Reply to: Downgrading OEM Windows 8 to 7: Anyone done it?

[leapFrog]

Hi, spotted a laptop that I like that comes with pre-installed Windows 8. I know you can switch the Windows 7 GUI, but I'd rather use the good old Windows 7.

What's the process that one needs to follow to downgrade to Win7 and how many phone calls/emails/GB downloads would it take?

Before you use the laptop, wipe it and install Windows 7 from scratch. Simple. You don't need to "downgrade" an operating system that you have never used.

[VectraMan]

In case anyone is keeping track, buggy BIOS was exactly right. The PC supplier had flashed the BIOS with their own modified version, just to get their own logo on presumably, and that was borked when it came to doing anything other than Windows 8. Installing the latest BIOS direct from Gigabyte has solved the issues.

[VectraMan]

As I understand it, it's that switching off that doesn't work. Hence buggy BIOS.

Aforementioned machine now being sent back. They showed me: switched off the UEFI OS protection, reboot and it did nothing at all. It was only because this was a motherboard with the ability to reset the BIOS from a backup that they were able to get it going again, otherwise it would have had to go back to the factory. I read on the internet somewhere this is exactly what was going on with some Samsung laptops.

So before you buy a Windows 8 machine assuming it can have Windows 7 installed, you might want to check that somebody else has done it.

[petergriffin]

That's not entirely true any more.

Linux Foundation Releases UEFI Secure Boot System

However this doesn't make much difference because manufacturers must give the option to turn UEFI/Secure Boot off (which I did) so there's no incentive.

About the secure Boot, anybody can buy a Microsoft approved Verizon certificate for $99:
Managing EFI Boot Loaders for Linux: Dealing with Secure Boot

[Sysman]

You won't boot unsigned stuff on such BIOS unless that is turned off

That's not entirely true any more.

Linux Foundation Releases UEFI Secure Boot System

The Linux Foundation proudly announced a few hours ago, February 8, that they have officially unleashed the highly anticipated UEFI secure boot system for all Linux distributions, courtesy of the Microsoft Corporation.

[AtW]

Linux ftw.

You won't boot unsigned stuff on such BIOS unless that is turned off

[VectraMan]

New UEFI BIOSes include feature that prevents wrongly signed OS to boot (Win 8 supports it), all in the name of security of course - this should be switchable off in BIOS.

As I understand it, it's that switching off that doesn't work. Hence buggy BIOS.

[Churchill]

Linux ftw.

[AtW]

New UEFI BIOSes include feature that prevents wrongly signed OS to boot (Win 8 supports it), all in the name of security of course - this should be switchable off in BIOS.

[eek]

So NewPermieCo have bought a new desktop PC for me, but they bought a Windows 8 machine and planned to "simply" downgrade it to Windows 7. A week later and they still haven't got it to work.

I've stayed out of it, but AFAIK the issue is the clever BIOS boot protection that even though it can be turned off, doesn't seem to allow any booting at all when in that mode. Buggy BIOS perhaps.

Something to be aware of.

I doubt the BIOS is buggy its probably a UEFI one that requires a windows 7 driver that doesn't exist.

[VectraMan]

So NewPermieCo have bought a new desktop PC for me, but they bought a Windows 8 machine and planned to "simply" downgrade it to Windows 7. A week later and they still haven't got it to work.

I've stayed out of it, but AFAIK the issue is the clever BIOS boot protection that even though it can be turned off, doesn't seem to allow any booting at all when in that mode. Buggy BIOS perhaps.

Something to be aware of.

[DimPrawn]

The ultimate downgrade.

Ooooooo but they're so shiny....and....shiny.....and.......shiny.

[VectraMan]

Anyway isn't the correct response to this sort of thing "Get a Mac"?

The ultimate downgrade.

[mickey]

Anyway isn't the correct response to this sort of thing "Get a Mac"?

Is it?

[DimPrawn]

Anyway isn't the correct response to this sort of thing "Get a Mac"?