Downgrading a Laptop from Win 8 to Win 7

Gavin "shels"

Just got a new laptop today (Lenovo), it's from LaptopsDirect which means there's no install disc for the Win 8. The only Win 7 disc I have is from my old Acer which was an Acer upgrade issued by Acer (it was at the time Win 7 was just releseas and the laptop I bought was Vista).

Any ideas of the easiest way to downgrade, google throws up a lot of options but most of the tutorials are useless.

Cork24

Gavin shels wrote: »

Just got a new laptop today (Lenovo), it's from LaptopsDirect which means there's no install disc for the Win 8. The only Win 7 disc I have is from my old Acer which was an Acer upgrade issued by Acer (it was at the time Win 7 was just releseas and the laptop I bought was Vista).

Any ideas of the easiest way to downgrade, google throws up a lot of options but most of the tutorials are useless.

Best thing to do is just do a clean install, Laptops and most Desktop Computers now a day do not come with Windows OS Cd, Cuts down on unwanted Copies on the net..

You should notice that your laptop has a C:/ Drive and maybe a / Drive the D Drive holds the Files to do a Win 8 Repair or a Fresh Install.

So you can just stick in your windows 7 CD and Format the C Drive and do the install onto that..

Can't see why you want to Drop down to Windows 7 i see nothing wrong with Windows 8

Torqay

Unless your laptop came with Windows 8 Professional, you're not entitled to a free downgrade.

Your old OEM Upgrade license is not valid for any computer other than the one it came with.

You'll have to buy Windows 7 if you want to install it on your new laptop.

Gavin "shels"

Cork24 wrote: »

Best thing to do is just do a clean install, Laptops and most Desktop Computers now a day do not come with Windows OS Cd, Cuts down on unwanted Copies on the net..

You should notice that your laptop has a C:/ Drive and maybe a / Drive the D Drive holds the Files to do a Win 8 Repair or a Fresh Install.

So you can just stick in your windows 7 CD and Format the C Drive and do the install onto that..

Can't see why you want to Drop down to Windows 7 i see nothing wrong with Windows 8

C:/ Drive is named Windows8_OS (30GB)
/ Drive is named Lenovo (900GB)

If I put it onto the C Drive it will get rid of WIndows 8 yes? Any idea if my Acer upgrade disc would work or do I need a full Win 7 disc?

Hate Windows 8, so badly put together imo, would be nice on a phone but no a laptop.

AlmightyCushion

You can bypass a load of the newer features of windows 8 by installing classic shell or start8. It'll boot into your desktop and give you a start menu. I think you can even get rid of the hot corners too.

BostonB

Underneath most of Windows 8 is the same as Windows 7. Its just hidden behind the Metro interface.

Install something like http://www.classicshell.net/ or similar and most of the metro can be avoided.

unkel

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

You can bypass a load of the newer features of windows 8 by installing classic shell or start8. It'll boot into your desktop and give you a start menu. I think you can even get rid of the hot corners too.

+1

I've used both extensively (and others) and would recommend start8, although it will cost you about €3 or so

Gavin "shels"

Just got Classic Shell, decent kit, still plan on doing a full install of Windows 7.

GarIT

Some laptops that come with windows 8 can't be downgraded as they have no BIOS. You should check that first before you do anything.

BostonB

Whats the model no of the laptop?

Most reviews reckon Start8 is simpler and slicker for4 the average user than Classic Start. Classic Start is more old fashioned, a little bit more complex but then it does more. I've use it on Win7 to get back some earlier functionality in Windows Explorer and the menus.

I've kinda got used to Windows 8. Don't really have a problem it. I use XP and Windows 7 aswell and switch between them with no problems.

Gavin "shels"

GarIT wrote: »

Some laptops that come with windows 8 can't be downgraded as they have no BIOS. You should check that first before you do anything.

Will have a look tomorrow, cheers for the heads up.

BostonB wrote: »

Whats the model no of the laptop?

Most reviews reckon Start8 is simpler and slicker for4 the average user than Classic Start. Classic Start is more old fashioned, a little bit more complex but then it does more. I've use it on Win7 to get back some earlier functionality in Windows Explorer and the menus.

I've kinda got used to Windows 8. Don't really have a problem it. I use XP and Windows 7 aswell and switch between them with no problems.

It's a Lenovo Z580.

I used Windows 8 a while back for a week while repairing my mates laptop, it had me driven nuts tbh, having used it for another two days since I got my new laptop it's getting even more on my nerves.

BostonB

I don't really see what Windows 8 does so differently (once you install a Start menu or similar)

Looks like that Lenovo Z580 has a new UEFI bios. Looks like its a little trickier than normal to downgrade. There seems to be guides and videos on the web.

Torqay

GarIT wrote: »

Some laptops that come with windows 8 can't be downgraded as they have no BIOS. You should check that first before you do anything.

It is possible to nuke UEFI Secure Boot (a feature wich could MS into trouble with the EU yet again), even on laptops that "don't seem to have a BIOS", more here.