Windows 10: Go Back to the Previous Version of Windows in Windows 10

Since there was no hard drive activity, I powered it off, waited a couple of minutes, turned it back on and it just started normally. *Smile

 

Sounds good to me here! *Biggrin I run across some who end up needing to reinstall their programs, drivers, etc. if not ending up with a clean install of the older version when having problems reverting back. At least it went smooth for you there.

 

Possibly odd question - how does one tell if the hard drive is active or hung if one's Lenovo laptop does not feature a light to indicate activity?

i attempted today to upgrade from Windows 8 to 10. The upgrade seemed to go okay. I had to reinstall a couple of apps, but no biggie. Things seemed to work, attached external drive to watch a movie, and like 30 minutes in, it just hung up on me. I suspect the default power settings did something, since it was exactly 30 min. Anyway, had to do a force restart since machine wouldn't respond. After that, I discovered that my sound was not working anymore somehow, and couldn't find a way to fix that; so I this time did a proper restart in the hopes it would fix that issue - and after that, I can't get past the screen where it says it can't restart. Tried various options presented there - such as safe mode, clicking Restart in that menu, etc - and ultimately opted to go back to the previous build. That was an hour ago, so a Google search led me here.

so ... I gather from other posts, that this could very well talk a whole day, BUT: should it turn out that my machine is fully hung up and not just taking a really really long time, I'd like to figure that out before too much time passes...

 

Hello Echoedmyron, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

Without a HDD activity light it's going to be harder to tell unless the HDD is spinner and you can hear it clattering away.

If you have the time, I'd let it sit and do it's thing overnight to see if it finished by morning. If it doesn't, then you may be looking at having to clean install Windows 8.1.

 

Geez, I hope I don't have to do a clean install. I have so much on here and haven't done a backup in a while.

 

If you sign up to get the Insider Preview builds the upgrade seems to be going quite smoothly with this latest Threshold 2 build in contrast to how upgrades were coming out with the July 29 build. A clean install however is still the best move to insure the best end result OS wise! The clean install will generally be found bug free while upgrades can end up being a bit messy at times and end up needing a repair or worse total wipe!

You might want to expect some programs will either need newer versions as well as reinstalls following any upgrade anyways to a newer version of Windows regardless of which newer version you move up into. This is common element of compatibility issues that come up between different versions where some recently installed even version simply will not run or may not even install on the newer. Your av program or system protections are not invulnerable to this either and more frequently need the newer or latest out if not seeing definitions updated to a newer build.

 

So, I let the rebuild go for 48 hours, knowing it takes a while. After that, hadn't shown any progress, so I hit the power button, waited a bit, and restarted. Within 20 minutes I was back where I started with a functional Windows 8 and nothing was lost. So that's a relief. I will back up ALL my files to my external before attempting to upgrade to WIndows 10 next time, so that if I do need to do a clean install I won't lose anything.

 

Since you're on Windows 8 now, you could use the method in the tutorial below to clean install to Windows 10. The GenuineTicket.xml file will be your activation backup in case Windows 10 doesn't automatically activate.

Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First

 

The Media Creation tool has apparently been updated as well no longer seeing the dual 32bit/64bit ISO for each edition but now sees the two editions wrapped together for either the 32bit or 64bit iso download. So far every upgrade install with the 10586 has gone well and not seen a single bug even on the two dual boots on the physical drives unlike those first upgrades with the 10240s! So if you do elect to try the upgrade path again you may only need to see a few programs reinstalled.

 

Hi! My computer is going back to previous build for 11h because it installs automatically the new version of Windows 10 and I want my last version of the same Windows, is it possible by doing this?

 

Hello Nobre Welcome to the Ten Forums!

Are you referring to Threshold 2 the 10586 build continuing to replace an older build like the 10240 out in July? or one of the others? 10565, 10576 for example? The only way to revert back if not able to on the spot having the Windows.old and original iso or 10 media made might be a bit too late at this time unless you have an MSDN or TechNet account where the previous builds would still be found in the archives by this time.

If you keep the Windows Updates(WU) set for automatic and haven't disabled the OS upgrade or have signed up for the Windows Insider program the latest will come automatically and continue to do so each time you revert back. You want the "Let me choose" or Defer option set as well as having the registry entry in 10 created to prevent the automatic upgrade to the latest. Most who are looking for this however are those still running either 7, 8, or 8.1 and not wanting to see one of those upgraded over. Upgrade to Windows 10 Update - Enable or Disable in Windows 7 or 8.1 - Windows 10 Forums

Here I have the latest not only as an upgrade on two separate desktops but have seen the Threshold 2 upgrade over the 10586 on a pair of Pro VMs plus one for the Home edition all having seen the upgrade to the TH2 general release build out last month. The 10 install on the primary in a dual boot with 7 will remain a permanent addition for the time being or may eventually replace 7 when the next comes out then seeing 10 made the primary OS.

 

He's doing this for 13 long hours...
But what I do now? Ctrl+Alt+Delete or wait?
I only upgrade Windows once, at October 3rd (I don't know what Windows 10 version i have) but I know Visual Basic stops with this week upgrade.
My computer, before Windows 10 has Windows 8.1! I have graduate tomorrow, I need to prepare it and my computer just stop collaborating... HELP please!

 

Hello Nobre, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

If you still have hard drive activity, then it's best to wait until it's finished.

If not, then you could see if doing a hard shut down (hold power button down until PC powers off) and restart may allow it to pick up where it left off. Doing this will risk it failing and not going back, and possibly having to clean install Windows if there were more serious issues.

 

How I do a clean install Windows?

 

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html