Windows 8 to 7

CRUMPLYPORK · 16 Mar 2014 at 18:44

Hi People

Is it possible to downgrade from 8 to 7 at no charge on the Microsoft website,
I've just purchased a laptop on the forum but it has win 8 and I absolutely hate it.
Or what would your recommendations be?

Boomstick777 · 16 Mar 2014 at 19:05

CRUMPLYPORK said:
Hi People

Is it possible to downgrade from 8 to 7 at no charge on the Microsoft website,
I've just purchased a laptop on the forum but it has win 8 and I absolutely hate it.
Or what would your recommendations be?

Have you tried using classic start? It restores the traditional 'Windows 7' style desktop. Windows 8 is much better to use after doing that.

You can get it here - http://ninite.com/

Tick the boxes of the Progs you want and then run the installer, Classic Start is at the bottom right of the selections. Worth giving it a try at least..

KIA · 16 Mar 2014 at 19:09

http://startisback.com/

Well worth $3 to get rid of metro.

CRUMPLYPORK · 16 Mar 2014 at 19:11

Boomstick777 said:
Have you tried using classic start? It restores the traditional 'Windows 7' style desktop. Windows 8 is much better to use after doing that.

You can get it here - http://ninite.com/

Tick the boxes of the Progs you want and then run the installer, Classic Start is at the bottom right of the selections. Worth giving it a try at least..

Ok I'll give this ago when I get the laptop thanks.

Deleted member 77746 · 17 Mar 2014 at 11:10

KIA said:
http://startisback.com/

Well worth $3 to get rid of metro.

Not for much longer with 8.1.1

linktoinsanity · 17 Mar 2014 at 11:25

KIA said:
http://startisback.com/

Well worth $3 to get rid of metro.

This. Best Start menu replacement for Windows 8 out there.

Classic Shell however will also do the job.

nutsnut · 17 Mar 2014 at 23:28

CRUMPLYPORK said:
Ok I'll give this ago when I get the laptop thanks.

You decided you hate windows 8 but you haven't got the laptop yet? I assumed you've already spent some time with win8 to come too this conclusion.

abbotsmike · 18 Mar 2014 at 00:16

CRUMPLYPORK said:
Or what would your recommendations be?

Try it for a while, you might find that it's not actually any harder to use than 7.

trentlad · 18 Mar 2014 at 00:21

nutsnut said:
You decided you hate windows 8 but you haven't got the laptop yet? I assumed you've already spent some time with win8 to come too this conclusion.

FOR SHAME! Have you been using Win 8 on another system?

To answer your question though OP (amazing how many don't) when you purchased the laptop they generally do not allow you to choose an earlier iteration of Windows with the exception of Vista.

Are you buying it from OcUK? I bet they'll be more flexible if you call them up and ask. Otherwise to downgrade you'll need a license for Windows 7 just as though you were buying it fresh. You could try selling your Windows 8 key and putting that cash towards a 7 license... sorry.

CRUMPLYPORK · 18 Mar 2014 at 07:41

nutsnut said:
You decided you hate windows 8 but you haven't got the laptop yet? I assumed you've already spent some time with win8 to come too this conclusion.

trentlad said:
FOR SHAME! Have you been using Win 8 on another system?

To answer your question though OP (amazing how many don't) when you purchased the laptop they generally do not allow you to choose an earlier iteration of Windows with the exception of Vista.

Are you buying it from OcUK? I bet they'll be more flexible if you call them up and ask. Otherwise to downgrade you'll need a license for Windows 7 just as though you were buying it fresh. You could try selling your Windows 8 key and putting that cash towards a 7 license... sorry.

I have had a play with 8 on my sisters laptop and just cant get my head round it but your right in one sense that I haven't been using it on a day to day basis.

korgtronix · 18 Mar 2014 at 08:36

You could upgrade it to 8.1 with the ability to go straight to desktop on boot the start menu becomes a massive start menu rather than a really annoying screen.

tom_e · 18 Mar 2014 at 09:27

Switch to boot to desktop mode and install one of the classic start bar mods, it's what I've done and you'd struggle to know it was Win8 and not Win7 especially if you turn off smart corners and bits like that as well.