Trying to Install Win7 on a Win8 machine, crashes.

Hello all!

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this.

I bought a laptop that came preinstalled with Windows 8. I want to get rid of it and format the HD and install windows 7.

After finally working out how to enable to laptop so I boot from a cd, it's now always crashing in the initial stages of the starting windows 7 bit for the installation.

I know the CD is fine, I've tested it on another laptop and pc, it goes through without problems. However, it seems to always crash at the exact same bit with this new laptop.

Does anyone know of any further security I need to release in order for this to allow me to get in? or does anyone know of a method where I can format the hard drive and start fresh?

I'd appreciate any help at all, Thanks!

 

doddz...I am not sure about this, but I think you have to disable "Secure Boot" in the BIOS to do what you are seeking to do. I don't have Windows 8, but I would like to know for future reference, so please let us know what ends up working for you...

 

If it is a Windows 8 machine, yes that is a requirement. You must disable it, because it ships enabled.

 

Hey AtlBo,

I've disabled secure boot already, I had to do this to even get the laptop to allow me to attempt to boot from a CD at all.

You should be happy you don't have windows 8, I really dislike it. I've seen methods people use to make 8 look more like 7, but I just want rid of it completely.

 

Windows 8 is the only version of Windows I run. It works fine for me.

That said, we really need to know more about the crashes, such as errors or what happens.

 

Fair enough, each to their own I suppose

Well, now I've got it to boot from the CD, it goes through the initial loading windows files bar, which fills up, then to the next "starting windows" screen, where the graphic is the 4 coloured balls flying around the middle of the screen, it freezes about 5 seconds into this, without fail every time, even at the same point in the animation of the balls.

 

Don't know what to say about the installation disk. For me, installation disks have always been try it until it works...or kick the PC, then try it again (then kick it once with the CD in the drive)...

 

Lately, I've skipped the boot to cd, and just use a usb device to install windows on. As in, install windows on a HDD or SSD from the USB device.

 

Heh, Theefool, I have tried a USB and put it in the boot order, for some reason it won't boot from the USB at all. But again the USB works on other machines.

It's all enabled and everything, so I'm wondering if there is some other layer of security i need to remove or something for it to allow a windows 7 install

 

This looks very promising. The video shows how but here is the checklist:

How to remove Window 8 and Install Window 7
How to downgrade window 8 back to window 7
Here are the Steps.
1 .Put in your window 7 CD in the CD/DVD rom
2. Turn on your computer for Windows 8
3. On the bottom right corner you will see a minus sign, put your mouse on it or click on it
4. It will bring up the setting, Then click on setting
5. Click on PC Setting
6. Click on General
7. Then scroll down to Advance Start Up then click on restart now
8. Click on Troubleshooting
9. Click Advanced Options
10. Click UEFI Firmware Settings
11. Click Restart
12. Then your computer will reboot and take you into your BIOS
13 On the BIOS go to Security
14. Go down to Secure Boot then Disabled
15. Then go to Advanced, then to System Configuration
16. Then go down to Boot Mode
17. Change it to CSM Boot
18 Then go to Boot and change the order of the Boot to your CD/DVD Rom first.

Step 19 - Step 22
If you want to set your BIOS to F1-F2. Meaning to get into your BIOS just before Windows load up hit F1 or F2 key to enter BIOS

19. Click on Advance
20. Systems Configuration
21 Go down to Function Keys Mode
22. Change it to Standard F1-F2 mode
23. Save your BIOS hit F10
24. Now it should boot from your CD/DVD rom . Make sure you have a Windows 7 disk in your CD/DVD rom

Step 25- Step 22 "How to install Windows 7

25. Click on Custom Advance
26. Now delete all the partition
27. Click on Driver Advance Options
28, Then Delete
29 Now just high light all the partition and click on Delete until you have only 1 partition
30 Now high light the only 1 partition you have left and click on New
31. Click on apply. This should give you 2 partition
32. Format the 2ed partition . It should be the larger hard drive. Like over 100 GB
33. Then click OK
34. Then click on Next after your Format your hard drive.
35. Then it should install Windows 7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcZNL9IVfb8&hd=1

 

Great, I'll give this a go and check back!

 

AtlBo, Thank you very much!

I'd done most of that check list already, but changing the boot mode to Legacy, as I didn't have CSM worked. It went straight into the windows setup where I was able to format the HD and install windows. So thank you very much, you sir are a star.

 

Awesome that it worked for you!

 

There's a lot of useless stuff on youtube but you have to admit...it's a DIY Wonderland!

 

Glad it worked for you. Nice video and checklist put together by this individual. I had been reading this was a little more difficult than usual...

 

Yep, very happy, It's now running Windows 7 perfectly.

It was much much harder than I thought, I mean I have some know-how with this kind of stuff, but none of the usual stuff was working. They must really not want people to drop Windows 8 for 7.

Thanks again!