Windows 10: Downgrade Windows 10

Hi, I was running windows 8.1 on my laptop but it broke. It was unable to be fixed so the insurance company sent me a brand new dell running windows 10. I hate it, I just want to know when the laptop came with windows 10 is it possible to downgrade to windows 8.1? thanks in advance

:)

 

8.1 home to 10 to 10 pro and back to 8.1...

No, downgrade rights to Windows 8.1 Pro only applies to preinstalled copies of Windows 10 Pro.

If you want to downgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro, you will need to purchase that specific edition.

How to Downgrade Preinstalled Windows 10 to Windows 7/8.1

 

PROBLEM IN DOWNGRADE FROM WINDOWS 10 TO WINDOWS 8/8.1

See instructions how to downgrade:

How to Downgrade Preinstalled Windows 10 to Windows 7/8.1

 

There is no downgrade path from 10 to 8.
You will have to purchase a genuine Windows 8 license and do a Clean Install over the Windows 10.
You will also have to check to make sure you have the necessary drivers from the existing Win 10 computer to run Win 8. You probably will have to install a driver or 2 after clean installing Win 8.

 

If i could find the installation CD from my old laptop could I use that?

 

It is not the software that is crucial. It is the product key needed to activate the system.
You need a valid, genuine Win 8 product key to activate if you clean install Win 8 over the pre-installed Win 10.

Product key that comes with an operating system pre-installed in a computer can NOT be transferred to another computer no matter what.

A retail product key that is already used for a computer can NOT be used for another computer.

 

If you have 10 Pro then it has downgrade rights to 7 Pro or 8.1 Pro.

10 Home doesn't so as @davidhk says you'd have to buy a license (either 8 or 10 Pro whichever was cheaper would do).

Understanding downgrade rights

 

What do you dislike so much about Win 10? Maybe we can help you overcome whatever that is so you can stay with Win 10?

 

Run showkeyplus from this forum. It will tell you the product key stored in bios and what version of Windows it is for. If it is a Windows 8 product key then you can download Windows 8 install media and use that to install Windows 8. If it is a Windows 10 product key in bios, then you will have to purchase a Windows 8 product key.

Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

Windows 8 download:
Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help