Genre: Forum

Go back to Windows 7 or XP operating system If you decide to go back to your previous operating system, you'll need to reinstall it from the recovery or installation media that came with your PC, which is typically DVD media. If you don?t have recovery media, you might be able to create it from a recovery partition on your PC using software provided by your PC manufacturer. Check the support section of your PC manufacturer?s website for more information. After you install Windows 8, you won?t be able to use the recovery partition on your PC to go back to your previous version of Windows. Re: Go back to Windows 7 or XP operating system If you planned properly prior to installing your copy of Win 8 CP, you created a system Image of your Win XP or Win 7 OS. This will allow you to restore your original OS in about 10 minutes. Think about that, 10 minutes to be back on your original OS exactly where it was when you installed your Win 8 CP. Re: Go back to Windows 7 or XP operating system Originally Posted by Whs If you decide to go back to your previous operating system, you'll need to reinstall it from the recovery or installation media that came with your PC, which is typically DVD media. If you don?t have recovery media, you might be able to create it from a recovery partition on your PC using software provided by your PC manufacturer. Check the support section of your PC manufacturer?s website for more information. After you install Windows 8, you won?t be able to use the recovery partition on your PC to go back to your previous version of Windows. That's what I found out too, I couldn't use the recovery partition any longer after installing Windows 8 CP. Fortunately, and I learned this the hard, painful way 3 years ago, was to backup before making any major changes. And also to make a backup when the computer is new, after all crapware is removed, system updated & favorite apps installed. This way, I can go back to a "fresh install" anytime that I wish to. Every month, I backup my computers, prior to Update Tuesday. I do it before, so that if an update screws up my system, I have a fallback option. There are several free backup software options to use, such as Macrium, Todo 4 (which also does file backups) & Paragon has a freebie too, but haven't used that one. There's no excuse not to backup, given all of the options that we have. As far as a backup drive goes, it doesn't have to be fancy (or expensive). Many of us has upgraded our hard drives to increase capacity, these lower capacity drives makes for good backup drives. Enclosures for hard drives (make sure that the right kind is selected) can be found at Newegg for a reasonable price. USB3 enclosures will cost a bit more than USB2, but the speed will be there. I have both a USB2 enclosure (Vantec brand) & a USB3 Ineo docking station. 2.5 & 3.5 SATA drives will fit in the docking station. Neither cost more than $30, with free shipping. The Windows 8 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.