How to get back to Windows 7

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  1. Posts : 423
    Windows 10
       #1

    How to get back to Windows 7


    Hi there. So I upgraded our son's Fizzbook Spin (basically a touch screen Eee PC) from Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 10. I used the Microsoft download to usb and upgraded that way. Had done a full back up and system image of Windows 7 beforehand. It all worked perfectly, even all the installed Intel software, touch screen and so on. Except for the screen resolution which was slightly stretched. Found it was the Intel GMA 3600 driver missing so tried installing the Windows 7 one which crashed it and sent it into a loop. So I then wiped the disk with 0s and went to reinstall Windows 7 from the system image. I now find I can't boot this. Sometimes I can get into the boot menu (not always) but it doesn't boot and just refreshes the boot menu. So have now clean installed Windows 10 again - which is fine and the touchscreen works too and we didn't need all the junky intel software which he never used anyway.

    Long story short it seems I am now stuck with Windows 10 without the correct screen resolution. After much reading around it seems the Intel GMA 3600 only works with Windows 7 and Intel are not going to make one for Windows 10. So just wondered if anyone had any tips on

    a) How to reinstall Windows 7 from System Image (I'm assuming Windows 10 has prevented this).
    b) A work around or modded driver for the graphics/screen resolution

    TBH our 7 year old will be happy with it the way it is - it's only slightly stretched - just to have Windows 10 and more games lol. But it would be nice to have it looking better. Or Windows 7 back with all original software installed.

    The Processor is the Intel Atom Cedar Trail N2600
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2

    What about "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" in Windows 10? Does that work?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 423
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks. I looked at that and tried it, inserting the usb and restarting but it just reloaded Windows 10 again. It seems to bypass the boot menu. If I take the battery out and start again I can get the boot menu but it just refreshes rather than booting from the usb (although it will happily boot from the Windows 10 usb). The Windows 7 image on usb was made with the Fizzbook's installed imaging program so I might try an older image I have on a portable hard drive that was made with W7 back up and restore. I think the bios must have been altered by Windows 10 because I have been able to image previously even on a brand new drive.

    A clean install of Windows 7 might work - not sure how I can activate it though as it was Windows 7 starter with Anytime Upgrade to Windows 7 home premium, so two different product keys.
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  4. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #4

    In order to always get the boot menu without pulling the battery, turn off Windows 10 fast startup:
    Fast Startup - Turn On or Off in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
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  5. Posts : 423
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    NavyLCDR said:
    In order to always get the boot menu without pulling the battery, turn off Windows 10 fast startup:
    Fast Startup - Turn On or Off in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
    Thanks! Will try that.
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  6. Posts : 423
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    NavyLCDR said:
    In order to always get the boot menu without pulling the battery, turn off Windows 10 fast startup:
    Fast Startup - Turn On or Off in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
    Thanks! Will try that.

    I think I'll see what he thinks of the stretched windows 10 first. Cortana works which he will like Such a shame about that driver - Intel really should make one - or Microsoft.

    Incidentally, can you dual boot Windows 10 and Windows 7? I know I'd need another Windows 7 disc as Windows 10 is an upgrade to current licence.
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  7. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #7

    Hazel123 said:
    Incidentally, can you dual boot Windows 10 and Windows 7? I know I'd need another Windows 7 disc as Windows 10 is an upgrade to current licence.
    Yes, lots of people are dual booting Windows 7 and 10, including myself.
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  8. Posts : 423
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Ok - I've given up with Windows 10 on this machine - the games don't run so it clearly needs the non-existant driver. So now I have to work out how to get Windows 7 back on it again - ideally from a system image as it has all the touch screen stuff on it. Tried back up and restore in Windows 10 but it couldn't find an image. So am wiping the drive and going to try getting system image on from usb again. I do actually have recovery discs but not sure if my portable dvd drive will work now.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 423
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Ok I'm sorted. My usb dvd drive works on this machine and am reinstalling Windows 7 from recovery discs and will then reinstate the system image.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #10

    Good luck! I've never trusted Microsoft built in system images. I've always used Macrium Reflect Free without any issues. My feeling is if I am making a system image to protect myself from some type of operating system failure do I really trust that same operating system to make and restore a backup image?
      My Computer


 

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