Windows 10: Downgrading after clean Install of windows 10

Hello Ztrucker,

I do not have a lot to add to this thread. I have USB Recovery Drives for Windows 8 & 8.1 & 10, I don't understand why more people do not make these. Making a Recovery USB was the FIRST instruction inserted when my computer was new.

If anyone does have a Windows product key, I found ISO downloads from Microsoft. (sometimes bing search works for Microsoft sites)

WINDOWS 7 ISO FILE DOWNLOAD
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...nload/windows7

WINDOWS 8.1 ISO FILE DOWNLOAD
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...nload/windows8

 

Yes. Look for recovery to Windows 7 on this page. Easiest to click "View all".

Most viewed solutions for HP EliteBook 2740p Tablet PC - HP Support Center

 

Thanks for the info.

If you look closely at the top pane in both images, they are identical, except in the custom MMC, the columns show all of the information (including the 1st entry with no drive letter = Healthy(Recovery partition).

That's why I made the custom - I got tired of asking people to 'please do it again and show all of the information'. So I thank you for using the custom.

The other thing I thought was more useful than a graphical representation of the same information was the Disk list view in the bottom pane. This readily tells members the drive# and the way the drive was initialized (MBR or GPT).

That was a fair question *Wink To answer your question though, no I was just trying to determine if you had an OEM recovery partition that might have the HP Factory install media on it. It looks as though you do.

Looks as though I'm really late coming back to this - DavidG and Hippsie have provided some good information.

DavidG: If that page works the same way as it's predecessor (Microsoft Software Recovery), it only takes a Retail key. Many people have requested that MS allow a COA key to be entered, so I hope they changed it when they changed the page.

Hippsie: That reference looks promising, I'll read it when I get the chance.
If the Fkey to boot the machine into HP recovery still works, that would be great.

I'll be out this afternoon, but will check how things are going when I get back in tonight.

 

I think the F11 key will get you to the HP Recovery screen

Restart your PC and when the screen goes black tap the F11 key repeatedly

If it works, you'll get the option to restore to Factory settings.
HP added a minimal option - choose that if available - it doesn't load as much bloat software.
But then there might be some applications that you want reinstalled (Cyberpower maybe?) - use the full factory restore in that case.

IT's possible that this won't work ... there is another way.

You should create a Windows 10 Recovery Drive (just the recovery drive, do not copy Windows files). This will let you boot to a 'repair' Windows if the change I think will work does not. All you need are base Windows commands, not a full blown Windows recovery.

I'll wait to post those instructions until after you see if the F11 key works.

 

Ok thank you I will try this method and let you know if it worked

 

So it didn't work it just installed windows 10 right away (and just a note to get to get to the recovery page you need to click restart while holding shift)

 

Ok, thanks Obzan. I want to be sure we're not confusing the two recovery operations. One if the HP F11 recovery and the other is Windows Recovery.

I'm not sure why Windows would install 'right away' for either recovery option.

I'll take you at your word for what happened though ... where does the issue stand now.
You have Win10 installed - is it still running 'slow'?

You still want to revert back to Windows 7?

You previously did a Clean install and there is no Windows.old, but do you have a backup of your data?

The other option I previously mentioned is not viable - the Recovery partition is only 462 MB, not large enough to be the HP recovery partition.

You can try to download Windows 7 install media here:
Windows 7

Unless MS has changed things, the Windows 7 ISO download only works with a Retail key. If Windows was pre-installed an your machine (OEM box) try the key on the COA sticker on your machine.

The only other options you have are
Plead your case to HP, they might as a courtesy (use that word) send you install media. They won't give it to you easily, you really have to ask kindly and perhaps a few times.

If you know someone with Windows 7 install media that matches the edition on the COA sticker (Home, Pro, Ent ...) on your machine, you can use that install media and your COA key to Clean install Win7.

 

Hey Slartybart

thanks for all your help, When I try to use the f11 method my computer would beep a couple of time, but it would not go to a recovery page, which is why I used the "restart + shift" method. I am only saying this cause I wanted to make sure that that I tried this method correctly.

And as for your question,
my computer is still on windows 10, but the reason I want to downgrade is because hp hasn't released the proper drivers for my graphics card, touch pen and a few other functions. I don't have any back-ups before my windows 10 but there is a windows.old file which have appeared after I restored my computer. But I think that it's just my old version of windows, cause I can't use it to recover my windows 7.

but I just wanted to double check one more piece of information you said that I could use a key of another computer? so I have a windows 7 pro, could I used my brothers key if he already updated to windows 10, he also had the same windows and he still has his COA sticker cause I don't have one on my computer.

 

Hey So I Would like to thank you all, I have contact hp and they are send me a repair disc with my old operating system on it they really do have awesome service.

 

Yeah, that's why I originally said "If the F11 option still works ..." it didn't
The restart+shift was a good idea, but I wanted to see if the HP recovery op still worked, it didn't

Then I realized that the Recovery partition on your drive was way too small for Hp Recovery, so I abandoned the idea completely.

Don't count on HP to keep the drivers up to date after about a year's time. Let me rephrase that, don't count on HP updating older model support pages after about a year's time. They do house newer drivers, they don't make it easy to find them though. MS is managing Windows drivers though WU - they get the driver from the OEM and run it though a slew of tests on a slew of machines. Then they offer it through WU - that's the best place to get drivers now-a-days.

A case in point - the finger-print reader on my dv6 stopped working about a year after I bought the box, Validity, the software vendor was bought and sold a few times and there wasn't a good driver for 2 or 3 years, even when the dust cleared, the driver supplied by Validity had issues. I had given up ... unit I started testing Win10 ... WU supplied a driver for the fingerprint reader was loaded and it worked! And it was a Validity driver. So do not discount Windows Updates and drivers - I did before Win7, then Win8 was nearly perfect and Win10 follows that track record.

You can look in Windows.old to see what's there. Check the Users folder - if your data is there, copy it someplace safe.

Sorry, no you cannot use another key. You can use another disc.
But... now I see that you do not have the COA sticker on your machine.

This is GREAT news Obizan.

 

You're quite welcome, Obizan. We're all glad to be of help.

Good idea on your brother's keys, but did you try a key program such as Showkey - Windows 10 Forums or other such programs by any chance?

Glad to read you obtained good service from an OEM. *Smile

So far as drivers are concerned, MS has a site for those, which is handy. You must use IE with an extension that will be asked to be downloaded when there. Microsoft Update Catalog

 

Hi HG,

FYI, After changing my default browser to IE, I'm still seeing this page from your link.

 

Not sure, David. Mine installed without a problem. Perhaps it didn't install or install properly? Go to Settings in IE (gear icon/button) > Select "Manage add-ons" > Select "All add-ons" in the "Show" menu. Is "Microsoft Update Catalog" listed?





I'm sure IE 11 is listed in "About" in your settings, but are your current with updates? Mine are set as seen below.





I know you're a new member, but so as not to disrupt another's thread with problem(s), it is generally not courteous to post your own problem here. It's called "high jacking a thread". Either send someone a PM, post a Visitor message in a profile, or start another thread in the proper category on the forum's home page.

 

I will send you a PM later, I understand about hijacking a thread. I thought I was addressing a problem with your link not my Internet Explorer (version 11.0.10240.16413).
Sorry if I offended anyone I though this thread was almost finished, and I was just trying to check interesting links.

 

Yes, he does have it marked solved, but not all replies have been answered. I'm quite sure he'll understand this once. It's also in your best interest also. I may not have an answer or the correct one.