Deleted OS Partition and Need Help


  1. alemoo
    Posts : 4
    Windows 7
       New #1

    Deleted OS Partition and Need Help


    Hello. I have an Acer laptop that had Windows 8 on it. We took the free upgrade to get to Windows 10 and tried it for a few months. Now I decided to try to install Windows 7 on it. I put the disc in the drive and booted. I deleted all partitions except for the data partition that has our movies and music on it. It tells me that Windows can't be installed on this because it is a GPT type. It appears that while the installer is running, when you delete partitions it happens immediately. I thought that it would allow me to cancel because I didn't commit the changes, but I was wrong. I can't format the entire drive because we have important documents on there. What can I do to reinstall Windows 10? We prefer 7, but I have a feeling I need to reinstall 10 first, and then back up the data to an external drive, and then wipe the whole drive to install 7.
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  3. alemoo
    Posts : 4
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       New #2

    I also have a copy of Fedora and SuSE. Perhaps there is a way I can Live Boot and transfer the files to an external hard drive?
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  4. topgundcp
    Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       New #3

    You can also try to install Windows 7 X64 with GPT disk:
    UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Help Forums
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  6. alemoo
    Posts : 4
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    topgundcp said:
    You can also try to install Windows 7 X64 with GPT disk:
    UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Help Forums
    Thanks very much for the link - I am going to try that if my attempt at Fedora Live DVD fails. I can copy data to this small 16 GB drive but the external 4 TB doesn't seem to be recognized...which of course is a separate discussion that likely doesn't belong on this forum :)
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  7. topgundcp
    Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       New #5

    Instead of using Fedora. How about using the Windows Recovery disk from @Kyhi, You should be able to read the 4TB GPT disk:
    Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums
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  8. cereberus
    Posts : 15,485
    Windows10
       New #6

    Do you know it is basically a poor idea to go back to Windows 7 (poor driver support, bigger security risks, suboptimal for newer pcs etc.)

    Really, Windows 8.1 is technically much superior to Windows 7, drivers will be more up to date etc.

    Reinstalling 7 is a PITA (zillions of updates), and you will need a new licence.

    Windows 8.1 is much easier to reinstall and maintain, if you wish to go away from Windows 10

    If you install start8, then you can pretty much make it feel like Windows 7.

    Also, you will get nagged to reupgrade to Windows 10 in either case.
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  9. alemoo
    Posts : 4
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Ok thanks very much for the advice. I am up and running with Windows 7. But I suppose we can give 8.1 a shot again. Security risks is a good point.
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