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Exchanging Windows 8 for Windows 7
Posted on 2/15/14 at 5:13 pm
Posted on 2/15/14 at 5:13 pm
Does anyone know the process, can it be done at home without paying someone a lot of money.
3
Posted on 2/15/14 at 5:24 pm to bencoleman
The process is backup your files, wipe the machine and install Windows 7, restore your files. There is no downgrade.
Posted on 2/15/14 at 5:52 pm to Casty McBoozer
How would I go about wiping the machine? I also downloaded windows 7 as a file on another computer. Could I load it on a flashdrive and tranfer it like that or is there another way?
Posted on 2/15/14 at 8:06 pm to bencoleman
What did you download? An .iso file? If so, you can either burn that to DVD, or use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, stupid name, to make a bootable USB drive out of the Windows 7 image file.
Wiping the hard drive is easy, once you've booted off the DVD or USB stick, the installation begins, and it will ask you where you want to install Windows 7, listing the available partitions. Click Advanced/Drive Options (something like that) select each partition and delete them all, then just hit Next and the installation will create the needed partitions for Windows 7.
Again, back up your shite first, because there won't be anything left, just a fresh Windows install. Make sure you have your software available as well, obviously you'll have to reinstall everything.
Wiping the hard drive is easy, once you've booted off the DVD or USB stick, the installation begins, and it will ask you where you want to install Windows 7, listing the available partitions. Click Advanced/Drive Options (something like that) select each partition and delete them all, then just hit Next and the installation will create the needed partitions for Windows 7.
Again, back up your shite first, because there won't be anything left, just a fresh Windows install. Make sure you have your software available as well, obviously you'll have to reinstall everything.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 10:20 am to bencoleman
Are you, by chance, attempting this on a desktop?
Posted on 2/16/14 at 11:44 am to Hopeful Doc
No Doc it is a HP laptop, but I can't get it to boot or read a disk or flashdrive.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 12:14 pm to bencoleman
You may be burning the disk incorrectly- is it a legitimate .iso of Win7 from somewhere reputable?
Also, do you know what the BIOS is and how to enter it (f10 right after you boot up, more than likely for you)?
Take us through what happens when you reboot. Give us all the error messages and what not.
Also, I seem to remember this being your laptop that you don't have an OS disc for. Are you aware that these are made cheaply available from the manufacturer? I get that you may not like win8 (and cannot necessarily blame you), but it may be your easiest fix with the least amount of learning/tinkering. And lastly, most hp laptops build a recovery partition into them. Barring a hard disk failure, just like entering into the bios, instead of tapping 'f10' try tapping 'f11' and see if you get a 'windows is loading files' message.
Check this link out for more win8 recovery options; it may point out one small thing you are missing.
Also, do you know what the BIOS is and how to enter it (f10 right after you boot up, more than likely for you)?
Take us through what happens when you reboot. Give us all the error messages and what not.
Also, I seem to remember this being your laptop that you don't have an OS disc for. Are you aware that these are made cheaply available from the manufacturer? I get that you may not like win8 (and cannot necessarily blame you), but it may be your easiest fix with the least amount of learning/tinkering. And lastly, most hp laptops build a recovery partition into them. Barring a hard disk failure, just like entering into the bios, instead of tapping 'f10' try tapping 'f11' and see if you get a 'windows is loading files' message.
Check this link out for more win8 recovery options; it may point out one small thing you are missing.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 12:19 pm to Hopeful Doc
I tried a windows 8 disk and a flashdrive earlier today and couldn't get the computer to read either, I have been to the bios page. If I could just get it started in safe mode maybe I could do something with it.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 12:40 pm to Hopeful Doc
I tried the F-11 button and it flashed a system recovery in bottom left corner I didnt get the loading files message but I will try again. It currently has on the screen
preparing automatic repair
Now it says
Diagnosing problems
it is on a choose an option screen
The choices are
continue to windows 8
use a device
troubleshoot
should I interrupt this and try again or let it run it's course?
preparing automatic repair
Now it says
Diagnosing problems
it is on a choose an option screen
The choices are
continue to windows 8
use a device
troubleshoot
should I interrupt this and try again or let it run it's course?
This post was edited on 2/16/14 at 12:45 pm
Posted on 2/16/14 at 12:52 pm to Hopeful Doc
Ok I am in HP recovery manager and it is in the process of doing a factory image recovery preparation.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 1:54 pm to bencoleman
Ah, sorry. Hadn't checked this thread in a bit. Is it still recovering?
Warning- you may accidentally wipe your files (but do NOT try to stop what is currently happening-it may only make things worse, and if it was going to happen, it's already happening). It's possible they get saved. I'm not familiar with hp's recovery intricacies as much as others.
Warning- you may accidentally wipe your files (but do NOT try to stop what is currently happening-it may only make things worse, and if it was going to happen, it's already happening). It's possible they get saved. I'm not familiar with hp's recovery intricacies as much as others.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 2:13 pm to Hopeful Doc
Thank You for putting me on the right track. I couldn't care less about any files. I am just happy to get it running again. It is still in recovery, been doing it for about an hour now. I thought I had a new four-hundred dollar paperweight.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 2:26 pm to bencoleman
No problem. Once it's back up, you may want to run a Check Disk to see if that was your point of failure. A RAM test would also be a good idea.
And you said "new" so if either of these are your issues, it should be a cheap/free and easy fix.
And you said "new" so if either of these are your issues, it should be a cheap/free and easy fix.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 2:35 pm to Hopeful Doc
Ok and Thank You again. I am pretty close I think to getting it back working.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 2:49 pm to bencoleman
Why not just download the Windows 8 classic shell and the desktop will look like Windows 7?
Posted on 2/16/14 at 2:49 pm to Hopeful Doc
I am now posting from the former HP paperweight.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 2:51 pm to bencoleman
Congratulations! See- doing your own tech work isn't so hard at all!
Posted on 2/16/14 at 2:59 pm to Hopeful Doc
It has been a nightmare, I even took it to a "computer expert" this morning and he couldn't do anything with it. When I got the tip from you it all started working out. Hopefully, I learned something from all of this and will be better prepared in the future.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 6:09 pm to bencoleman
quote:
be better prepared in the future.
Step 1- create a restore DVD.
This post was edited on 2/16/14 at 6:10 pm
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