Before you begin the downgrade process, there are a few things you need to do in order to ensure a smooth transition back to your previous version of Windows. First, make sure you have a backup of all your important files and data. Next, you’ll need to reinstall any programs that you may have installed since upgrading to Windows 10. Finally, you’ll need to reactivate any licenses for programs that require one.
Once you’ve taken care of the above, you’re ready to begin the downgrade process. The first thing you’ll need to do is download the Windows 10 installation media. Once you have the media, you’ll need to create a bootable USB drive or DVD. Once you have your bootable media, simply insert it into your computer and restart.
When your computer starts up, you’ll need to boot from the media. To do this, you’ll typically need to press a key during the boot process, such as F12 or Esc. Once you’ve done this, the setup process will begin. From here, simply follow the prompts to downgrade to your previous version of Windows.
Table of Contents
How to Downgrade to Windows 7/8.1 from Windows 10
Create a system image backup
If you want to downgrade to Windows 7 or 8.1 from Windows 10, you’ll need to create a system image backup first. This will ensure that all of your files and settings are saved before you begin the downgrade process.
To create a system image backup, open the Backup and Restore tool by clicking Start, then searching for “backup and restore.” Click the “Create a system image” link on the left side of the window.
On the next screen, you’ll be asked where you want to save your system image backup. You can save it to an external hard drive, a network location, or a CD/DVD. Choose the location that you prefer and click Next.
The backup process will now begin. This can take a while, depending on how much data you have on your hard drive. Once the backup is complete, you’re ready to downgrade to Windows 7 or 8.1.
Download the Windows 7/81 installation media
If you want to downgrade to Windows 7 or 8.1 from Windows 10, you’ll need to download the installation media for those operating systems. You can do this by visiting Microsoft’s website and downloading the appropriate ISO file.
Once you have the ISO file, you’ll need to create bootable media from it. This can be done using a USB flash drive or a DVD. If you’re using a USB flash drive, you’ll need to use a tool like Rufus to create the bootable media.
Once you have the bootable media, you can boot from it and follow the prompts to install the older operating system.
Perform a clean install of Windows 7/81
If you’re not happy with Microsoft’s new Windows 10 operating system and want to downgrade back to Windows 7 or 8.1, you can do so pretty easily. First, you’ll need to create a backup of all your important data just to be safe. Once that’s done, you can begin the process of performing a clean install of Windows 7 or 8.1.
To do this, you’ll need to boot from a Windows 7 or 8.1 installation disc or USB drive. If you don’t have one, you can create one pretty easily. Once you’re booted from the installation media, just follow the prompts to install Windows 7 or 8.1 like you would any other time.
During the process, you’ll be asked whether you want to keep your personal files or not. Be sure to select “Keep personal files” so that your data will be preserved. Once the process is finished, you’ll be back on your old operating system and can begin using it again just like before.
Restore your personal files from the backup
Assuming you have a backup of your personal files (either from a previous backup or from the “back up your files” feature in Windows 10), you can restore them to your Windows 7 or 8.1 computer.
To do this, first connect the backup drive to your computer. Then, open the backup drive and locate the “Restore” folder. Inside this folder, you should see all of your personal files backed up.
To restore these files, simply copy and paste them into the appropriate location on your Windows 7 or 8.1 computer. For example, if you backed up your “Documents” folder, you would paste the files into the “Documents” folder on your Windows 7 or 8.1 computer.
