non-destructive downgrade to windows 8.1 from disk

tank95634 · 16 Apr 2016

Windows 10 is completely broken now. It won't even start. It started with Cortana and my start menu not working, then I couldn't access store, or make a new account. I tried checking the disk but no problems. I downloaded classic shell to get a working start menu, but I couldn't make any changes involving windows. Reset failed, safe mode didn't help. uninstalling programs didn't seem to help either. I tried all the tutorials and nothing worked. now, it wont even start. So I am trying to downgrade back to windows 8.1 but there are no options to do the downgrade in a non-destructive way. Is there any way to do the downgrade without deleting all the files? Is there some kind of rescue disk I'm not aware of? Thank you for your time.

dalchina · 16 Apr 2016

Hi, you should be able to Restore to Previous Version (Win 8.1 here) if you boot from Win 10 bootable medium, navigate via Repair, Advanced Options... provided it's < 30 days since you upgraded.

Do you have any system images (created using Windows Backup and Restore) or disk images created by 3rd party programs (free options available)?

These are really really necessary and save a huge amount of difficulty, pain and stress; do look into these eg Macrium Reflect (free) is highly recommended here, when you've got your system running again.

If you can't succeed in achieving a bootable system, and you have no backups, then you will need to see what you can rescue from your disk.

Otherwise, if you can boot to normal mode in Win 10, you can do an in-place upgrade repair install. Please post back if you'd like to do that.

Good luck!

tank95634 · 16 Apr 2016

dalchina said:

Hi, you should be able to Restore to Previous Version (Win 8.1 here) if you boot from Win 10 bootable medium, navigate via Repair, Advanced Options... provided it's < 30 days since you upgraded.

Do you have any system images (created using Windows Backup and Restore) or disk images created by 3rd party programs (free options available)?

These are really really necessary and save a huge amount of difficulty, pain and stress; do look into these eg Macrium Reflect (free) is highly recommended here, when you've got your system running again.

If you can't succeed in achieving a bootable system, and you have no backups, then you will need to see what you can rescue from your disk.

Otherwise, if you can boot to normal mode in Win 10, you can do an in-place upgrade repair install. Please post back if you'd like to do that.

Good luck!

Thanks! No repair options work, its been more than 30 days, and no disk images. Cant boot windows 10, it barely made it past he splash screen before hard crashing no bsod even. I just need to install 8.1 so I can recover my files. but it only has destructive option. it says if I want non destructive to launch it from within windows...

dalchina · 16 Apr 2016

So.. the option you're left with is either
a. Connecting your disk to another PC and copying files off it
or
b. booting from a live boot disk, and copying the files to a network, uploading them or to a local disk.

Then reinstall Windows.

I doubt given all the things you've attempted that System Restore points (if any) would help, or even a technical approach to copy back a backup copy of the registry.

tank95634 · 16 Apr 2016

dam windows 10. thing is, I loved the OS until all this started..... I don't have a live boot disk where can I get one of those?

dalchina · 16 Apr 2016

Hi, plug "live boot disk" or "live boot CD" into a search engine.
Many are free. Most now are a bit dated, but they work ok... one day unless people start updating them they won't have appropriate drivers I guess. Windows PE based to Knoppix- take your pick..

So long as you know how to configure your PC to boot from one...

Once you get back and running, remember to start using disk imaging.. not only does it let you restore your broken Windows, replace or upgrade the disk, provide a backup, but with Laplink software it lets you automatically install your programs on a new PC.