Go Back to Windows 7 or 8.1If you’ve upgraded a PC to Windows 10—not performed a clean install, but an upgrade—you have an easy option that lets you revert to the last version of Windows. To access this, hit Windows+I to open the Settings app, click the “Update & security” icon, and then switch to the “Recovery” tab. You should see a “Go back to Windows 7” or “Go back to Windows 8.1” section. Click the “Get Started” button in that section to get rid of your Windows 10 install and restore your previous Windows install.Windows will first ask you why you want to go back. Just pick anything, and then click the “Next” button.Next, it will run you through a couple of screens where it asks if you want to try updating Windows 10 instead (to see if it makes anything better), and then reminds you that if you have a password, you’ll need to remember it or disable it while you can. When you get to the final screen, click the “Go back to Windows 7 (or 8.1)” button to make it happen.Windows will then restore your previous version, restarting your PC a couple of times along the way. This Process Uses the Windows.old FolderRELATED:Downgrading is possible because Windows 10 stores your old Windows installation in a folder named “C:Windows.old” on your PC. You can see this folder in File Explorer, though you shouldn’t attempt to delete it from here. You can also.RELATED:Obviously, storing every single file from your old Windows installation takes a lot of space. If you open, you’ll see just how much space it uses. Hit Start, type “Disk cleanup” into the search box, and then click the result to run it.In the Disk Cleanup window, click the “Clean up system files” button.In the list of files Disk Cleanup can remove, find the “Previous Windows installation(s)” entry, and can see just how much space it’s consuming on your hard drive. If you’re sure you don’t want to go back to your previous version of Windows, use Disk Cleanup tool to remove those files and immediately free up space. How to Downgrade if Windows 10 Doesn’t Give You The OptionAssuming you have an old computer you upgraded to Windows 10, that computer previously had Windows 7 or 8.1 on it. That means that computer came with a product key that allows you to use Windows 7 or 8.1 on it. If you can’t downgrade to your old version (maybe it’s been to long, or maybe something went wrong with your downgrade attempt), you’ll have to perform a clean install of Windows—something PC geeks often do on new computers, anyway.RELATED:Thankfully,. Download the Windows installation media and burn the ISO file to a disc or copy it to a USB drive using. You can then boot from it and reinstall Windows 7 or 8.1 fresh, telling it to overwrite the Windows 10 system already on your hard drive. Be sure you have backup copies of all your important files from your Windows 10 PC first.RELATED:You’ll have to if you do this. On a Windows 7 PC, examine your PC for a “certificate of authenticity” sticker with a key on it. The sticker may be on the back of your desktop case, on the bottom (or inside the battery compartment) of your laptop, or it may have come on a separate card with your PC. On a Windows 8 PC, you may not have to do this at all—the key may be embedded in your computer’s firmware. If so, Windows 8.1 will automatically detect it and allow you to reinstall Windows 8.1 without even asking you to enter a key.If you bought a new PC that came with Windows 10 and you want to go back to a previous version of Windows, that’s tougher. To do this legitimately, you’ll need to purchase a Windows 7 or 8.1 license and install it from scratch, entering the product key you purchased during the install process.If an important program or hardware device you use doesn’t work on Windows 10, you’ll want to downgrade. If Windows 10 just seems unstable, you’ll want to go back to your previous version of Windows and wait a while longer before attempting an upgrade. Or, if you’d just rather hang onto Windows 7 for a while longer, you can downgrade. If you’ve upgraded a PC to Windows 10 once, you’ll always be able to do it again later. ![]() By Rob Kuhn 7 years ago In reply to Downgrade win7 to xp There is no downgrade path. In other words you will need to backup your data, reformat and install Windows XP. I recently upgraded my HP 520 laptop from Windows XP SP3 to Windows 7 Ultimate. But now I really want to downgrade it back to XP. Unfortunately, I have deleted all the Windows.old files (folder). Feb 03, 2010 How do I downgrade from windows 7 to XP? I am not sure why you want to downgrade, I recommend you look at Windows 7 XP mode or a virtual machine if. Microsoft Corp.' S decision last week to five months means users have just that much longer to jilt Vista and return to the older - and some say more mature - operating system. But even with XP's reprieve, few PCs come with anything but Vista. Even if you wanted to take advantage of the wider window of XP opportunity, you might not know where to start.Note: Corporations that acquire Microsoft operating system software through volume license agreements such as Select License, or who have signed up for Software Assurance, can downgrade any Windows software at any time.For the rest of us, just what does it take to turn back the clock? Read on for more about the trip to Windows yesteryear. Related: What is a downgrade? To Microsoft, 'downgrade' describes the licensing rights it grants to older operating systems. Downgrade doesn't mean the process for rolling back Windows from Vista to XP, since there isn't such a procedure, not in the generally accepted use of 'upgrade.' In an older-to-newer move, developers usually make it possible to retain all the digital detritus on the drive, from already-installed applications and Word documents to iTunes tracks and family photos, while updating the system files. Not so in a downgrade.Specifically, these downgrade rights lets owners of some versions of Vista replace it with Windows XP without having to pay for another license. In effect, the license for Vista is transferred to XP. Think of it as a swap, Vista for XP, not as an extra license. By Microsoft's end-user licensing agreement (EULA), you can't have both the Vista and its downgraded XP installed at the same time on the same or different machines. You have to pick: It's one or the other.To the vast bulk of users, though, 'downgrade' is a synonym for reverting to an older version. In that case, it simply means dumping Vista and returning to XP.So, what downgrades does Microsoft allow? Owners of the OEM editions of Vista Business and Vista Ultimate can downgrade to Windows XP Professional, including Tablet PC Edition and x64 Edition. Only the OEM editions qualify for a downgrade, so if you purchased a new PC with either Business or Ultimate preinstalled, you're in like Flynn. Those who aren't: All users of Vista Home Basic and Vista Home Premium, and anyone who upgraded to Vista using a retail edition of any of the operating system's SKUs. You are, as they say, SOL.How do I downgrade? Install a copy of Windows XP Professional with the product key that came with the copy, and then when you hit the activation screen - which is near the end of the installation process - select the activate by phone option rather than the online method. You'll likely end up talking with a live rep; tell him that you're downgrading from Vista to XP, and give him the Vista product key. How To Downgrade Windows 7 To Xp Using CdThe rep is supposed to walk you through the rest.Where do I get the XP install disc? Until this summer, Microsoft put the responsibility on the end users' shoulders. For example, in this Vista downgrade rights document targeting resellers, the company said 'media is provided by the customer.' A few months ago, however, and began allowing resellers to provide Windows XP setup CDs to customers buying Vista Business- and Ultimate-equipped PCs. Download filmora 32 bit. In some cases, discs are shipped with the PCs; in others, users must request them. Don't bother calling Microsoft; it won't provide installation media, and will instead direct you to your reseller. Support for Windows XP ended on April 8th and you will need to eventually upgrade.You will need to decide whether to remain on XP for a while longer, move to Windows 7, move to Windows 8, keep your current computer, or purchase a new computer. Here is a quick guide: Remain on XP:Your computer will continue to work as it has in recent history, however, your computer will be at a higher security risk because Microsoft will no longer update XP. This leaves security vulnerabilities on all XP machines. To strengthen your security, make sure your anti-virus is updated. It is recommended to limit or restrict your XP machine from the internet because of increased security risks, however, if you still plan to use the internet on your XP machine, do not use Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer will not support XP any longer. Move to Chrome or Firefox for more secure internet browsing as they will continue to support XP.You may also begin to experience issues when you purchase new hardware such as printers. How To Downgrade From Windows 7 To Xp Without CdNew devices will not be compatible will Windows XP.Eventually, you will need to upgrade to either Windows 7 or Windows 8. In the meantime, take precaution with internet browsing to protect your PC. Here is a more in-depth article about ended. How To Downgrade From Windows 7 To XpMove From XP to Windows 7:First, you need to determine if you can continue to use your current computer or if you need to purchase a new one. To see if your PC is ready for Windows 7, download the free It scans your PC for potential issues with your hardware, devices, and installed programs, and recommends what to do before you upgrade.If your current computer cannot support Windows 7, you will have to purchase a new computer at some point in time. You can purchase a Windows 8 machine and downgrade it to Windows 7 if you are set on working on Windows 7. Keep in mind that downgrading to Windows 7 does get costly. Windows 7 machines are still available but are more limited each day. Move From XP to Windows 8 or Windows 8.1:It is very unlikely that you will keep your current XP machine and upgrade it to Windows 8, but here is an article about Unless your machine was very powerful for its day, then you will need to purchase a new computer with Windows 8. Before moving to Windows 8, make sure to call your 3rd party software and application providers to ask if their programs will work with Windows 8. You do have the option to buy a Windows 8 machineWant to know more?.
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