Imagecredits:AOMEI,HP,Microsoft,Opera18 |^ |^ June 2019
S
o far, we’ve covered
both traditional reinstall
techniques, but there
are other reasons –
and methods – for
reinstalling Windows.
First up is the recovery option. Most
pre-built PCs come with a built-in
manufacturer’s recovery partition that
enables you to restore Windows to its
factory shipped condition. The main
advantage of this method – aside from
being cheaper and easier for the
manufacturer, of course – is that your PC
is restored to a guaranteed working
state, with all the drivers it needs to
function. The downsides are that a lot of
extra unwantedsoftwareisusually
installedalongsideWindows,youneed
to exerciseextremecautionnottolose
everythingonthedriveandthatif the
recoverypartitioncorrupts– typically
due to hardwarefailure– you’releft
with no meansofreinstallingWindows.
If you’replanningtoreinstallWindows
by this method,lookfora promptto
start recoverywhenyoufirstboot
Windowsorlookfortheoptionunder
the ‘Advancedstart-up’menu(see
below) –consultyourcomputer’s
documentationormanufacturer’s
website fordetails.Rememberthatmost
recoveryoptionsarefullydestructive,so
be sure tohavebackedupyoursystem
before youbegin– andthatincludes
creating acompletedriveimage.DOWNGRADEWINDOWS
Another reasontoreinstallWindowsis
to reverttoanearlierversion.If you’re
pining forWindows7 or8.1,thenit’s
usually possibletodowngradeyour
copy of Windows– remembersupport
for Windows7 endsinJanuary2020,
and Windows8.1inJanuary2023.
Before reachingforyouroldWindows
media, however,youneedtodosome
homeworkfirst.
First, ifyouupgradedyourPCto
Windows 10 fromanolderversionofWindows,restoringthatversionshould
bestraightforwardinthesenseyoucan
useyourmanufacturer’srecovery
partitionif it stillholdstheoriginal
version,oryoucantryinstallingfroman
old,unusedcopyofWindows7 or8.- justfollowtheguidestopreparing
andreinstallingWindowsearlieronin
thisfeature.Dosourcethecorrect
driversforyourPCfirst,though,and
verifythatyournewsoftwareis
backwardscompatible(desktopapps
shouldbe,butMicrosoftStoreapps
won’tworkinWindows7,andsome
maynotworkinWindows8.1either).
If yourPCcamewithWindows8.
or 10 preinstalled,thengoingbackto
Windows7 willbetrickierandpossibly
evenimpossible.Beforeembarkingon
this,checkonlinetoseeif othershave
hadsimilarsuccess.You’llneedto
sourceyourownWindows7 installation
mediaandvalidlicence,andyou’ll
almostcertainlyneedtohaveaccessto
yourPC’sUEFIsettings– if FastBootis
enabled,openSettings>‘Updateand
recovery’andclick‘Restartnow’under
‘AdvancedStart-up’.Whenprompted,
selectTroubleshoot>Advanced
Options>UEFIFirmwareSettings.
OnceinsideyourPC’sUEFIsettings
youneedtolocateandchangethree
settings.First,disabletheFastBootfeature.Second,disableSecureBoot.
Andfinally,lookfora CSM(Compatibility
SupportModule)optionandmakesure
it’senabled.Allthreesettingsneedto
bemadetosupportWindows7 – if you
can’tfindthem,consultwithyourPCor
motherboardmanufacturer.
Oncedone,youshouldfindyou’re
abletobootfromyourWindows 7
installationmedia,enablingyouto
reverttotheearliercopyofWindows.SETUPA DUAL-BOOTPC
Ourfinalscenarioisonewhereyou
installtwoversionsofWindowsside-by-side.Thisisa stepforadvancedusers
only,andif you’remerelyplanningto
installanolderversionofWindowsnext
toWindows 10 forcompatibility
purposes,explorealternativeoptions,
namelysettingupa virtualWindows 7
machineusinga toolsuchasVirtualBox
(www.virtualbox.org), whichrunsinside
yourmainWindowsinstallation.
If youaredeterminedtodual-boot
yoursetup,thestep-by-stepguideon
thepageoppositecoverstheprocessof
installinganolderversionofWindows
alongsideyourcurrentone.
Beforeyoubeginalsomakesureyou
takea fail-safedriveimageusing
MacriumReflectFreeandbesureto
createyourrescuemedia,too.“If you’re pining forWindows 7 or 8.1,
it’s usually possible to downgrade
your copy ofWindows”
Other reinstall options
Get the lowdown on three further techniques: reinstall from a recovery
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Fetch the drivers for whichever
version of Windows you install.Look under the Advanced Start-up
menu for factory restore options.