HILLVIEW103 (20-04-14),jwoegerbauer (20-04-14),Tiny (21-04-14),tristen (21-04-14)
If Microsoft don't want you to go back to Windows 7, then why do they offer the ability to downgrade to Windows 7?
UEFI was created by Intel to get around the limitations of the PC BIOS.
GPT was created by Intel to get around the limitations of MBR.
Windows 7 can be installed to a GPT partitioned HDD, you just have to boot up in UEFI mode, you can also delete/create GPT partitions using diskpart (at the first setup screen (Language, Keyboard, etc.) press SHIFT+F10).
HILLVIEW103 (20-04-14),jwoegerbauer (20-04-14),Tiny (21-04-14),tristen (21-04-14)
Yes one would think its just a matter of formatting the disk and reinstall windows 7, but im not smart enough to format my disk
Boot from the Windows 7 DVD, at the first setup screen (Language, Keyboard, etc.) press SHIFT+F10 to access the command prompt.
Type "diskpart" (without the quotes of course) and press Enter, type "list disk" and press Enter, type "select disk #" (# is the number of the disk you want to install Windows on) and press Enter, type "clean" and press Enter, type "exit" and press Enter.
You should now be able to continue with the Windows 7 Install.
jwoegerbauer (20-04-14)
That's it. It's so simple, simple, simple. Also, if downgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 7. And UEFI mode is the default BIOS-mode, so instructions as those of course are bullshit:
Reason:
A Windows 7 64-bit installation DVD comes with both El Torito (legacy BIOS) and UEFI bootloader. At least, that's what I have noticed when inspected contents of the downloaded/original Windows 7 ISOs from the Microsoft Store. And that is stated by Microsoft too, as the Microsoft documentation explains, the Windows 7 installation DVD is in fact dual-boot ROM. So there really is no need for John Average to fiddle around with UEFI/BIOS settings, as philquad tried to make us believe. Really wondering why philquad does not know this.
who says i didnt?
the op simply wanted to wipe 8 & install 7
he didnt want a essay on it
go argue with pc mag ( this is all old news anyway)
Psyanic • a year ago
One other caveat:
Some new PCs have their HDDs formatted with GPT file format rather than the previous standard of MBR. If this is the case, when you are at the step on page 4 of the article where you select the destination drive, it will give you a little warning message when you select the partition. If your HDD came with the GPT file format, you will be unable to install Win7 to any partition until you remove all existing partitions (including the recovery partition) and reformat the entire drive using the option on that screen. Other readers may know of a workaround, but I had to wipe the drive. Just one more reason to make those recovery discs!
https://www.facebook.com/philquad68
You simply download , burn the downloaded .ISO on a CD/DVD/BD/USB, and boot into this CD/DVD/BD/USB. Then run the MiniTool® Partition Wizard.
Important Note:
After having deleted all partitions, you have nothing more to do, then boot into Windows 7 disk. If Windows 7 doesn't detect any partitions, it automatically creates and formats them
Last edited by jwoegerbauer; 21-04-14 at 12:13 AM.
if he boots to legacy mode theres no need for that
(it was my point from the start)
but as usual, instead of helping, its turned into a 2 page essay on things that are posted on the net 1,000 times over
the guru duo are at it again, right dave?
https://www.facebook.com/philquad68
Thanks, for the additional info Phil/Joe, but I don't think all of the downgrade systems/processes/info became available at the SAME time as Windows 8 was released! (or am I wrong?) I would say MUCH later! (or am I wrong?)
"I THINK" it was AFTER they realized what a USER/OEM disaster it was, that they covered their A$$! (or am I wrong?)
The method I found to "downgrade" used a Linux boot disk with Gpart!
I'm sure, as you guys seem to be a little more adept than I, this NECESSARY downgrade process has been tweaked/made more simple (yeah right) since I did my first downgrade! Whatever method you choose, the end results seem to be the same. DUMP Win8 and Install Win7! Is one method more desired than the other as long as you achieve your goal?
I don't think you could convince me(or anyone else for that matter) that Microsoft would rather have you DOWNGRADE to Win7 as compared to utilize their Win8.1 release/patch/bandaid!
Anyhow, my "FIRST" downgrade was late summer of 2012, (almost two years ago) were the above methods available THEN?
But to reiterate, thanks for both of your extra methods for conversion, but I'm real comfortable with the Linux (I REALLY like Linux as an OS more than MS OS's) downgrade method and it is QUITE easy!
IMHO
Last edited by cmangle; 20-04-14 at 08:28 PM.
jok11n (20-04-14),jwoegerbauer (21-04-14),Philquad (20-04-14)
lol
im going back to xp & disabling windows update service (im good at that)
but im a bit busy atm coz im chatting to a 18yr old filipion on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/philquad68
jok11n (20-04-14)
My god I've read some crap on these forums but this thread almost takes the cake.
Hands up all those who have actually taken back to Windows 7 a Windows 8 (relatively) new laptop
I recently purchased for the company I work for 10 brand new HP Elitebook I7 laptops.
All arrived sporting windows 8.0
All went back to Windows 7
All essentially using the Phil method
OK not all, I simply did one by long hand then did a sysprep on the 1st one, imaged that using clonezilla then just imaged the rest
I cannot see the point in making life difficult.
In hindsight I should have posted my Facebook status as: "I've blown the head gasket on my 1997 XR3i" rather than "I've just buggered a 14 year old escort".
The police still haven't seen the funny side, my lap top's been confiscated and the wife has gone off to her mum's.
jok11n (20-04-14)
some people like to over complicate things, life's too short I think
Seymour Butts (20-04-14)
In hindsight I should have posted my Facebook status as: "I've blown the head gasket on my 1997 XR3i" rather than "I've just buggered a 14 year old escort".
The police still haven't seen the funny side, my lap top's been confiscated and the wife has gone off to her mum's.
jok11n (20-04-14)
The necessary infos since ever are to be found at Microsoft. According to their documentation all you need is a script as this
to properly replace on UEFI machines an existing Windows 8 installation with an Windows 7 installation - including Windows Recovery, and this without any user-interaction.Code:rem *********************************************************************** rem With this script on a UEFI based machine a new HDD configuration will rem be created, that includes rem rem a Windows RE tools partition, rem a system partition, rem an MSR, rem a primary Windows partition, rem and a recovery image partition. rem rem These created partitions then will be populated with contents of the rem provided Windows 7 x64 DVD rem rem Requirements: rem imagex.exe 64-bit (must be copied to \Windows\System32 folder) rem diskpart.exe 64-bit rem install.wim from the provided Win7 x64 distribution (copied onto CD) rem rem You save this script as ReplaceWin8WithWin7.txt in \Windows\System32. rem To use this script to replace an existing Win8 installation with a rem new Win7 x64 installation, type "diskpart /s ReplaceWin8WithWin7.txt" rem without the quotes, of course rem rem With this script, the Windows partition is assigned the letter "W" to avoid rem drive-letter conflicts. After the computer reboots, the primary drive is rem automatically reassigned to the letter "C". rem rem Credits: rem http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh304353%28v=ws.10%29.aspx rem ************************************************************************ select disk 0 clean convert gpt rem == 1. Windows RE tools partition =============== create partition primary size=300 format quick fs=ntfs label="WinRE tools" set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac" assign letter=T rem == 2. System partition ========================= create partition efi size=100 rem ** NOTE: For 4KB-per-sector drives, change this rem value to 260 ** format quick fs=fat32 label="System" assign letter=S rem == 3. Microsoft Reserved (MSR) partition ======= create partition msr size=128 rem == 4. Windows partition ======================== rem == a. Create the Windows partition. ========== create partition primary rem == b. Create space for the recovery image. === shrink minimum=15000 rem == c. Prepare the Windows partition. ========= format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows" assign letter=W rem === 5. Recovery image partition ================ create partition primary format quick fs=ntfs label="Recovery image" assign letter=R rem rem The next commands copy the provided Win7 x64 image file to rem predefined drive partitions on a UEFI-based computer. rem set "drive=%CD%" set "cddrive=%drive:~0,3%" set "wim=sources\install.wim" set "imagefile=%cddrive%%wim%" rem === Copy the image to the recovery image partition == copy %imagefile% R:\install.wim rem === Apply the Win7 x64 image to the Windows partition ======== imagex /apply %imagefile% 1 W:\ rem === Copy tools to the recovery tools partition ====== md T:\Recovery\WindowsRE copy W:\windows\system32\recovery\winre.wim T:\Recovery\WindowsRE\winre.wim rem === Copy boot files to the System partition ========= W:\Windows\System32\bcdboot W:\Windows /s S: rem === Set the location of the Windows partition ======= W:\Windows\System32\reagentc /setosimage /path R: /target W:\Windows rem === Set the location of the Windows RE tools ======== W:\Windows\System32\reagentc /setreimage /path T:\Recovery\WindowsRE /target W:\Windows exit
BTW: My friends call me JUSTY
Last edited by jwoegerbauer; 21-04-14 at 03:03 AM. Reason: typo
cmangle (21-04-14)
ok thanks justy
Out of curiosity Justy do you know when (mm-dd-yy) the above script was compiled/created?
I can't imagine MS encouraging users (new and OLD) to go back to an OS they have already sold as compared to making money for MS (and it's shareholders) selling it's current OS's Win8 and Win 8.1!
I've been thinking of removing Win7 and installing XP 64 bit cause as new and neat and fast as Win 7 is (and maybe win 8/8.1) I have devices that have drivers that were NEVER re-written for Win7/8/8.1!
hmmm this decision is going to require some Victoria bitters !
Last edited by cmangle; 21-04-14 at 04:12 AM.
The script example shown is based on MS example "updated: June 28, 2011" and applies to Windows 7 64-bit. It's the method IT-departments and OEMs use to deploy Windows 7 64-bit on UEFI machines. Has nothing common with solutions to be found 1000+ times in obscure user forums - and also in PC magazines, yes they simply re-print such posts an editor found somewhere in the internet, and unfortunately here also so repeated by some fellow members.
I guess, the logic demonstrated with the script will work with Windows XP 64-bit, too.
Road map:
» extract Windows XP 64-bit ISO to temporary folder on PC
» delete there in root setup.exe
» copy diskpart.exe (and all its dependencies) to root of temp folder
» rename diskpart.exe to setup.exe
» copy imagex.exe (and all its dependencies) to root of temp folder
» copy <scriptname> to root of temp folder
» in file autorun.inf expand line open=setup.exe to open=setup.exe /s <scriptname>
» re-pack contents of temp folder to ISO
» burn the new ISO on a new DVD
Last edited by jwoegerbauer; 21-04-14 at 07:23 PM. Reason: road map added
i personally cannot see the point in going backwards,i know win 8 as it stands is painful but when you include classic shell its like win 7 on steroids or am i missing some thing?
There is a fine line between "Hobby" and "Madness"
allover here is a comment from a reviewer at tech republic concerning win 8 from his 19 year old daughter who purchased an Asus touch laptop with win8!
c/p
"My 19-year-old daughter bought herself a new computer without any of my input. She opted to go with an ASUS running Windows 8. The second she booted up her new machine, her first reaction was "This is not good." The Windows 8 tile interface felt like a toy (even using a touch screen). From that point on, her opinion was jaded, and she wound up returning the laptop."
from here, hxxp://www.techrepublic.com/article/ubuntu-14-04-wows-through-subtlety/#.
What people constantly confuse if they tear their muzzle about Windows 8: the software - the OS - which operates in the background, and the graphical user interface - GUI - that can be seen in the foreground. Yes, Windows 8 introduced as GUI the tiles concept, adopted from MS's mobile phones. But no one is obliged to use this GUI mode. People always had/have the chance to run as GUI the desktop mode, as also I do.
I have running Windows 8.1.1 in traditional desktop mode, don't use Start-screen mode, because the Metro apps available don't cover the spectrum of apps I need to work with on my laptop - VMs, compilers, editors, device emulators, etc.pp.
And, the 8.1.1 version of the Windows OS surely is the less vulnerable OS currently available on the PC/tablet market. So I must not fear any infections. Has anybody ever heard of an infection of a Windows 8.x machine - of course not having downloaded and installed malicious software?
Thanks Jwo, i never see the tile face with classic shell installed unless i click into it, i just see things as they were on win 7, plus the additions of the side bars i have become used to and actually makes life easier, eg easy to switch to vpn, can run 2 documents side by side etc. The tile face is a joke but it is now in the back ground. Took a month or two but i would not go back but the secret is Classic Shell, try it before you ditch win 8
There is a fine line between "Hobby" and "Madness"
weirdo (23-04-14)
I like Windows 8.1, I honestly don't know why so many people whinge about it - I also boot straight into the desktop, that's the way I prefer to use it.
Tiny (23-04-14)
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