Will resetting a laptop with retail W 8.1 to factory settings allow me to install W 7.

[Gluteus]

So here's the story: I currently have a laptop that came with windows 7 but I upgraded to windows 8.1, I'm building a pc soon and I would like to install windows 8.1 on it and put windows 7 on my laptop. Here's the problem, i can't download the Windows 7 ISO because the product key is pre-installed or something. So i ask this question: If i reset my laptop to factory settings, will it somehow install/download windows 7 on it and then let me install windows 8.1 on the pc?

Thanks to everyone who will help

 

[basroil]

No, it will restore it to Windows 8.1 unless you never deleted the original recovery partition (and even then it's iffy). If you somehow have an intact partition, you can access it from the boot menu when you restart the computer.

Note that if you purchased an upgrade license to Windows 8.1, you will NOT be able to install it on a new computer. You can get OEM installs of Windows 7 to 10 for about $90 (for home, ~130 for pro) if you used an upgrade license.

 

[Gluteus]

No, it will restore it to Windows 8.1 unless you never deleted the original recovery partition (and even then it's iffy). If you somehow have an intact partition, you can access it from the boot menu when you restart the computer.

Note that if you purchased an upgrade license to Windows 8.1, you will NOT be able to install it on a new computer. You can get OEM installs of Windows 7 to 10 for about $90 (for home, ~130 for pro) if you used an upgrade license.

So buying a new version of windows is the way to go?

 

[basroil]

If you used an upgrade key, yes, you'll need a new license. You can find OEM licenses for cheaper, but just buying a proper retail license will let you switch the license to another computer later on.