Windows 10: trying to downgrade from 10 back to 8.1 on lenovo s21e

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I upgraded my lenovo s21e last week to windows 10 (using the upgrade from task bar). Since then I have decided to sell the laptop because I don't really like it. I want to restore it back to the original OS, so I did the research and saw that it should have been a relatively simple process (Update/security:Recovery:Gobacktowindows 8.1)

Unfortunately, it turns out that this option is not available on this particular laptop (Downgrade from Microsoft Windows 10, 8/8.1: What is Eligible? - ThinkCentre, ThinkStation, ThinkPad, Idea Tablet, IdeaPad, IdeaCentre).

Instead of the option to go back, I saw only 2 options (Reset this pP or Advanced Startup) I clicked on reset this PC and was given 2 more options to (Keep my file or remove everything) Because I didn't have any personal files on the system, I chose the second option assuming it would overwrite windows 10 with the original 8.1 operating system.

Obviously, it did not. I called Lenovo support and spent an hour arguing with them about the issue. They claim that it IS a possibility, but that I will need to pay $70 for premium support for the tech to "get their hands on my computer" to do the downgrade.

Understandably, I don't want to invest $70 getting advanced tech support in a computer I am trying to sell for $150. So I am trying to figure this out on my own-- although frankly after 2 hours of doing this instead of work that actually pays my bills, I'm wondering if the time invested is really worth the $ at this point . . . . hopefully you can help.

Based on my research I have 2 questions:


1. I do still have the microsoft.old files available in my c drive. Is it still possible with these files to compete the downgrade or do I need the recovery media?


2. If I do need the recovery media, would it be possible to go buy (and later return) another Lenovo s21e laptop with windows 8.1 installed and use that to make a backup recovery disc, could I then use that disc to downgrade my other Lenovo s21e laptop back to windows 8.1?

Thank you for your help.

:)

 

Downgrade from Free Windows 10 to Windows 7/Windows 8.1?

My lenovo didn't come with a backup disk or device.

The only thing it came with is a disk to make my lenovo form Windows 8 into an Windows 8.1 .

How to free downgrade from Windows 10 back to Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 .

 

trying to downgrade back to windows 8.1 from windows 10. cpu always at 100% and it won't let me HELP!

No I'm not following any specific OEM procedures. I'm kind of just winging it looking up information on the best way to get back to Windows 8.1. I guess I'm talking about going to clean install

 

Why not just do a clean install of Windows 10 and sell it with Windows 10 on it? You might have to download some driver's from Lenovo website and install them.

You can run showkeyplus from this forum and it will tell you what version of Windows 8.1 the product key stored in bios is for:
Solved Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

Lenovo website says it comes with Windows 10 Home 64-bit:
http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops...tab-tech_specs

That's what I would put on it and sell it with.

Looks like it originally came with Windows 8.1 with Bing. You can't download an ISO for that. I would leave it with a clean install of Windows 10 Home 64-bit.

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/landing...ows-with-bing/