How do I delete Windows 10 files and just stay with Windows 7?

[LynnMC]

I have spent 12 hours trying to install Windows 10 on my notebook PC and have finally given up, I keep getting errors. How do I delete the installation files for Windows 10 from my computer? I'll stick with 7, at least it works.

Thanks!
Lynn

 

[tomsguideUS]

This tutorial might help! http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2738057/uninstall-windows.html

 

[LynnMC]

Windows 10 never installed and I'm sure there are "temporary" Windows 10 files lurking somewhere on my hard drive. Just need to know how to delete those. I've been besieged by error messages and restarts all day and it eventually just reverted back to 7 for me, LOL!

 

[photonboy]

1) Open Windows Explorer ("Computer")

2) right-click C-drive and "properties"

3) select "Disk Cleanup"

4) wait then select "Cleanup System Files"

5) If a large backup file exists you should see a large file so select that and clean up.

Other:
Reasons for failure?
Possibly not enough space.

Windows 10 is actually a bit unstable right now so I'd wait a few more weeks to upgrade.

*I'm not sure if Windows 10 can use a USB drive for the extra space it needs or not, but it's worth trying. You can also try downloading an ISO of Windows 10 64-bit RTM using the Media Creation tool but then choose "other PC" option to download, then burn to disc (use Imgburn for DVD, and Rufus for thumb drive).

Example:
1. Burn ISO to DVD/USB
2. Insert to see if it will start (from within Windows), then cancel
3. System cleanup to remove as much as possible unneeded data
4. Attach USB hard drive (may or may not be usable by Windows Install)

5. Move over any videos or other large files to free up space.
6. Make your own Backup Image if possible (Windows backup, or better yet Acronis True Image Free for WD, or DiscWizard for Seagate.. must have local or USB drive installed for appropriate version)
7. Delete all System Restore points (but don't turn off)
8. Insert Install disc/USB from within Windows (if it doesn't start manually go to Startup exe file)

9. Install Windows 10
10. Install latest Windows 10 video drivers (AMD, NVidia, Intel as appropriate and use auto-scan software from their support site. I had to use Geforce Experience as JAVA wouldn't work to load autoscan utility on either PC I upgraded.. Geforce Experience installed, then downloaded new W10 driver and then things worked better...)
11. other drivers/software (including antivirus)
12. Delete Windows.old as per original disc cleanup instructions

*Deleting Windows.old will then prevent rollback so I'd do so only if you create your own backup Image, or if you have W10 running for several weeks with no major issues, and at least one recent RESTORE POINT created.

 

[photonboy]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

As per my above instructions:
1. Download and run MCT
2. Do not "upgrade" but rather choose "other PC" to download ISO
3. close program and burn using appropriate tool for DVD or USB

*Also, I forget to tell you to delete the ISO file which is a bit over 3GB (after you run to see if it starts.. see list above). The one Microsoft downloads using updates is over 5GB. I don't know how to tell it to NOT download that once you agree to upgrade though.

**My Windows.old file was about 24GB. It's only a rough guess but I suspect you may need at least 30GB of free space to upgrade though that's going to vary by the system.

 

[LynnMC]

Wow... okay. I tried again, and now I got an entirely new error, a C1900101-4000D. Now that I'm almost 16 hours into trying to update this I am giving up for the time being and will take your advice and wait a few weeks and try again. It's unbelievable to me that after so many years at this MS has made this process so difficult. Clearing off the temp files now, no problems doing that.

Thanks for the assistance!

Lynn