Solved How Do I Downgrade To Windows 7?

tayler295

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Hi Eight Forums,
I recently got an Acer Aspire E1-571-6442 and I have been using Windows 8 for a bit to try it out. I have decided to downgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium x64, but whenever I load the setup I get this error:
Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style. I have tried going into Legacy BIOS mode to disable secure boot, but that didn't work either. How can this be fixed?

-Tayler
 
No worries. You just didn't open an "elevated" (run as administrator) PowerShell from step 1. Click on the link in step 1 for more details to help. :)
 
No worries. You just didn't open an "elevated" (run as administrator) PowerShell from step 1. Click on the link in step 1 for more details to help. :)

My BIOS is in UEFI mode but secure boot is still enabled. Should I change it to legacy BIOS?
 
You would need to continue at step 3 since secure boot is enabled.

If you wanted to install Windows 7 with UEFI, then you do not want to change it to legacy BIOS.
 
You would need to continue at step 3 since secure boot is enabled.

If you wanted to install Windows 7 with UEFI, then you do not want to change it to legacy BIOS.

Whats the difference between installing Windows 7 with UEFI or Legacy?
 
Legacy is without UEFI.

The video below can better help with the differences. Since your motherboard supports UEFI, it would be better to install with UEFI to take advantage of it. :)

[video=youtube;dRMIvY7BiL4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRMIvY7BiL4[/video]
 
Legacy is without UEFI.

The video below can better help with the differences. Since your motherboard supports UEFI, it would be better to install with UEFI to take advantage of it. :)

[video=youtube;dRMIvY7BiL4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRMIvY7BiL4[/video]

I repeated step 3 3 times, and secure boot is still enabled. The only way I can make secure boot disable is to put the bios in legacy.
 
When you disabled secure boot in your UEFI firmware settings, did you save your settings afterwards?

If you prefer to stick with legacy, then you could:

 
On some Acer, Gateway, P. Bell, Windows 7 x64 will not install in UEFI mode.

Windows 8 Desktops - How to Disable Secure Boot - YouTube



Enabling the boot device menu

Acer said:
On most Acer systems, you can use the F12 key on boot to select the drive or network from which loading the operating system. In case the F12 option does not work, you may need to enable this function.

SOLUTION

Enabling the F12 function:

1.Power on the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press the F2 key, or the DEL key if you have a desktop, to enter the BIOS.
2.Press the right arrow key to select Main.
3.Use the arrow keys to navigate to F12 Boot Menu, and press ENTER.
4.Select Enabled, and press ENTER.
5.Press the F10 key to save changes and restart the system.


How to Enable or Disable Secure Boot

Acer said:
This article only applies to: Windows 8 Desktops

Bootable media from previous versions of Windows may not be recognized in Windows 8. You can change the Secure Boot setting and it should recognize the bootable device.

Use the following steps to change Secure Boot:

1.Completely shut down your computer.
2.Power on the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press Delete to enter the BIOS.
3.Use the right arrow key to select Authentication.
4.With Secure Boot highlighted, press Enter and then the down arrow to select Disabled.
5.Use the right arrow key to select Boot Options.
6.With Launch CSM highlighted, press Enter and use the down arrow to select Always.
7.Press Enter.
8.Press the F10 key to save changes and restart the system


ACER Related Videos.

Windows 8 - Access to Uefi Firmware Settings - Option - YouTube
Iconia W700 - How to Enter the BIOS - YouTube
Windows 8 Desktops - How to Disable Secure Boot - YouTube
 
On some Acer, Gateway, P. Bell, Windows 7 x64 will not install in UEFI mode.

Windows 8 Desktops - How to Disable Secure Boot - YouTube



Enabling the boot device menu

Acer said:
On most Acer systems, you can use the F12 key on boot to select the drive or network from which loading the operating system. In case the F12 option does not work, you may need to enable this function.

SOLUTION

Enabling the F12 function:

1.Power on the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press the F2 key, or the DEL key if you have a desktop, to enter the BIOS.
2.Press the right arrow key to select Main.
3.Use the arrow keys to navigate to F12 Boot Menu, and press ENTER.
4.Select Enabled, and press ENTER.
5.Press the F10 key to save changes and restart the system.


How to Enable or Disable Secure Boot

Acer said:
This article only applies to: Windows 8 Desktops

Bootable media from previous versions of Windows may not be recognized in Windows 8. You can change the Secure Boot setting and it should recognize the bootable device.

Use the following steps to change Secure Boot:

1.Completely shut down your computer.
2.Power on the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press Delete to enter the BIOS.
3.Use the right arrow key to select Authentication.
4.With Secure Boot highlighted, press Enter and then the down arrow to select Disabled.
5.Use the right arrow key to select Boot Options.
6.With Launch CSM highlighted, press Enter and use the down arrow to select Always.
7.Press Enter.
8.Press the F10 key to save changes and restart the system


ACER Related Videos.

Windows 8 - Access to Uefi Firmware Settings - Option - YouTube
Iconia W700 - How to Enter the BIOS - YouTube
Windows 8 Desktops - How to Disable Secure Boot - YouTube

Well I am not using a desktop, and the thing to disable secure boot is faded and I cannot click on it. It will only change to disabled if I change the BIOS to legacy, should I change it?
 
How to Enable or Disable Secure Boot

Acer said:
Changing BIOS mode from UEFI to Legacy
1.Completely shut down your computer.
2.Power on the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press F2 to enter the BIOS.
3.Use the right arrow key to select Boot.
4.With Boot Mode highlighted, press Enter, and then use the down arrow to select Legacy BIOS.
5.Press Enter.
6.Press F10, and select Yes to save the change and exit the BIOS.

Try Legacy.
 
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