topic Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7 in Electronics

Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

purrmom — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 03:54:27 GMT

If I bought a laptop with Windows 8 could it be changed back to Windows 7?

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

stevieb — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 03:57:17 GMT

It can, but you might as well get used to 8. I'd venture the guess that most of what Windows introduces down the road, until their next big OS change, will be based on what's current now.

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

Iambeezer — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 07:11:59 GMT

Yeah as long as you buy a full version of windows 7 and then it will wipe your entire drive, you will lose everything unless you backed up and probably being a newer computer you will have issues with drivers.

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

Nuttmeg — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 08:39:31 GMT

You can still find a few computers running Windows 7. Dell sells them on their web site.

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

NYC Susan — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 11:46:11 GMT

I was told at Best Buy that computers with Windows 7 are still available, but have to be ordered.

I hated Windows 8 at first, but got used to it pretty fast. I have 8.1 now, and I'm happy even though I typically go kicking & screaming into any kind of change.

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

JavaQueen — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:55:10 GMT

This is generally response people have to Win8. If they don't know anything about computers or Windows tablets and phones, they love. It's a pain to do real work. Not browsing, email and consuming media. That's Ok.

If you have to switch around windows quickly, it's not geared for work. If you think about if, office computers and laptops don't have touchscreens and you're trying to manipulate with a mouse. Here's the irony. No one really wants Windows tablets and phones. Apple is the gold standard. Yet like it or not, we live in a Windows world.

What I hate is the embedding of flash and no easy way to upgrade. You are stuck. You have to fiddle with filtering and add ons. I added Classic Shell and the only I can see videos is using that browser with Classic Shell.

I don't think it would be possible to do a successful clean install of Win7. There is also the issue of drivers.

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

ChynnaBlue — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 18:50:17 GMT

I do think a successful clean install of Windows 7 is possible, but you'll be paying for Windows 8 and not using it, which seems a waste. You'll also need to buy a copy of Win7 if you don't have your own install CD (and you could run into licensing issues if you do have a CD you've used on an older system).

I've had to reinstall an OS on a computer before and install an OS on a brand new computer I built myself and the process was pretty much the same. When I reinstalled my old OS, there was a newer version available, but I didn't get it because the computer had issues and it would be a waste. (Also, the new OS then was Vista.) I installed the old OS and went online to find drivers for everything and it was fine. When I built my new computer, I installed the older OS on that one, too. (I still didn't want Vista because... Vista.) Again, I went online and updated all the drivers when I finished. It wasn't very difficult, but I've updated a lot of drivers.

Maybe someone with more experience will have better info, but in my experience, it's definitely possible. The real issue is, to me, do you want to pay an operating system you won't use, do you have access to a Win7 install CD, and do you feel comfortable doing your own install or do you want the additional expense of paying someone else to do it for you?

If you're not tech savvy enough to do it yourself, you're spending quite a bit of extra money to do this and it seems like a waste. It would be easier to find a computer with Win7 on it and might be easier to lean Win8 if you can't do that.

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

IamDoodles — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 03:53:50 GMT

If you want Windows 7 why not just buy a computer with Windows 7 installed? You can easily order one directly from the manufacturer-I've seen them at the Toshiba, Samsung, Dell, Lenovo websites. Build your own computer directly at these sites and get exactly what you want. It seems a bit silly to buy a computer with Windows 8 if Windows 7 is really what you want. Tiger Direct also carries Windows 7 computers. I'm sure there are others too.

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

toria — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 18:45:49 GMT

My new laptop has windows eight and I do not like it. I put all the icons for the sites I use on my "desktop" view. Then when I go on I just click on the desktop view tile and voila, I bypass all the windows eight stuff and go right to my little icons which I click on like before.

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

PattySC — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 20:36:22 GMT

I work for an electronic retailer, and we have people often wanting to purchase Windows 7 because they do not like Widows 8 so you could try that. Last year I had to purchase a new computer for my work from home job, and it came with Windows 8. The disc that I must use to work off of for the company, Windows 8 would not allow me to work off of that disc. Tech-support at the computer store where I purchased it tried their best to make it work, but they could not get it to work, so, they allowed me to return it was a full refund. I had to search for a computer with Windows 7, and I only was able to locate one computer in the entire large city where I live. I am just letting you know that the computers that were already loaded with Windows 7 were hard to find even a year ago. HTH and good luck!

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

Marp2 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 03:31:32 GMT

Purrmom,

Are you running windows 8.1? If not, update to the 8.1 version and you can set it to default to desktop view.

Once signed in go to desktop. Right click on the taskbar (at the very bottom of the screen) and select properties. When that opens click on the navigation tab. The second grouping has an option that says "When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go the desktop instead of Start." Check the box next to that and click okay.

Windows 8.1 will also give you back the start button although it is different. If you click on it you will go to the live tiles menu but if you right click a menu will come up that includes options to shut down.

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

toril — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 15:54:13 GMT

I cannot use my tiles any longer - anyone know why? I have to work from the desktop.

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

Brooklynny — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 00:20:29 GMT

I made a comment on another Electronics thread that Microsoft will announce Windows 9 in April of this year, and it will be released sometime in 2015. It's supposed to fix everything that everyone dislikes about Windows 8 and 8.1. I hope that's true!

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

maryebrown_1 — Sat, 18 Jan 2014 02:32:26 GMT

On 1/16/2014 brooklynny said: I made a comment on another Electronics thread that Microsoft will announce Windows 9 in April of this year, and it will be released sometime in 2015. It's supposed to fix everything that everyone dislikes about Windows 8 and 8.1. I hope that's true!

DH told me about that -- he said the new version will be similar to Windows 7 --Which we just upgraded to on our home computer. We have an eMachines from 2007, came with Windows XP and we had to upgrade to do *anything* on websites. He added 2 memory boards, too. This computer runs like a charm!

DS had a Toshiba Satellite laptop, bought in 2008 that had Windows Vista on it. I hated using that computer as did he -- it bit the dust in 2011! He bought a generic laptop last year and it was preloaded w/ Windows 8. He hates it (and he uses our computer sometimes when we aren't on, late at night).

It will be interesting to see how Windows 9 does! DH says the IT people at his workplace are disgusted w/ Windows 8 & 8.1 because there are compatibility issues w/ microstation they use @ work, and AutoCAD will be replacing that next month.

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

123SuzyQ123 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 01:16:12 GMT

I am one of those "can't teach an old dog new tricks" type person and I went from Windows XP to Windows 8 last summer. I totally hate Windows 8. Wish I had my OLD, tested, trusted XP version back!! I must say that I have learned to do a few things on this 8 version, but it much more trouble than my XP. Just had to vent when I saw this forum!!

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

michiganredneck — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 01:37:14 GMT

Just returned a new computer to Best Buy because I hated Windows 8, I had the Geek Squad help me and they couldn't transfer any of my icons! I worked with computers for 17 years on my job and never have I worked with such a stupid system. I didn't have the touch screen because I just purchased a new monitor last year, maybe that would have helped. I'm back to my Windows xp and I'll wait to upgrade when Microsoft comes up with a better system!

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

glb613 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 01:52:31 GMT

Transfer icons? What is transfer icons?

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

Nuttmeg — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 12:12:25 GMT

On 1/20/2014 mom2one said:
Just returned a new computer to Best Buy because I hated Windows 8, I had the Geek Squad help me and they couldn't transfer any of my icons! I worked with computers for 17 years on my job and never have I worked with such a stupid system. I didn't have the touch screen because I just purchased a new monitor last year, maybe that would have helped. I'm back to my Windows xp and I'll wait to upgrade when Microsoft comes up with a better system!

Microsoft will not be providing Security Updates to Windows XP after April 2014.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/enterprise/endofsupport.aspx

Your files and personal information will no longer be safe running Windows XP. You can still find computers running Windows 7 from Dell's site, Microcenter, and Fry's. Your can also look for HP Business computers.They maybe running Window 7 as well.

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

haddon9 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:02:31 GMT

I had to purchase a new desk top for my work from home computer this past summer. Both my DH and DS convinced me to get one with Windows 7 rather than 8. I went to a few stores in my area and everything had Windows 8. I was told in Best Buy that I could order something but it would take several weeks to arrive. I went home and ordered a Dell with Windows 7 from Amazon...got it within two days. I'm glad that I got the 7 since I've heard so many people disliking the 8 which sounds like a real PITA!!

Re: Changing Windows 8 to Windows 7

glb613 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:12:45 GMT

I now own a Windows 8 computer and wouldn't call it a PITA. It is very different from previous Windows operating system and has a steeper learning curve than Windows 7. I found switching from Windows to OS just as much of a challenge.