Solved Removing Windows 8

doodalydoo

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I'm trying to get rid of Win8 and install Win7 in its place. I've tried booting from CD and USB. When the computer boots up it gives me the option to boot Windows Setup or Windows 8.1. When I choose Windows Setup it brings me to a black screen and nothing happens. I really have no idea what to do at this point. Win8 has been nothing, but a pain in my side since I bought my laptop. Can someone please help me through the removal of windows 8? My laptop is a Toshiba Satellite C55-A5104 if that helps. Sorry if this belongs on a Win7 forum, but I figured this forum would know more about uninstalling Win8 than a Win7 forum.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Have a look at this, UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Help Forums . One thing I would do during the install is delete the partition with Windows 8 on it, the EFI partition and that first small System Reserved partition. Then create a new partition in that space and install 7 to it. Windows 7 should create its own system reserved automatically. That will completely remove windows 8 and prevent you from ending up with a dual boot or messed up install. Have you backed up what you want saved to external media?

EDIT: You may want to create your recovery media now incase you ever do want to go back to Windows 8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I'm trying to get rid of Windows 8 and install Win7 in its place.

YES & NO, down to your UEFI/BIOS firmware setting.

Welcome to EightForums

As this a OEM manufacturer's PC with Pre-installed Windows 8.

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.

Make sure you read the NOTE at Step three.

2) If Using a USB Pen drive on a PC with a UEFI BIOS.
USB Pen drive need to be formatted 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.


You will need to buy Windows 7.
 

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
Tried booting from USB and DVD. but it gives an error. "Error while attempting to read boot configuration data". I couldn't find CSM or UEFI boot in my BIOS, is that what is causing the problem?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Tried booting from USB and DVD. but it gives an error. "Error while attempting to read boot configuration data". I couldn't find CSM or UEFI boot in my BIOS, is that what is causing the problem?

YES.
 

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
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13326-downgrade-windows-8-windows-7-a.html

You need to do all of the step 3 first.


theog said:
3) Reset BIOS to default, and reboot to BIOS make sure Secure Boot is disabled.
Make sure CSM is ENABLED, & set to UEFI boot.
NOTE: Check your manufacturer's uEFI BIOS manual for settings.

Take a look at this post.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...-flash-drive-create-windows-7.html#post183006

From Toshiba Support site.

How to enable CSM for a Toshiba.(Satellite Pro C870, Satellite Pro L830, Satellite Pro C850, Satellite Pro R950, Portege R930, Portege Z930)

Toshiba said:
To downgrade from a installed Windows 8 OS to a Windows 7 OS, using a Windows 7 recovery media, follow these steps:

1) Boot unit and press F2 to get into BIOS

2) Go to "Security" tab and disable "Safe Boot"

3) Go to "Advanced" tab, select "System Configuration" then change boot mode from "UEFI" to "CSM"

4) Press F10 to save changes and exit.

5) Boot unit from recovery media (Press F12 on bootup to boot from USB or DVD media)
 

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
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13326-downgrade-windows-8-windows-7-a.html

You need to do all of the step 3 first.


theog said:
3) Reset BIOS to default, and reboot to BIOS make sure Secure Boot is disabled.
Make sure CSM is ENABLED, & set to UEFI boot.
NOTE: Check your manufacturer's uEFI BIOS manual for settings.

Take a look at this post.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...-flash-drive-create-windows-7.html#post183006

From Toshiba Support site.

How to enable CSM for a Toshiba.(Satellite Pro C870, Satellite Pro L830, Satellite Pro C850, Satellite Pro R950, Portege R930, Portege Z930)

Toshiba said:
To downgrade from a installed Windows 8 OS to a Windows 7 OS, using a Windows 7 recovery media, follow these steps:

1) Boot unit and press F2 to get into BIOS

2) Go to "Security" tab and disable "Safe Boot"

3) Go to "Advanced" tab, select "System Configuration" then change boot mode from "UEFI" to "CSM"

4) Press F10 to save changes and exit.

5) Boot unit from recovery media (Press F12 on bootup to boot from USB or DVD media)
I don't have that under my System Configuration tab
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Toshiba UEFI/BIOS firmware.

Toshiba-001-2.PNG

Toshiba-002-2.PNG

Toshiba-003-2.PNG
 

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
My Bios looks nothing like that. This is a pic of my Bios under the System Configuration tab
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Check your UEFI/BIOS firmware manual.
 

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
Hola Doodalydoo.

I have exactly same laptop you have. I went thru same thing you did. FOUND SOLUTION!! BIOS version 1.10 does not support CSM setting. If you update BIOS to 1.30 - it will then support CSM setting. Check your BIOS version - if it is 1.10 then its old. Go to Toshiba website and download newer version 1.30. It can be found at
Satellite C55-A5104 Support | Toshiba. No need for CDs in updating BIOS. If you using Google Chrome, click on 'BIOS version 1.30'

Then click on blue 'Download' button. Once download is complete, look at bottom left corner and click on 'install BIOS 1.30'. Follow instruction on screen. Once restarting computer complete. Go back to BIOS screen and check the version - it should show 1.30 version.
Disable Secured Boot. Then check if you have the UEFI/CSM setting. Change setting to CSM. Then change boot setting to ODD. Then put in your Windows 7 CD (make sure you have product key too). Restart computer and Windows 7 installation should appears. GOOD LUCK!

 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Hola Doodalydoo.

I have exactly same laptop you have. I went thru same thing you did. FOUND SOLUTION!! BIOS version 1.10 does not support CSM setting. If you update BIOS to 1.30 - it will then support CSM setting. Check your BIOS version - if it is 1.10 then its old. Go to Toshiba website and download newer version 1.30. It can be found at
Satellite C55-A5104 Support | Toshiba. No need for CDs in updating BIOS. If you using Google Chrome, click on 'BIOS version 1.30'

Then click on blue 'Download' button. Once download is complete, look at bottom left corner and click on 'install BIOS 1.30'. Follow instruction on screen. Once restarting computer complete. Go back to BIOS screen and check the version - it should show 1.30 version.
Disable Secured Boot. Then check if you have the UEFI/CSM setting. Change setting to CSM. Then change boot setting to ODD. Then put in your Windows 7 CD (make sure you have product key too). Restart computer and Windows 7 installation should appears. GOOD LUCK!

Yes I've done that already, but thanks for the headsup anyway. Glad Toshiba finally fixed this problem
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
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