Going back to Windows 7

[OnlyVal]

I have Windows 8.1 and want to go back to Windows 7. It is not in my restore file and my laptop came with Win 7 installed so I do not have a disk. How do I get my Win 7 back?

 

[vesp3r]

You can always run clean install. But you can also customize 8.1 to function ALOT like windows 7

 

[lantrich]

If you didn't get a Windows 7 disk then it could be that your hard drive has a partition that holds the operating system plus system drivers. When you boot up press F8 to see if you can restore from a menu. Just remember you will loose all your programs and files. Alternately, you could download a program called Start8 that will make Windows8.1 look like Windows 7. That's what I did.

 

[electrontau]

Try classic shell to make win 8.1 look like win 7. It is free and works. I use it to avoid Metro interface. Eventually MS will not support Win 7 and force everybody to use Win10. Classic shell works in Win 10 as well.

If you want to go back to win 7, there should be a folder in Start that has app to reset to factory setting. Folder usually named after the laptop manufacturer (Acer, HP, Dell etc). Remember that resetting to factory setting will erase all your data. So BACKUP ALL YOUR DATA.

In the same folder and same app (depending on manufacturer) you can burn your recovery discs. It is highly recommended for you to do so. Keep the recovery discs for future needs.

Good luck.

 

[DiegoD]

You can always run clean install. But you can also customize 8.1 to function ALOT like windows 7

Install classic start or shell. It will make windows 8.1 run and work just like 7. There isn't much of a reason to return to 7 as you'll loose quicker boots and slight performance in speed.

 

[OnlyVal]

Try classic shell to make win 8.1 look like win 7. It is free and works. I use it to avoid Metro interface. Eventually MS will not support Win 7 and force everybody to use Win10. Classic shell works in Win 10 as well.

If you want to go back to win 7, there should be a folder in Start that has app to reset to factory setting. Folder usually named after the laptop manufacturer (Acer, HP, Dell etc). Remember that resetting to factory setting will erase all your data. So BACKUP ALL YOUR DATA.

In the same folder and same app (depending on manufacturer) you can burn your recovery discs. It is highly recommended for you to do so. Keep the recovery discs for future needs.

Good luck.

 

[OnlyVal]

If you didn't get a Windows 7 disk then it could be that your hard drive has a partition that holds the operating system plus system drivers. When you boot up press F8 to see if you can restore from a menu. Just remember you will loose all your programs and files. Alternately, you could download a program called Start8 that will make Windows8.1 look like Windows 7. That's what I did.

 

[vesp3r]

What lantrich said...
BTW you can get pretty cool results w/o the Start8
You could google win 8.1 boot to desktop. There is a checkbox that allow you to boot directly to desktop giving you better experience with the OS in desktop/laptop. If you dont have your win7 files on a hidden partition you could call the shop i took it to send you a disk

 

[OnlyVal]

It doesn't work on Win 8.1. Thanks anyway. It is not on my computer anywhere.....I may have to BUY the darn thing.

 

[DiegoD]

It doesn't work on Win 8.1. Thanks anyway. It is not on my computer anywhere.....I may have to BUY the darn thing.

You can make a bootable windows 7 drive to load windows off of. You will just need a flash drive with more than 4gb available. This link will get you started

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

 

[lantrich]

There is a program called Rufus that will make your flash drive bootable.

 

[vesp3r]

Thats in case he still have the win7 files on his PC... but shouldnt the upgrade replace those files?