Removing win 10 1803 - replacing with win 8.1


  1. Posts : 10
    Windows 10
       #1

    Removing win 10 1803 - replacing with win 8.1


    Hi,
    win 10 - 1803 has proven a big disappointment to me and I'm considering removing it entirely and doing a clean install of windows 8.1. If anyone could advise me on the viability (or not) of doing so I would really appreciate it. Are there any possible adverse consequences of such an action? I expect that all existing data will have to be reinstalled from backup media, and that all existing programs will also have to be reinstalled. Many thanks - Bob Deb.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    That's correct. Naturally 8.1 needs an appropriate license.

    If your PC is new, (post Win 8) you might have problems finding appropriate drivers. Check which builds are supported on your manufacturer's site.

    1803 is proving problematic for some. You might want to consider using build 1709 of Windows 10. No license problem with that, but you'd still have to do a clean install. I believe I've read other comment on that somewhere though.

    Have you had build 1709 on your PC before?
    Last edited by dalchina; 24 Jun 2018 at 04:04.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 10
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Many thanks for your prompt reply. My win10 was ver 1709 until 1803 stamped its' authority upon me. I attempted to roll back but it was denied, thus I saw no other option available than to accept it. It's a decision I regret now but I accept it is 'water under the bridge' and cannot be undone. Doing a clean reinstall of 1709 I guess would again result in prolonged nagging by MS to update to 1803. My disenchantment with 1803 has me believing I'd be better off with win 8.1. It has about 5 years extended support left which will see me out nicely. I have found an on-line supplier of win 8.1 who guarantees a genuine MS product key and provides a download site for the OS. Finding appropriate 8.1 drivers may be a challenge, but I'm prepared to give it a go. If all else fails, I can fallback on my old XP machine which, although its' use may be a little risky virus wise, still works perfectly and does everything I want of a PC. So in the absence of any definite concerns about redeploying to 8.1 I'm more than prepared to give it a go. Many thanks for your advice - Bob Deb.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    It is possible to 'hide' the upgrade to 1803 - often documented here - or even disable updates altogether (not recommended).

    You should have been able to 'Go back to the previous build' within 10 days of the upgrade to 1803.

    Be extremely careful of buying keys online. No guarantees at all.
    an on-line supplier of win 8.1 who guarantees a genuine MS product key and provides a download site for the OS.
    There are perfectly valid sites to get OS builds from e.g.
    Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 31,471
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #5

    dalchina said:
    There are perfectly valid sites to get OS builds from e.g.
    Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool
    You can get Windows 8.1 direct from Microsoft.

    Download Windows 8.1 Disc Image (ISO File)
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 10
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Many thanks


    A million thank you's for the advice given. Upon reflection, I have become increasingly disillusioned with win 10 since I first took up the freebie upgrade from win 7. Whilst I may be wrong, my perception is that it is increasingly becoming a 'shop front' for commercial interests, and certainly no longer serves my computing purposes. The loss of networking facilities associated with 1803 upgrade (I had a direct ethernet connection between 2 PC's, each in a different level of my home which ceased operating) has been the final straw. Both my PC's previously supported the Win 7 platform so I'm not anticipating any driver problems in regressing to Win 8.1. Anyway, I'm up for the challenge and will give it a go. Many thanks for your advice re acquisition of OS product keys and OS download, I will remain firmly within the microsoft domain when acquiring them. Many thanks again - Bob Deb
      My Computer


 

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