Downgrading to Windows 7

snowy

New Member
Messages
8
So my laptop came with Windows 8 preinstalled and I'm going to downgrade to Windows 7, but if ever I want to go back to Win 8 in a future, I'll need an OEM installation media as my license is OEM, discs were not supplied, however there's a recovery partition on my drive.

My question is: are instalation media, recovery media, recovery partition and system image the same things as do they all work for installing and recovering windows?

If yes does that mean that if I leave win8's recovery partition untouched, I'll be able to install win 8 from it later? Or I'll need to have done something else (created DVDs, system image or something)? Sorry but that's not very clear for me, if someone could explain a little the differences or give me a link to this I'll be very glad.

And another question, in the drive there are the following partitions:
OEM partition, EFI system partition, 1.44 GB recovery partition, 17.20 GB recovery partition, C: (OS partition), and D: (data).
In order to install Windows 7, only C: will have to be formatted? or besides D:, what will have to be formatted and what will not?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can clarify that for me :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
Welcome to EightForums

1) Downgrade to Windows 7.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13326-downgrade-windows-8-windows-7-a.html
Warning you must have the uEFI/BIOS firmware setting in Step Three set.


2) If Using a USB Pendrive on a PC with a uEFI BIOS.
USB Pendrive need to be formated to FAT32 as in
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html
Take note of Step 11 for Windows 7.
Also you will need to use a USB 2.0 port, as there are no USB 3.0 drivers in Windows 7.



snowy said:
My question is: are instalation media, recovery media, recovery partition and system image the same things as do they all work for installing and recovering windows?

information   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html




If yes does that mean that if I leave Windows 8's recovery partition untouched, I'll be able to install win 8 from it later? Or I'll need to have done something else (created DVDs, system image or something)? Sorry but that's not very clear for me, if someone could explain a little the differences or give me a link to this I'll be very glad.

If you delete any of the OEM partitions, the Recovery Partition will be unusable.
You will need the OEM Recovery DVD's.

You can order OEM Recovery disks from your OEM manufacturer's website.
Most OEM's will ship Recovery DVD's for FREE, (may be a postage fee)
(unknown OEM)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
you laptop should have the option right now to create the recovery disk/thumbdrive for when you need it ,what is the make/and model # of the laptop
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
It's a Vaio SVS151290X

Then I could make a DVD with an ISO and it would work both for installing windows and recovering as well?

The problem is I can only find ISO for retail version, last time I checked could not find for OEM. I'm not sure if Sony ships recovery disks, and even if they do, I'm not in the US right now, and don't think they would ship overseas.

Could I make an OEM ISO somehow with the files on my computer, from the OEM partitions maybe? Or would the recovery disks I create with manufacturer's app also work for installing windows?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
ok, but can recovery discs be used to install windows 8 back after removing it?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
ok, but can recovery discs be used to install windows 8 back after removing it?

yes thats the reason you create the recovery disk
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
Understood.
So, just to be sure about the partitions, I only format C: and leave the others there?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
i stand corrected ,soory
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
I'm having a problem installing it for UEFI :(

I've reset BIOS to default and disabled secure boot (could not find a CSM option though), booted from DVD, it loads files then freezes at the 'starting windows' screen.

Already tried the following:
waiting over half a hour
reinserting the DVD
disabling everything but the optical drive
setting the optical drive to boot first
updating the BIOS

Nothing of this worked, it always gets stuck at 'starting windows' screen.
Then I changed UEFI mode to legacy and the installation appears to load fine.

But I prefer an UEFI installation if possible, by what I googled I found that the ISO burnt to the DVD must have UEFI support, I'm not sure if mine does, it's a x64 Windows 7 professional with SP1 downloaded from Digital River.
Does it already have UEFI support or I have to do something for it to have?

Don't know if that's the problem but to boot from DVD, I don't see an UEFI DVD option nor the 'select boot device' screen as it shows in the tutorial. I try f2, f12, f11 at boot and nothing happens. The only way I seem to get to something similar is shutting down and pressing the 'assist' vaio button then I just find a "start from media (USB device/optical drive)" option, but nothing saying UEFI.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
But I prefer an UEFI installation if possible, by what I googled I found that the ISO burnt to the DVD must have UEFI support, I'm not sure if mine does, it's a x64 Windows 7 professional with SP1 downloaded from Digital River.
Does it already have UEFI support or I have to do something for it to have?

Digital River Windows 7 x64 ISO's have UEFI support.

Where do you buy your Full Windows 7 Product Key from?


VAIO User Guide | Why does a message appear and Windows fail to start when I turn on my VAIO computer?


How do I downgrade my OEM Windows 8 to Windows 7 P... - Sony Community

PeterT said:
Currently we do not have any support for Windows 8 downgrade to Windows 7 at this moment. We are investigating this area and drivers to see if this is possible. We should have some kind of an update by Jan or Feb 2013 in terms of what model is eligible or not.


Sony Community Manager
Sr. Software Engineer
Peter Tat






Sony eSupport - Windows® 7 Clean Install Instructions for Windows® 8 PCs

Sony said:
1.With the computer powered off, press the Assist button to enter the VAOCare Rescue Mode Boot screen.
2.Select the ‘Start BIOS setup [F2]’ option to proceed to the system BIOS.
3.Once inside the InsydeH2O Setup Utility, use the arrow keys to select the ‘Boot’ list.
4.With the ‘Boot Mode’ option selected, press enter to change the setting from UEFI to Legacy. or (UEFI/Legacy if a option)
5.Use the arrow keys to proceed to the ‘Exit’ menu.
6.Select the ‘Save Changes’ option and press Enter.
7.After saving the changes, select Shutdown.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Windows 8 pro has downgrade rights to windows 7 or vista, no need to buy another product key. And currently there are win 7 drivers for my model.

That tutorial from sony tells to change UEFI mode to legacy, as I said previously when I did this the installation loads fine. But I want to know if there's a way to install it for UEFI.

I'm wondering, how do you get to the 'please select boot device' screen where there's an UEFI DVD option here on step 5?
It doesn't appear for me nor pressing f2 or f12 or f11 nor the assist button.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
Windows 8 pro has downgrade rights to windows 7 or vista, no need to buy another product key.

If your Sony came with Windows 8 Pro Pre-installed, use the Sony Windows 7 Downgrade Rights DVD, which will check that you had Windows 8 Pro Pre-installed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
It did not come with a downgrade DVD so I can only use a downloaded install or another DVD (if I had one)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
Call Sony & order the Sony Windows 7 Downgrade Rights DVD.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Hi, sorry if it's late, but feel I should leave an update to my case.

Think I found the cause but not the solution. Have read somewhere that it only works for UEFI if you select UEFI DVD at the boot device options, otherwise it won't work. And I don't see this option, it seems Sony disabled this or something, the BIOS is very limited.

Anyways, I'm moving on, windows 8 is not that bad with classic shell, the main reason I was downgrading were problems I am having with compatibility and stuff.

I did install win7 in legacy mode then, though I installed the drivers, some functions were not working, also it did not solve the problems I was having, so installed 8 again and am sticking to it for now and see if I can sort the problems.

Thanks guys for your time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
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