Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7

**theog** · 16 Nov 2012

How to Downgrade Windows 8 Preinstalled to Windows 7

Information

This tutorial will show you how to downgrade your Windows 8 Preinstalled with or without Secure Boot to Windows 7.

Note

We always assume you have made your Factory Recovery Discs using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC, and made a Startup Repair CD/DVD/USB.

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

You can order OEM Recovery disks from your OEM manufacturer's website.

You can use the Windows system image.

System Image - Create in Windows 8

Recovery Drive - Create with USB Flash Drive in Windows 8

System Repair Disc - Create in Windows 8

1) Open an elevated Power Shell in Windows 8.

2) Type confirm-SecureBootUEFI

If TRUE, your uEFI BIOS is set to Secure Boot, go to step 3 below.

If FALSE, your uEFI BIOS is not set to Secure Boot, NO need to reset uEFI BIOS. Go to step 4.

3) Reset BIOS to default, and reboot to BIOS make sure Secure Boot is disabled.
NOTE: Check your manufacturer's uEFI/BIOS firmware manual for settings.

Note

You may also need to

Make sure CSM is ENABLED, & set to UEFI boot.

enable Boot Menu.

enable BIOS password.

Technical Note: UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS - YouTube

Startup Options Menu - Boot to in Windows 8
Secure Boot - Enable or Disable in UEFI

Note

How to reset your UEFI Bios Firmware from Windows 8

Toshiba How-To: Resetting your UEFI Bios Firmware on Windows 8 - YouTube

NOTE: Example above, uEFI-BIOS is from a Fujitsu P400.

New AMI Fujitsu uEFI-BIOS, plus other OEM manufacturer's.

AMI | American Megatrends Inc. : Aptio® V Launch Hardware Showcase

American Megatrends Presents Showcase of Windows® 8-ready Hardware with Aptio® V UEFI BIOS Firmware at “Touch the Future with Aptio V” Launch Event

On Friday, October 5th, 2012

4) To boot your DVD, use one time boot menu

5) press enter on the UEFI DVD drive

6) Follow this tutorial:

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums

A) Delete all partitions. (in Drive Options)

B) Remake partitions. (in Drive Options)

How to Clean the HD Drive, using Step one in this tutorial:
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - Windows 7 Forums

& than Reboot PC to install.

All Done.

Warning

DO NOT ENABLE SECURE BOOT AFTER INSTALLING WINDOWS 7, WINDOWS 7 WILL NOT BOOT.

Note

When dual booting with Windows 8 Preinstalled & Windows 7

Follow Step one to five in this tutorial:
Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7

Warning

Before making the partition for Windows 7, delete the OEM Recovery partition at the end of HDD drive.
If you shrink C: before deleting the OEM Recovery partition, the C: & the new partition may be converted to Dynamic partitions.

Than follow this tutorial: (installing in uEFI mode.)
Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista

Related Tutorials

**Brink** · 17 Nov 2012

Great tutorial Ray.

**theog** · 17 Nov 2012

Thank you, Shawn.

**gregrocker** · 17 Nov 2012

Superb tutorial, Ray. We'll use it a lot over at 7F to UPgrade Windows 8 to Win7.

**SIW2** · 17 Nov 2012

Nice tut Ray.

The problem with all this - is that it is a bit challenging for the average Joe.

Many people don't even know disk management exists, or powershell ( my dad for example - he has been using a pc several hours a day for over 20 years ). They would be apprehensive about doing anything in Bios setup.

These are the kind of things that act as barriers.

People will just put up with what they been have given - too difficult and (they think ), too risky to do anything about it.

**Hopachi** · 17 Nov 2012

Great tutorial Ray!

Found the link thanks to gregrocker's post in another thread here.

I now know where to look in case of trouble. I printed this just in case.

I got my first UEFI machine, it's been about 3 weeks now, you know. HP envy, there's Insyde UEFI BIOS, F9 for boot menu...
All good.

**theog** · 17 Nov 2012

Originally Posted by gregrocker

Superb tutorial, Ray. We'll use it a lot over at 7F to UPgrade Windows 8 to Win7.

Thank you,Greg.

**whs** · 17 Nov 2012

I bet this tut will become very popular. Great job Ray.

**theog** · 17 Nov 2012

Originally Posted by SIW2

Nice tut Ray.

The problem with all this - is that it is a bit challenging for the average Joe.

Many people don't even know disk management exists, or powershell ( my dad for example - he has been using a pc several hours a day for over 20 years ). They would be apprehensive about doing anything in Bios setup.

These are the kind of things that act as barriers.

People will just put up with what they been have given - too difficult and (they think ), too risky to do anything about it.

Yes, some problem barriers.
Thak you, si

**theog** · 17 Nov 2012

Originally Posted by Hopachi

Great tutorial Ray!

Found the link thanks to gregrocker's post in another thread here.

I now know where to look in case of trouble. I printed this just in case.

I got my first UEFI machine, it's been about 3 weeks now, you know. HP envy, there's Insyde UEFI BIOS, F9 for boot menu...
All good.

Thank you, Hopachi.

HP info:
Windows 8 FAQ: Can I downgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 7? - HP Support Forum

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