Thread: Need Win 7- 64 Back !!

I know a lot about Raid..... I got caught in a raid once and spent the night in jail.

Seriously, setting up a PC with Raid, can make file recovery almost impossible except for the most advanced Tech's.

Using a Raid configuration without seriously Tweaking and Tuning Windows, to get rid of all, or most, of the SAFE DEfaults,
makes as much sense as putting racing tires on a Yugo.

I can get much better performance with a single SATA II HD and a well tuned Windows. If you actually have room for a second HD, then use it for Backups. Keep the C: drive as slim and trim as possible.

I've found an windows.old folder but cannot tell if there's anything there. When I click on it, it just reverts to more folders. As you can tell I'm not very savey when it comes to the internal workings of the PC. I downloaded 8 from and email from MSN so I'm not sure how it downloaded, I just know that I want to go back to 7. Somethings about 8 I like, but hate that applications and Word documents consistently go to a "non-responding" mode. I never had this issue with 7. And to many things are non-compatable with 8. I'm ope to help on how I can get back to 7.

Originally Posted by Ted Myers

Is there any chance you made an Image of your Win 7 OS just before installing Win 8. If so your restoration will take about 10 minutes. If not, as already mentioned, save the windows.old folder to preserve your data, then prepare to reinstall Win 7 and all your apps and updates. If it would help you can download the Win 7 iso including SP1 to save a little time. Use your original key during the installation.

This is a great reason to look into Imaging. An up to date Image with the Imaging app of your choice would allow restoration in about 10 minutes.

Originally Posted by timr

I've found an windows.old folder but cannot tell if there's anything there. When I click on it, it just reverts to more folders. As you can tell I'm not very savey when it comes to the internal workings of the PC. I downloaded 8 from and email from MSN so I'm not sure how it downloaded, I just know that I want to go back to 7. Somethings about 8 I like, but hate that applications and Word documents consistently go to a "non-responding" mode. I never had this issue with 7. And to many things are non-compatable with 8. I'm ope to help on how I can get back to 7.

The first thing you really should do is to backup that Windows.OLD folder somewhere safe, because inside there inside the "Users" folder you'll likely see your username folder which likely contains all of your old Windows 7 stuff that you want back.
Once you are sure that you have those critical files safe somewhere then you can give this a read and see if it works for you.
How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder

No Beta OS should ever be installed, except as, follows:

1. On a spare machine
2. Virtually
3. As a dual-boot.
4. Run from a USB stick

Never as an Upgrade or replacement to an existing, current, non-beta OS. Never on a production machine.
Nor, BTW, can one move from 1 Beta of an OS to the next or from Beta to RTM, etc... from Build to Build or stage to stage, except by clean installs.

Programs & software must be installed, after a fresh OS install.

Cheers,
Drew

I know, I know... hindsight is always 20/20

Originally Posted by Victour

Really liked the Speed of loading win 8 and the new clock and background.. hated the Icons... anyway I want to go back to Win 7 because I don't like the fact that anything is hard to find.. The windows button don't take you to downloads or Documents or Programs. I have to search to find anything.. My Games that I installed to test everything work fine Crysis , Crysis war , Doom, and Quake... Quake 4 was iffy..

So Now I want to go back to 7 but all I can find that would work is to do a complete New install without saving anything.. when I added 8 it was called a Demo therefore I thought I could Remove it without losing everything.. I installed win 8 and kept all my files, but Now I can't do that with Win 7, unless you know something I Don't I tried a win 7 repair NOPe.. When I tried to update IE to 11 I was told I could not do that with XP.. ??? Also only one of my Teri bites show up The other is listed in the Bios but not the Boot record.. it is listed as a Removable Drive.. So ! please let me know what to do to get my Win 7 64 Back..

Victour I knew when installing Windows 8 preview it was going to require a clean install if I wanted to go back. System is rather new so I didn't have that much. Believe me, After 8 days with Windows 8, I didn't care what I lost going back to Windows 7. I'd have lost a year of stuff to get rid of it. I backed up what wasn't already backed up and flushed 8 so fast the usage stat collecting servers spun. At this rate, I will be on 7 until the last day it's support cycle. And even then I might just be like the XP users and cling to Windows 7 for dear life. The only thing I liked about 8 was having my icons at the bottom of both my monitors and even that should have been where it's a continuation of your task bar, not a repeat. I hate Metro, I hate the new start thing whatever you want to call it. Using full screen metro apps is silly. Defeats the whole purpose of being able to tile windows or whatever you like to access them easilly. I hated the missing start button, having to put the cursor in this corner to find this and that corner to find that. I think for touch screen it is marvelous. If they want to put that stuff on their phones and tablets, I'm all for it. I have no desire to buy either, but at least the UI will fit the hardware. Just leave the desktop and lap top versions as is in 7 and make the under the hood of the OS better. So Victour just be thankful you CAN get rid of Windows 8. I sure am!