Q&A: Returning to Windows 7 - NYTimes.com

Q.

I have tried it and I can?t stand Windows 8. Can I go back to Windows 7, even on a brand-new computer that had Windows 8 pre-installed?

A.

Windows 8 Pro machines are eligible for ?downgrade? rights to go back to an older version of Windows, but check with your computer?s manufacturer to see what is involved ? and if it is possible to get a Windows 7 installation disc or download if you do not already have a copy of the system. Dell Computer, for example, has information here. You should also check if there are any technical support issues with installing the older system on the computer, as some drivers and the software may not work properly if they were designed for Windows 8. Microsoft?s site has its own page of information on downgrade rights.

If you are running a different version of Windows 8 or just want to downgrade on your own, you need to have a copy of Windows 7 to install on the computer. Microsoft still sells the system and you can find it on other sites that sell software. Before you install the new system, back up your files and be prepared to reinstall all your programs.

As a security measure, Windows 8 uses the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) instead of the older BIOS software that earlier PC?s used to control basic system functions. While UEFI can prevent malicious software from booting up with the computer, its Secure Boot feature can also hinder the use of other operating systems on the computer. (If needed, sample instructions for disabling the Secure Boot can be found here.)

If downgrading the computer to Windows 7 is beginning to sound like too much of a hassle, several online guides to the new system may help you feel more comfortable with Windows 8. Microsoft has its own set of ?Get to Know Windows? tutorials, but third-party guides like those found at Tom?s Hardware or Gizmodo may have a more objective point of view about using the new system; Gizmodo even suggests creating a hard drive partition to have both systems on the computer.

Source: http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/09/qa-returning-to-windows-7/

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