Windows 10: Downgrade To Windows 7???

Is it possible to "unallocate" my Hard Drive and Install and run Windows 7?

I'm wondering if my pre-installed windows 10 hardware will "warmly welcome" the downgrade install with "open arms"?

What complications might I encounter?

Are there any preliminary actions I need to take?

:)

 

How to Windows 10 Pro OEM downgrade to Windows 7 Pro

Understanding downgrade rights
Updated 11/30/2016

Important: the information on this page is intended for system builders and the downgrade rights that apply to their customers. If you are a customer of a direct OEM, please contact your OEM for more information about downgrade rights. If
you are a direct OEM, please contact your Microsoft Account Manager.

Downgrade and down-edition rights are an end-user right that Microsoft offers to customers for certain OEM products which meet the technical requirements for a Windows software downgrade. Downgrade rights are documented in the Microsoft Software License
Terms that customers accept upon first running Windows and Windows Server software. Thanks to downgrade rights, end users who have acquired a later version of the software (such as Windows 10 Pro or Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard) can use an earlier version
of the software until they are ready to migrate to a later version technology.

If a product includes downgrade rights, the license terms for that product will indicate which earlier versions of the software may be used.

Downgrade rights will vary depending on if the software was acquired via volume licensing, OEMs, or full packaged product (FPP).

Downgrade rights for Windows software
The following OEM versions of Windows software are eligible for downgrade rights.

Windows 10 Pro includes downgrade rights to:

• Windows 8.1 Pro
• Windows 7
  
  Professional

Windows 8.1 Pro includes downgrade rights to:

• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows Vista Business

Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate include downgrade rights to:

• Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, or Windows XP x64 Edition

Note Other OEM Windows 7 versions (for example, Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Home Premium) do not include downgrade rights.

Note downgrade rights are only available as long as Microsoft provides support for that earlier version, as outlined in the
Windows lifecycle fact sheet.

Steps for an end user to downgrade Windows software

To downgrade eligible Windows software, end users must:

• Purchase a PC preinstalled with Windows software.
• Accept the Microsoft Software License Terms.
• Perform the downgrade process to the eligible downgrade product using the media/key from a genuine, previously licensed OEM or retail product.

The downgrade process

Follow these steps to downgrade to an earlier version of Windows software:

• Use genuine Windows media and a corresponding product key for the version of Windows that is eligible for downgrade. The media/key should come from a previously licensed product from the OEM or retail channel.
• End users who are licensed separately through Microsoft Volume Licensing (VL) may provide their VL media and key to a system builder to facilitate the downgrade on their own systems.
• Insert the downgrade-eligible version of Windows media and follow the installation instructions.
• Enter the product key.
• If the software was previously activated, it cannot be activated online. In this case, the appropriate local Activation Support phone number will be displayed. Call the number and explain the circumstances. When it is determined that the end user has an
  eligible Windows license, the customer service representative will provide a single-use activation code to activate the software. Please note that Microsoft does not provide a full product key in this scenario.
• Activate the software.

For scenarios involving large volume downgrades, end users are encouraged to consider VL which provides the benefits of reimaging rights and volume activation, which can make the process of downgrading much easier.

Authorizing a third party to exercise downgrade rights for an end user

Because downgrade rights apply to end users, they are not designed for third-party facilitation, which has many complications. Also, such facilitation is not suitable for carrying out on a large scale.

 

Windows Downgrading from win 10 activated to win7

You will need to purchase a new Windows 7.

Learn more about downgrading:

How to Downgrade Preinstalled Windows
10 to Windows 7/8.1

 

Hi,
Why do you want to use '7?

1. Your laptop appears to have been sold with Win 10.
Asus X540LA-XX004T 15.6-Inch Notebook (Black) - (Intel Core i3-4005U 1.70 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 1 TB HDD, Windows 10): Amazon.co.uk: Computers Accessories
If so, you probably won't have compatible drivers available.
Would your BIOS work with Win 7?

Asus X540LA - Downgrade to Windows 7 : techsupport

2. Back up all data on the drive or in the partition.
3. Consider any issues related to GPT format if used.
4. Clean install Win 7, deleting all Windows 10 partitions (there may be several- more if you use UEFI boot).

Otherwise, you could run '7 as a virtual machine. This should even give USB access.

Finally, if you're determined to experiment and have the time to do so, I suggest
a. (easiest!) put in a spare HDD and try it. But be prepared for it not to work or at best show heat management issues
or
b. Create a full disk image, Wipe the disk and install '7. If it fails, restore the disk image.