If you've upgraded to Windows 10 and found it doesn't work for you, or if you're experiencing other issues, the most common of which are related to graphics card drivers and other hardware at this point in time, you can go back and roll back from Windows 10. This can be done in several ways.
After the update, all the files of your old operating system are stored in the Windows.old folder, which sometimes had to be deleted manually before, but this time it will be automatically deleted after a month (that is, if you updated more than a month ago, you won’t be able to delete Windows 10) . Also, the system has a function for rollback after the update, easy to use for any novice user.
Some users who decide to remove Windows 10 and return Windows 7 or 8 are faced with the situation that despite the presence of the Windows.old folder, the rollback still does not occur - sometimes there is simply no necessary item in the Settings, sometimes for some reason errors occur during rollback.
In this case, you can try the Neosmart Windows 10 Rollback Utility, built on the basis of their Easy Recovery product. The utility is a bootable ISO image (200 MB), when booting from it (having previously written it to a disk or flash drive), you will see a recovery menu in which:
You can burn the image to a disc with any disc burning program, and to create a bootable USB flash drive, the developer offers his own Easy USB Creator Lite utility, available on their website. neosmart.net/UsbCreator/ however, in the VirusTotal utility it gives two warnings (which, in general, is not terrible, usually in such quantities - false positives). However, if you are afraid, then you can burn the image to a USB flash drive or (in the latter case, select the field for Grub4DOS images).
Also, when using the utility, it creates a backup copy of the current Windows 10 system. So, if something goes wrong, you can use it to return “everything as it was”.
You can download Windows 10 Rollback Utility from the official page https://neosmart.net/Win10Rollback/ (when downloading, you are asked to enter your e-mail and name, but there is no verification).
Manual reinstallation of Windows 10 on Windows 7 and 8 (or 8.1)
If none of the methods helped you, and less than 30 days have passed since upgrading to Windows 10, then you can do the following:
- Perform a factory reset with automatic reinstallation of Windows 7 and Windows 8 if you have a hidden recovery image on your computer or laptop. More details: (also suitable for branded PCs and monoblocks with a preinstalled OS).
- Perform a clean installation of the system yourself if you know its key or it is in UEFI (for devices with 8 and higher). You can view the “wired” key in UEFI (BIOS) using the ShowKeyPlus program in the OEM-key section (I wrote more in the article). At the same time, if you need to download the original Windows image in the desired edition for reinstallation (Home, Professional, For one language, etc.), then you can do it like this:.
In general, I would recommend staying on Windows 10 - of course, the system is not perfect, but clearly better than 8 on the day it was released. And to solve certain problems that may arise at this stage, you should look for options on the Internet, and at the same time go to the official websites of computer and equipment manufacturers to find drivers for Windows 10.
Windows 10 takes the best of Microsoft's previous operating systems and merges them into a single, definitive version. If you've changed your mind after doing this for a few days, you'll be happy to know that updates can be easily cancelled. I, in turn, will show you how to roll back Windows 10 to Windows 7 or 8.1.
Don't worry if you didn't take this into account before upgrading. Microsoft has made it easy to roll back to a previous version of the operating system for a limited period. However, there are other methods to roll back to the previous OS, so if you really don't like Windows 10, you can always uninstall it and restore Windows 8.1 or 7.
Built-in rollback option
After updating the system to Windows 10, old system files will be stored in a folder called to free up space. But its presence will provide the ability to easily return to the previous version.
Windows 10 has a built-in feature that allows you to revert to an older operating system. The catch is that this option is only available for one month after you upgrade. If this time has passed, try the other methods below.
To start the process, click Windows + I to bring up the settings screen. Click the Update & Security button, and then select Recovery from the drop-down navigation on the left. Here you will see the title Back to Windows X(depending on which version you had before). Click the START button.
A window will open confirming your desire to return to the old version. Confirm, and then follow the instructions on the screen, paying attention to warnings and other information (for example, do not turn off the system during the process).
You may have to reinstall some programs or change a couple of settings after the rollback, but in general you will find that the return process is quite quick and easy.
Reinstalling Windows
Another method you can choose is a clean install of your previous version of Windows. This procedure will erase all information on the disk, which means that backing up personal data is a mandatory step before starting this process.
If you have previous versions of Windows on physical installation media, such as a bootable DVD or USB stick, insert it into your computer. If you don't have a physical version, you can create one directly from Microsoft, thanks to Windows 7 Software Recovery and Windows 8.1 Installation Media.
After that, reboot the system and wait for a screen with a message like "press the F12 key" to select a boot device. The text of the message can vary - F10 and the ESC key are a common combination. You can press the key several times and check if it works or not.
You will then see a menu that will contain a list of all boot devices to choose from. Use the arrow keys to select the device you just inserted and then press Enter. Follow the instructions in the installation wizard, confirming that you choose to install the operating system again. You will be prompted to enter your product license key, which can be found on the installation media (if you purchased Windows separately) or on a label on your device or accompanying documentation (if you purchased Windows with your computer).
Disk image
This method is only possible if you prepared it before you upgraded your system to Windows 10. That is, if you have an image of your disk, you can simply restore it. An image is a complete copy of what is on the disk, including personal data, as well as other files.
A disk image can be created in Windows 7 and 8.1 using the System Image utility, which can then be stored on external media. To restore it in Windows 10, press the key Windows + I, then press the button Update and Security, then select Recovery. After that press the button Reload Now and follow the instructions to restore the system from a disk image.
Again, this will only work if you made a disk image before upgrading your system to Windows 10.
Conclusion
Microsoft hopes everyone will enjoy Windows 10, especially since it's the latest version of Windows, but who knows. Luckily, it's very easy to go back to a previous version you liked, even though you've already updated your system.
Remember, the option provided by Microsoft in Windows 10 to roll back the system to the previous version will only be available for 30 days after the update, so do it as soon as possible, because this method is the easiest and safest way to go back to the previous version.
Do you want to go back to a previous version (instead of staying with Windows 10) or have you already rolled back? If so, what did you dislike about the new Microsoft operating system?
Many users are interested in how to roll back windows 10 to 8.1 and everyone has their own reason. Windows 10, being the latest version of this operating system, combines all the best qualities inherent in its previous "relatives". But let's say that you upgraded the OS for free, and a few days later decided to return to the usual version 8.1. And the question is not why you decided so, but how to do it. You will find the answer to this question in this article.
Do not worry if you did not take into account such a possibility before the update - Microsoft did it for you, giving users of the "dozens" the opportunity to easily return to the previous Windows version, but this can be done for a limited time. But there are other ways to rollback, so you can always restore the old Windows 8.1 by deleting the "top ten".
Built-in rollback function
If before installation you did not format the disk and installed the update over the old Windows, its system, already old, files will not be erased, but will be saved in a folder called Windows.old. You can get rid of this folder to free up disk space, but you should be aware that its presence will ensure that you can easily return to the previous version.
The problem is that Windows 10 has built-in rollback function, which allows you to return to the previous operating system within 30 days after the update. To do this, do the following:
1) press the combination of the "Windows" and "I" buttons, thereby calling up the settings screen;
2) here click on the "Update and Security" button, after which the navigation will drop out in front of you on the left;
3) select the "Recovery" item, after which you will see the line " Revert to Windows 8.1»;
4) to start the rollback process, click on the "Start" button.
A window will appear in front of you where you will need to confirm your desire to return to the previous Windows version. After confirming, simply follow the instructions that follow, but pay attention to the accompanying information and warnings - for example, the system will ask you not to disable it during the rollback process.
It is likely that after the rollback you will need to reinstall certain programs or change a couple of settings, but in general return to windows 8.1 It will be fairly quick and painless.
Reinstalling Windows OS
If the time limit for using the built-in rollback option has expired, you can use another method, such as simply reinstalling the operating system. A clean installation of a previous Windows will definitely erase all the information on the disk, and therefore, before installing, take care of backing up all the data.
If you saved a previous version of Windows on external installation media, such as a bootable DVD or USB drive, insert this device into your computer. If such a version does not exist, it can easily be created simply with Microsoft; Windows 8.1 Installation Media will help you with this.
After all these manipulations, reboot the system and wait until a window appears prompting you to select a bootable external device. The sentence text can be different, such as "Press F12", or "Press F10 + ESC", or something like that. Click on the buttons that the system offers.
You will see a list of boot devices. Use the arrow buttons to select the desired device (what you have connected) and press the "Enter" button. Next, follow the instructions of the installation wizard to confirm the new installation of the operating system. You will be prompted to enter the license key of the software product in the appropriate window - you can find it either on the installation media itself (if the OS was purchased separately), or on the accompanying documents (if the OS was purchased with a computer device). After entering the key, you can use the old newly installed version.
Disk image
You can use this method only if you have taken care of its preparation even before you installed the tenth update. In other words, if you have an image of your disk, you just go ahead and install it. A disk image is an exact copy of everything that is on the disk, including personal data, and all files without exception.
Create a disk image in Windows 8.1 using the System Image utility. You can save a copy on any external media. To restore the image in the "top ten" and, accordingly, return to the previous version of the OS, do the following:
1) press the combination of "Windows" and "I" buttons;
2) click on the "Update and Security" button;
3) select the "Recovery" item;
4) click on the "Restart now" button;
5) follow the instructions below and the system will be restored from the disk image.
Remember that this will only help if the disk image was created before installing the tenth version of the system.
Now you know, how to roll back windows 10 to 8.1, and if you are going to do this, try to meet the monthly deadline provided by the manufacturer. This is the safest and easiest way to roll back. Good luck!
This article can also be found on requests: how to roll back windows 8 system, windows upgrade to 8.1, how to roll back windows xp system.
After a failed plan to migrate 1 billion users from lower versions to Windows 10 (despite aggressive promotion, they switched three times less), Microsoft is launching a new offensive on all fronts.
In early August, the Windows 10 Anniversary Update was released, which adds a number of new features and interface changes, as well as HoloLens support and new Cortana features.
But what if you were tempted and installed the "ten" for free, but you categorically did not like it, it works unstable, or you just changed your mind about informing Microsoft about everything?
Especially for you, we will tell you how to uninstall Windows 10 and return to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.
How to roll back Windows 10 to Windows 7 or 8.1?
Without reinstallation, it will be possible to roll back the "top ten" to the previous version only if you installed it as an update to an existing system.
To roll back Windows 10, open the Start menu - Settings - Update and Security - Recovery. 
Open "Start", find "Options"
Select "Update and Security"
We find the item "Recovery"
Instead of the red rectangle, there should be an option to "Revert to Windows 7" or "Revert to Windows 8.1".
In our case, it is not there, because more than a month has passed since the update
In the window that opens, select "Return to Windows 7" or "Return toWindows 8.1" - depending on which version of the operating system was installed before. Then click the "Start" button.
In this case, the system will require an explanation why Windows 10 did not suit you. Tell Microsoft what you think about it (joke!)
Then just follow the instructions of the installer; after rebooting, the computer will return to the previous version of Windows.
Why can't I find the "Return to Windows 7" button?
This can happen for two reasons:
- It's been over a month since the update. After this period, the system deletes the files of the previous version of Windows.
- You erased files from a previous version using Disk Cleanup, or manually deleted the C:\Windows.old folder
Deleted, is there anything I can do?
You can still get rid of Windows 10, but you will have to reinstall Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 from scratch. Download the installation disk images of the desired operating system from the Microsoft website (Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 image).
Please note that you will need a license key for this. In the case of Windows 7, look for a sticker that certifies the authenticity of your copy of the operating system. For laptops, such a sticker can be on the bottom panel, under the battery, or even on the power supply.
With Windows 8 or 8.1 it's even easier. The key may not be needed at all - it is often sewn into the hardware, and during installation the system will find it itself.
Before installing the operating system, do not forget to do.
When should you roll back Windows 10?
"Ten" may simply not be to your liking, and this reason may be enough to return to the previous version.
However, switching to a new operating system always carries some risk. There are millions of unpredictable conflicts between programs, devices, and Windows 10 that can make your computer unstable.
It's good that antivirus solutions are compatible with Windows 10 and other modern OS :)