Downgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 8.0

[james1234]

I have HP laptop with pre-installed Windows 8.0. During last couple of months I have been seeing "Automatic Windows Upgrade 8.1" message time by time but I always ignore/cancel that message.

2 months before when I was away, my PC was automatically upgraded to 8.1 but then my Logitech Combo Wireless keyboard started creating problems and also I can't connect my external scanner with my laptop.

I want to downgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 8.0

I don't have Data in C: drive but I have installed my working applications so I prefer to do downgrade without losing applications because then I have to do lot of extra work.

How I can do this without losing my files and applications?

Thank you people for helping me.

James

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

A FAR better idea might be to UPGRADE to W10 => preview now lasts till OCT 2015 and seems a lot more user friendly and "W7 like" than W8. An UPGRADE install preserves files etc.

As always BACK UP SYSTEM before you start so you can always go back if something goes wrong and you can then start again.

Had you had a Backup in the first place you could simply have restored your old system. I know it's a bit late now but I'm STILL amazed that after all these years people STILL don't take backups --the whole job only takes around 30 ins on the SLOWEST of systems. !!!!

Cheers
jimbo

 

[brooksndun]

quickly saw this and had to read to have a good laugh that someone actually wants to downgrade back to windows 8.0 which the entire world hated and then microsoft tried to come up with the solution of windows 8.1 which tried to give back a thing or two ... .ha

-anyway upgrade to windows 10 if you want .. otherwise definitely stay with windows 8.1

go to this page and type in your exact keyboard model number.. and then click downloads.. you will be looking for 8.1 driver for the exact model you have.. it will work and actually it's odd it doesn't automatically just work.. also run the windows update and see if it has a driver for you there in control panel..

do the same for your scanner.. type the model exact scanner name in google and look for windows 8.1 driver for the scanner you have.. also just plug in the scanner and type "scan" in the search bar (picture below) look at my pictures..


Logitech Support: Search




just go here and look for windows 8.1 drivers for Logitech keyboard exact model you have


here is your scan program you can try..

 

[james1234]

Actually I am not comfortable with Windows 8.1 because today I have these 2 problems tomorrow there might be 2 more i.e. unavailability of drivers of any other things, etc and I really don't have time to keep on troubleshooting all the time.

Logitech don't have utility for Windows 8.1 see here at Logitech Connection Utility Software - Logitech Support

So I decided to downgrade to Win 8.1

Anyone help how to downgrade.

 

[KYHI]

right click start flag > command prompt(admin)
type> diskpart
type> select disk 0
type> list partition (post a pic)
type> list volume (post a pic)

 

[james1234]

right click start flag > command prompt(admin)
type> diskpart
type> select disk 0
type> list partition (post a pic)
type> list volume (post a pic)

Thank you friend, here are images of partition and volume.

 

[KYHI]

type> reagentc /info

 

[KYHI]

I'm looking for the recovery partition - usually they are 10-20 GB you have 99GB partition

But you also have drive letters assigned to all your partitions - so my guess is the recovery partition was removed..

Your gonna have to download 8 but it is going to ask you to upgrade again, anyway

 

[james1234]

Here is required file.



I am learning here.

 

[KYHI]

that's what I thought.. the upgrade created the 450 GB partition and it appears the factory recovery of windows 8 was removed..

You can search your drives for install.wim or install.swm - if you find them - they may be your factory recovery images..

They are usually in a hidden "recoveryimage" folder

I'll tell though after reading your post again - any recovery will wipe your present version of windows..

 

[james1234]

How I can find these files, what's search option to find any file in whole PC?

 

[KYHI]

via file explorer - search
every drive letter

I pretty much think they have been deleted, pretty sure of it..