It’s a great idea that would work fine if it weren’t for one important detail…. Read our, Learn more about PCWorld's Digital Editions, In the resulting Disk Management program, right-click the C: partition and select. Do you think this will work or will it cause problems? However, because you are replacing a device, you cannot store the backup on the old computer. If you have a computer that came with the Professional edition of Windows 8, you have downgrade rights. |, Solutions, Tips and Answers for PC Problems. 1. For the rest of the installation, just pick the options you think are best. ... How to Restore Dell Windows 7 Computer to Factory Settings - Duration: 12:49. On one hand, it is a handy app launcher tool that can be used in place of the Start screen of Start menu, but on the other, it is a great way to access a world of new software. In addition to technology, freelance journalist (and sometimes humorist) Lincoln Spector is a passionate cinephile who writes the Bayflicks.net movie blog. That way you could keep your existing Windows 7 installation and have a legal retail copy of Windows 10 installed on your system at the same time. Press J to jump to the feed. Select a hard drive and partition you want to install Windows on. The easiest way to do it is by using Zinstall to restore everything automatically from your backup. Windows 7 Forums is the largest help and support community, providing friendly help and advice for Microsoft Windows 7 Computers such as Dell, HP, Acer, Asus or a custom build. That’s because Windows operating system is backward compatible. Open “Computer Management” by searching in the desktop taskbar or “Right- click” the “Computer” icon in the desktop and then select “Manage”. That being said, you have three options for trying out Windows 10: 1 – Go ahead and install the Windows 10 update (be sure to create a System Image Backup first just in case the upgrade process fails and trashes your system). Last year I upgraded my old computer and I had the option to do an upgrade or a clean install of Windows 10. I have a Windows XP disk and product key from my old computer (no longer functioning) and would like to use them to install an XP virtual machine on my new Dell PowerEdge T30 running Windows 10 Pro 64-bit so that I can run some old XP software. If your printer appears "offline," find out how you can Change a printer's status to "online." I had Photoshop 7 on my old laptop running Windows 7. This step can also be skipped for now but remember that the trial period for registering your Windows 7 OS is 30 days. Recently, Microsoft confirmed that Windows 10 supports almost 99% of Windows 7 apps, so switching to the new OS should be no problem. Windows 7 Forums is the largest help and support community, providing friendly help and advice for Microsoft Windows 7 Computers such as Dell, HP, Acer, Asus or a custom build. Logged in the laptop as an administrator.. 2. Once you’re in the BIOS, select the “Boot options” menu and choose the CD rom drive as your computer’s first boot device. Right-click the Unallocated section between partitions and select. They can be occasionally useful. Windows 7 and Windows 8 users get Windows 10 for free, courtesy of Microsoft. There are still ways to get a free Windows 10 upgrade license, too. 3. Ask your computer manufacturer for a XP Professional disc if it is not included, or borrow one from a friend whose computer came with the operating system. You might not like Windows 10 today, or your trip back to Windows 7 might be temporary. Afterwards, every time you boot, your computer will ask if you want Windows 7 or Windows 10. In the Shrink C: dialog box, chose how much you want to shrink this partition. As I have just read your problem that you cannot install Windows 7 into your computer because of no space in Drive C. I suggest to back-up all your files in drive C because once you install the Windows 7 all the files located in the drive C will be deleted or you can follow this steps: Click the START button Step-by-step guide to completely ridding your PC of viruses and other malware, 10 reasons why I recommend buying tech gear from Amazon. PCWorld helps you navigate the PC ecosystem to find the products you want and the advice you need to get the job done. I have an old unused Windows 7 pack with a disc. I have seen numerous posts on reversing the upgrade or downgrading on a PC that had Windows 7 or 8 at one time. Here’s an alternative method that I’ve seen both work and fail: This Microsoft webpage will help you download and prepare the Windows 7 installation program on either a DVD or a flash drive (both are bootable). I just got a new laptop with Windows 10 on it. Sign up for my Rick's Tech Tips Newsletter! PCWorld Rick’s answer:  Sammy, it appears that you have thought this out. (You just might win my Monthly Tech Gear Giveaway!). My computer has Windows 7 on it and I have the little icon to upgrade it to Windows 10. This will start the installation process. The downside of running these beta releases of Windows 10 is they are subject to crashing and causing other kinds of problems at any time. You’ll need a copy of Windows 7, and the one you already own probably won’t work. 3 – Simply bite the bullet and buy a retail copy of Windows 10 (#ad) and install it on your secondary hard drive. When you’re asked for the product key, use one on the copy of Windows 7 you just bought. Microsoft revealed Windows 10 S with Surface laptop. would like to install windows 7, windows 10 already installed (duel boot) will be using different HD to do so if so whats the best way to go about it. Select the new partition you just created. It’s relatively easy to install Windows 7 on a Windows 10 PC, so that you can boot from either operating system. Step 1: Create a New Partition (Volume) for Windows 7. Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. What I’d like to do is clone Windows 7 onto a second hard drive then upgrade the original Windows 7 to Windows 10. Send your query to answer@pcworld.com.]. Join the over 6,700 other smart folks who have signed up for my Tech Tips Newsletter! There are two different versions of the application available – one for Windows 8 and one for Windows 7 and older. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Which Managed WordPress hosting plan would you recommend for a high-traffic blog? r/windows: Windows is a personal computer operating system released by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. 2 – You can join the Windows Insider Program and install the latest beta version of Windows 10 for free. Therefore, it's important that you move to a modern operating system such as Windows 10, which can provide the latest security updates to help keep you and your data safer. That would leave your Windows 7 installation without a valid license, effectively rendering it no longer “genuine” in Microsoft’s eyes. Windows When installing Windows 7 and Windows 10 on the same disk, you need to install Windows 7 first. Win 7 asks you if you want to dual install if you install it while Vista is running. (Note: Microsoft defines the Windows 10 rollback period as "a month" in much of its documentation, and some support sites say 30 days, but we confirmed with Microsoft that it's 31.) Once you’ve got a bootable installation tool, prepare a new partition in Windows 10: You don’t have to actually boot the Windows 7 DVD or flash drive. Click here and send it in! I suggest something around 128GB (131072 MB). In the future, if and when you decide to return to Windows 10, you can … I’d love to give Windows 10 a try but I’m not sure if I’ll like it so I want to keep Windows 7 too. If you're having problems with your printer after updating to the latest version of Windows 10, see Fix printer problems after updating Windows 10. When your system was shipped, the BIOS settings were set to the most optimal settings for Windows 7. Windows 10 should install without a hitch, but driver problems are a possibility and, during any system update, there's always a chance something will go wrong. Ask PCWorld Contributing Editor Lincoln Spector. As you go through the installation wizard, there are two options you need to pay attention to: Which type of installation do you want? Please click 'Accept Cookies' to continue. Microsoft says that installing the older operating system last can "render your system inoperable", so I'm not sure. I tried everything. Although Microsoft no longer sells Windows 7, you can still buy a copy easily enough. If that doesn’t work, you’ll have to buy an external optical drive. If your new computer came with Windows Vista (or Windows 7) Business, Professional, or Ultimate editions, you might have the right to downgrade to Windows XP Professional free of charge. Click the hard drive or partition you want to install Windows 7 on. Just don’t plan on doing any actual work on this system because it could crash at any time. That would leave your Windows 7 installation without a valid license, effectively rendering it no longer “genuine” in Microsoft’s eyes. Unfortunately, when you upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 it will automatically transfer your Windows 7 license to the new Windows 10 installation. RELATED: How to Downgrade Windows 8 Pro to Windows 7. But it won’t be free. Or, you can manually copy files from your backup to the new Windows 10, and install the programs you need. If you decide that you’d rather go back to Windows 7 you can roll the system back to your original Windows installation. The boot.ini file of Windows 10 will overwrite that of Windows 7, which helps to boot both Windows 10 and Windows 7 successfully. Back when Windows 10 was first released, Microsoft allowed users of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to upgrade to Windows 10 for free. If you computer can handle Win 7 (ie it is 64bit compatible) then yes. Do you have a tech question of your own for Rick? IdleMartin deserves 5 stars for his correct answer. To install Windows 7, first restart your computer and enter the code on the screen to access your computer’s BIOS, which is usually Delete, Escape, F10. Click here to check out the Newsletter archives. But it’s still a great deal because it’s free forever and you’ll get to try out new Windows features before they are released to the general public via Windows Update. Just do a Google shopping search for Windows 7. This means that you can install Windows 7 over Windows 8 without needing an additional license key. Upgrade Windows 7 or Windows 8 to Windows 10. Then I could choose which version of Windows I want to boot to with the boot menu. If you can't locate it, there is a fairly easy way to find the Windows 7 product key code from your existing Windows 7 installation, but this must be done before you reinstall Windows 7. It’s relatively easy to install Windows 7 on a Windows 10 PC, so that you can … You need an internet connection to verify your Windows 7. Help. You need to contact Acer technical support for assistance. Your restore disc might instead have a relatively similar process that will restore your entire PC, Windows, and programs, back to the factory default. Can I install both windows 7 and Windows 10 on the same computer at the same time? This blog uses cookies to ensure that you receive the best experience on my website. GuruBrew 942,242 views. Please check your email for further instructions. Where do you want to install Windows? It came with Windows 7 installed but it was supposed to be upgradable to Windows 10. If you only have a restore disc from your computer manufacturer but not an original Windows Setup disc or download, a clean install as described in the linked guides above may not be possible. It’s money well-spent. I didn't have a problem with it at the beginning, but now that Windows 7 support has ended and the SSD is starting to run low in storage, I bought a new SSD to replace the old one and put the Windows 10 on it. If there comes a time that you wish to install Windows 8 or Windows 10 on a system that was downgraded to Windows 7 from the factory, it is recommended that you make these BIOS changes. [Have a tech question? Tips: If there is an existing unallocated region, this setting can be skipped. Question from Sammy L.:  I have a question for you Rick. A hard drive is a physical part of your computer that stores data, and partitions 'divide' hard drives into separate sections. My question is about a PC that never had those, a new PC with only 10 … An update version of Windows 7 won’t work either. The problem is trying to install Windows 7 on a system that uses Secure Boot for Windows 10 and Windows 7 is not compatible with the Secure Boot feature. Have the setup.exe and install files on a cd but couldn't get setup.exe to run. Good news! Thanks for subscribing! How to install windows 7/8.1/10 using a USB flash drive - Duration: 10:42. User account menu • Windows 7 install. There are several ways to install Windows 10 on your PC, whether you’re upgrading from Windows 7 or 8, installing a new operating system from scratch, or reinstalling a fresh version of Windows 10. Find out how you can Fix printer connection and printing problems in Windows 10. If Windows originally came preinstalled on your computer (i.e. It even copies over your user settings from Vista into Win 7 so you don't have to spend the time doing it yourself. Just insert it into the optical drive or a USB port, open File Explorer to This PC, and open the new drive. You’ll then have 30 days to try out Windows 10. I have purchased a computer last year and the only downside of it is that it came with Windows 7 on the installed SSD. Backup your Windows 10 System. By Lincoln Spector, Since the free upgrade period has expired I purchased a Windows 10 download from Microsoft. Instead you need to store the backup to a location where the new computer can … How would I go around installing this on my new pc as I don't want Windows 10. I’m a Windows Insider myself, and I enjoy it immensely. Hello, I have an existing Windows 10 PC. Anudeep Gunda wants to install Windows 7 on his Windows 10 PC with a dual boot. Anudeep Gunda wants to install Windows 7 on his Windows 10 PC with a dual boot. Copyright © 2020 IDG Communications, Inc. You need a retail or OEM version that hasn’t been used—or has been thoroughly removed from another computer. Whatever you buy will almost certainly come with a DVD, requiring an optical drive. After 14 January 2020, if your computer is running Windows 7, it will no longer receive security updates. Microsoft allows their “Insiders” to use the latest “build” of Windows for free in exchange for helping them find and squash bugs and test new features. Windows 10; A computer replace scenario for Windows 10 is quite similar to a computer refresh for Windows 10. Just be sure to do the roll back within 30 days! Contributing Editor, Windows 7 and Windows 8/10 use different BIOS settings. Select Custom (advanced). Our guide will walk you through the process of exercising your downgrade rights. If you upgraded your current PC from Windows 7 to Windows 10, your Windows 7 license expired 31 days after the upgrade. I have a 1TB hard drive, and I want to make a partition and install Windows 7 on that partition. Obviously, Windows 10 is already installed so I can't "install the older OS first." Ie it is that it came with the boot menu installing this on my laptop. 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