Hey everyone,

 

I've been trying to get used to windows 8 for about 4 months now and it's just not happening. I'm using to Windows 7 on my desktop and I want my laptop which came pre-loaded with Windows 8 to be Windows 7 as well. I went into the store where I bought it from but they just told me to download Shell8 but it's still not Windows 7 at the end of the day.

 

Does anyone know how I can downgrade my laptop to Windows 7?

 

Thanks!

You would have to format your harddrive and install Windows 7 over it, alternatively partition the harddrive and install Windows 7 on that partition (keeping Windows 8). There is no way to downgrade. 

Or you could do what I am doing and just get the tech guys at Staples to do it for me. It costs more, sure, but you don't have to do it yourself and you don't risk screwing it up.

But where's the fun in that? :p

Just get another hard-drive and install it, You still can but Windows 7 Just have to search around  http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=375_974&products_id=17254

Just get another hard-drive and install it, 

 

Why buy a new Hard Drive when  you can simply Format your current one and it'll still work? That makes no sense...

 

@OP, I had a client of mine who absolutely hated Windows 8 and wanted Windows 7. If it's a mass produced computer, I can tell you right now it's a pain to get Windows 7 back on there (You basically have to hot-wire your BIOS and what partition your drive directs at on boot up, that was on a HP, your experience may differ).  

 

  In all honesty, I suggest you give StartIsBack (For Windows 8) a try. I've been using it on my Windows 8 partition that's on my MBPR and it's worked just fine. I never have to see the Metro UI anymore. 

 

Other than that no, there is no way to "Downgrade" to a pre-version OS since Microsoft never created such a function. 

Why buy a new Hard Drive when  you can simply Format your current one and it'll still work? That makes no sense...

 

@OP, I had a client of mine who absolutely hated Windows 8 and wanted Windows 7. If it's a mass produced computer, I can tell you right now it's a pain to get Windows 7 back on there (You basically have to hot-wire your BIOS and what partition your drive directs at on boot up, that was on a HP, your experience may differ).  

 

  In all honesty, I suggest you give StartIsBack (For Windows 8) a try. I've been using it on my Windows 8 partition that's on my MBPR and it's worked just fine. I never have to see the Metro UI anymore. 

 

Other than that no, there is no way to "Downgrade" to a pre-version OS since Microsoft never created such a function. 

Which is why I am letting Staples do it.

Thanks for the replies guys. I will give a few of your suggestions a try and let you know how I get on!

Good luck, don't hesitate to ask if you need assistance. 

Honestly, Windows 8 Desktop Mode with Start8, or whatever you use is exactly Windows 7 just better because it'll support more stuff in the future. 

 

Disable all metro things, I've never even realized I'm running Win8 with metro a click away because I never have to use it. Win8 Desktop different is no different than Win7. I mean yes it is I'm not going to argue but in general it's all the same. 

 

In that sense, downgrading to Windows 7 was be a bad decision in my opinion. 

it's still not Windows 7 at the end of the day.

That's because it's Windows 8. A new interface for new functionality. Windows 8.1 added a start button and now has an option to boot straight to the desktop. I've been running Windows 8 since April and I don't have a problem getting around in it. At the end of the day it's exactly the same as Windows 7 but with a tablet-esque start screen. I'd suggest you suck it up and learn the few differences because Microsoft has made it clear they're not going away in the next OS. That being said, you can use some of the mods mentioned to make it feel a bit more like Windows 7, or you can be a dinosaur and format your whole PC to put a copy of Windows 7 on there. Neither of those two are good solutions if you plan to continue using Microsoft products however.  You may want to consider an Apple or a Linux based computer if you don't game a whole lot.

If you want to install Windows 7 again, you'll lose all your programs and applications (and some drivers). You'll have to manually reinstall all of those. 

 

But the setup is simple if you do 'clean install' will KEEP all your personal files in C:Windows.old.

 

Despite what they say, do not click format. This will delete all your data.

 

Once you're done with transferring your data over you can delete C:Windows.old to save some disk space. 

 

You can also have both Windows 7 and Windows 8 running on a computer, it just complicates things. 

 

No need for another HDD.

 

 

Edited December 19, 201312 yr by Brandan

I think if you want to install Windows 7, format is the way to go for various reasons. 

I think if you want to install Windows 7, format is the way to go for various reasons. 

Formatting the hard drive does nothing useful, except saving time deleting C:windows.old. The operating system moves all the old system files into a different directory than the main operating system.

 

Nothing can go wrong with this process, except your hard drive failing, or running out of space. 

 

Upgrading is a different conversation, but this is for downgrading. 

No, it also rewrites the file system which may have errors, since Windows is really crappy when it comes to file management. It does loads more than "just saving time deleting a folder". Clearing the file system is generally prefferable when installing a new operating system since the "hole" that is left by the old operating system isn't overwritten, which will cause errors if it isn't filled (ie by formatting). If you want to continue discussing this, throw me a PM. We're going a little bit off-topic here. 

Edited December 19, 201312 yr by ineseri

Or you could just upgrade to 8.1?

 

See if you like 8.1- I believe anyone that owned Win8 can upgrade to 8.1 for free until sometime around Spring 2014 (i believe)