"Downgrading" from Windows 8 Pro to Windows 7 Pro

[draftvader]

To those who are advocating learning the ropes of the new system, I hear you, but I use my computer to run my business and the opportunity-cost in productivity whilst retraining myself is just too great.

I understand Windows 8 is supposed to be optimised for touch-screens and so on but that's completely irrelevant to me because I use a standard non-touch-screen laptop.

Classic Shell doesn't work perfectly. Sometimes the start button appears, sometimes it goes AWOL and I have to remind it to display itself by going into Classic Shell settings. Perhaps I'm just 'not used to it yet', but Windows 8 still irritatingly forces me to go the long way round or resort to keyboard shortcuts for some very simple actions.

I was just doing a search for a good ISO mounter when I decided to see what the interweb has to say about W8 SP1; I reckon I can stretch my patience with W8 until October, if what they say about it being a mea culpa by Microsoft regarding the lack of some fundamental features from W7 in W8 is true.

In the meantime though, can someone please recommend a good, free tool for creating a W7 installation disk on my USB flash drive (just in case)?

Slipstream SP1 in whilst you are at it!

http://www.rt7lite.com/

[Jiu-Jitsu]

To those who are advocating learning the ropes of the new system, I hear you, but I use my computer to run my business and the opportunity-cost in productivity whilst retraining myself is just too great.

I understand Windows 8 is supposed to be optimised for touch-screens and so on but that's completely irrelevant to me because I use a standard non-touch-screen laptop.

Classic Shell doesn't work perfectly. Sometimes the start button appears, sometimes it goes AWOL and I have to remind it to display itself by going into Classic Shell settings. Perhaps I'm just 'not used to it yet', but Windows 8 still irritatingly forces me to go the long way round or resort to keyboard shortcuts for some very simple actions.

I was just doing a search for a good ISO mounter when I decided to see what the interweb has to say about W8 SP1; I reckon I can stretch my patience with W8 until October, if what they say about it being a mea culpa by Microsoft regarding the lack of some fundamental features from W7 in W8 is true.

In the meantime though, can someone please recommend a good, free tool for creating a W7 installation disk on my USB flash drive (just in case)?

Slipstream SP1 in whilst you are at it!

http://www.rt7lite.com/

?? Windows 7 already has SP1. Perhaps make yourself more clear?

[Jiu-Jitsu]

If you would prefer the 32 bit version, it is here: en_windows_7_professional_with_sp1_x86_dvd_u_677056.iso(Windows 7 Professional x86 SP1-U (media refresh)

[4evermaat]

^^ I'm surprised they still make 32 bit windows. 64 bit can still handle 32 bit applications, correct? What processors made over the last 2 years or so cannot take some advantage of 64 bit?

And to convert any cd/dvd iso image into a bootable usb drive, this program works well: http://rufus.akeo.ie/

For drivers, go to the manufacturer website of the laptop and search by model number (or use google). You may get better results with serial #. They will have the drivers you need. Better to use the driver CD/DVD that came with your computer, if there is one, or maybe they put it on a separate partition on the hard drive.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

^^ I'm surprised they still make 32 bit windows. 64 bit can still handle 32 bit applications, correct? What processors made over the last 2 years or so cannot take some advantage of 64 bit?

And to convert any cd/dvd iso image into a bootable usb drive, this program works well: http://rufus.akeo.ie/

For drivers, go to the manufacturer website of the laptop and search by model number (or use google). You may get better results with serial #. They will have the drivers you need. Better to use the driver CD/DVD that came with your computer, if there is one, or maybe they put it on a separate partition on the hard drive.

Rufus already in post #13. For DELL Downloads and Support, you use the Service Tag.

[4evermaat]

You know what though, sometimes even with the service tag, they have multiple drivers for the same component. Their driver detection software isn't very accurate either. You'd think it would be more of an exact science, especially if you use a service tag or serial #.

[BB1950]

.... I'm surprised they still make 32 bit windows. 64 bit can still handle 32 bit applications, correct? What processors made over the last 2 years or so cannot take some advantage of 64 bit? ....

There are some applications and drivers that don't work on 64 bit windows, especially from the Windows XP era. Many of these products are no longer supported and sometimes there's no replacement or the cost of replacement is prohibitive. That's why when Windows 7 came out there was the XP Mode option to Windows 7 (Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise versions). In particular for older business applications, industrial applications, and hardware to be completely compatible with Windows 7.

I have a dual boot 32/64 bit system and have found that many applications don't really take advantage of 64bit windows. Hence I mostly boot up with the 32 bit version of Windows 7. I rarely use over 3 GB of memory.

Just more reasons why some may not want Windows 8.

[Chicog]

You know what though, sometimes even with the service tag, they have multiple drivers for the same component. Their driver detection software isn't very accurate either. You'd think it would be more of an exact science, especially if you use a service tag or serial #.

I use this

[Untouchable33]

I feel your pain, I hated Windows 8 interface so much I used the classic shell.

Due to something's being incompatible I forked out for a Windows 7 disc. £65 was not too bad.

[4evermaat]

.... I'm surprised they still make 32 bit windows. 64 bit can still handle 32 bit applications, correct? What processors made over the last 2 years or so cannot take some advantage of 64 bit? ....

There are some applications and drivers that don't work on 64 bit windows, especially from the Windows XP era. Many of these products are no longer supported and sometimes there's no replacement or the cost of replacement is prohibitive. That's why when Windows 7 came out there was the XP Mode option to Windows 7 (Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise versions). In particular for older business applications, industrial applications, and hardware to be completely compatible with Windows 7.

I have a dual boot 32/64 bit system and have found that many applications don't really take advantage of 64bit windows. Hence I mostly boot up with the 32 bit version of Windows 7. I rarely use over 3 GB of memory.

Just more reasons why some may not want Windows 8.

I understand there are people who choose not to upgrade. But we are talking about new operating systems here. It is different to continue to support old operating system until a certain time. But windows 8.....why is there a need for 32 bit version? How old of a machine is a new version of windows expected to support?

They spread their attention too thin, and then they forget to include certain basic features....like a start button.

[draftvader]

To those who are advocating learning the ropes of the new system, I hear you, but I use my computer to run my business and the opportunity-cost in productivity whilst retraining myself is just too great.

I understand Windows 8 is supposed to be optimised for touch-screens and so on but that's completely irrelevant to me because I use a standard non-touch-screen laptop.

Classic Shell doesn't work perfectly. Sometimes the start button appears, sometimes it goes AWOL and I have to remind it to display itself by going into Classic Shell settings. Perhaps I'm just 'not used to it yet', but Windows 8 still irritatingly forces me to go the long way round or resort to keyboard shortcuts for some very simple actions.

I was just doing a search for a good ISO mounter when I decided to see what the interweb has to say about W8 SP1; I reckon I can stretch my patience with W8 until October, if what they say about it being a mea culpa by Microsoft regarding the lack of some fundamental features from W7 in W8 is true.

In the meantime though, can someone please recommend a good, free tool for creating a W7 installation disk on my USB flash drive (just in case)?

Slipstream SP1 in whilst you are at it!

http://www.rt7lite.com/

?? Windows 7 already has SP1. Perhaps make yourself more clear?

Unless, of course, you are in possession of an older Win 7 disk. This product actually allows you to slip stream other applications in at the same time allowing for people who are installing across multiple systems to save time. Further to this you can strip out dead weight (if you know what you are doing) and get rid of the nearly 1Gb of drivers that come as standard and sit on your computer. My last Win 7 install (64 bit) was 8Gb including SP1, not too shabby but you will need to use http://www.pcidatabase.com/ with PCI and Device numbers to find the right drivers for your system (if you can't identify your full component set).