How to downgrade from windows 11 back to windows 10 if possible

Dawn121988 · 03 Dec 2022

I had forced a windows 11 upgrade when windows accidentally gave even not approved pcs the upgrade. Now I wish to down grade my laptop back from windows 11 to windows 10 if possible. I have recently purchased myself a new windows 11 laptop for a Christmas Gift and now I want to go back to Windows 10 on my older PC. I want to remove everything from it and give it a Windows fresh install. I hope this makes sense.

I do have a few extra flash drives if needed.

I don't have any paid for programs on here everything is free apps or free programs. I just want to use my new laptop for social media and editing video and play simple games. I want to use my older laptop which is originally windows 10 home. For downloading movies and TV shows and basically turn it into a plex mobile media player that can be used on its own or plugged into a TV. I hope this makes sense.

How do I go by down grading. Ever since I have gotten the upgrade to windows 11 my laptop will run super slow sometimes and haves a hard time with some stuff.

22H2 is the current version.

dalchina · 03 Dec 2022

Hi, if it's less than 10 days since upgrading, you can downgrade.

- from the searchable Tutorial section (do have a look..):

Go Back to the Previous Version of Windows in Windows 10

If you have a disk image of your Win 10, you can restore that disk image.

Without that and if more than 10 days, you need to do a clean install of Windows 10 - that includes, as part of the procedure, deleting all partitions comprising your O/S. A tutorial is available, You can create a new bootable device to install Win 10 with the current build of Win 10, as per a link from that tutorial, using the MS media creation tool.

Therefore, if you need to retrieve any data, ensure you have a full backup.
Consider data including emails if you use an email client, contacts lists, mail rules, browser favourites, and any aspects of your O/S configuration you will wish to reapply.

A great way to do that is to use 3rd party disk imaging.

Megahertz · 03 Dec 2022

Dawn121988 said:

I had forced a windows 11 upgrade when windows accidentally gave even not approved pcs the upgrade. Now I wish to down grade my laptop back from windows 11 to windows 10 if possible. I have recently purchased myself a new windows 11 laptop for a Christmas Gift and now I want to go back to Windows 10 on my older PC.
I want to remove everything from it and give it a Windows fresh install. I hope this makes sense. .

If you want to do a Windows fresh install, just save your data on an external drive and do a Clean Install .

Windows can be installed in two ways: Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT
To install as Legacy-MBR you must boot the installation drive as Legacy
To install as UEFI-GPT you must boot the installation drive as UEFI.

If you have a UEFI BIOS, you should install as UEFI-GPT
Detach any other drives (SATA or Power cable) from the MB.

During POST, press F12(?) to launch the boot menu. You will see two options for the USB drive. USB UEFI (Name) and USB (Name). Select USB UEFI (Name).
Go to install and delete ALL partitions on the main drive till you have one and only one unallocated space and then proceed.
If you don't want to use MS account, don't enable updates or connect to the internet during installation.

zbook · 03 Dec 2022

If the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 was made within the 10 day default go back period or the modified 60 day go back period then there may be an option to have Windows go back to Windows 10.

If these time periods had expired or never been modified then the remaining options require the reinstallation of drivers and applications.

Files can be saved manually or by Windows.

A fresh version of Windows can be installed and files can be restored either from a manual backup or a Windows backup.

SIW2 · 03 Dec 2022

I want to remove everything from it and give it a Windows fresh install.

get win10 installation media - easiest to put it on a bootable usb stick.

you could use the mct thing or download the iso direct from techbench or eslsewhere
TechBench

boot from the usb stick, click install now, at the selection screen delete all partitions

Dawn121988 · 04 Dec 2022

After restarting and hitting F12 I get Boot menu 1. Windows Boot Menu, 2. ATA, 3.Atapi CD, 4.USB HDD: PNY USB2.0 FD, 5. PCI LAN EFI IPv6, 6. PCI LAN EFI IPv4.

I don't see anything called "ESD-USB (F:)" am I doing something wrong? Or do I pick "USB HDD".

dalchina · 04 Dec 2022

What are you trying to do? Unclear.

I don't see any comment on my post.

Guessing: you're trying to boot from a Win 10 installation disk --- is that correct?

If so, how did you create it?

And if booting from an external disk, the exact method depends on your PC.

And yes, there's a tutorial.

You might
- have to set boot priority in your BIOS/UEFI
- have to hit a certain key as the PC starts to boot (so you get a boot selection menu).

Dawn121988 · 04 Dec 2022

dalchina said:

What are you trying to do? Unclear.

I don't see any comment on my post.

Guessing: you're trying to boot from a Win 10 installation disk --- is that correct?

If so, how did you create it?

And if booting from an external disk, the exact method depends on your PC.

And yes, there's a tutorial.

You might
- have to set boot priority in your BIOS/UEFI
- have to hit a certain key as the PC starts to boot (so you get a boot selection menu).

First I have transferred all the stuff I wish to keep on flash drives and a 1TB external hard drive. So there is nothing I wish to keep left on this laptop. So I used windows media to make a USB and I made it and now I can't see it on the laptop. It shows its called "ESD - USB (F:)" when I start up the computer normally but when I go into "Boot Menu" I don't see this the only "USB" option is called 4. USB HDD: PNY USB 2.0 FD. I hope this helps to explain things a bit better. If not tell me what other information is needed please. I did hit F12 after restarting up the laptop after a shutdown.

- - - Updated - - -

Should I even be seeing the name of the USB as it shows in file explorer. Or should it show up a different way. Or did I not do something correctly.

dalchina · 04 Dec 2022

Thank you for the clarification.

You have a Lenovo laptop. As you say, F12 is the appropriate option.

As for the bootable disk, you say

So I used windows media to make a USB

Specifically, did you go here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/soft...load/windows10
- click "Download tool now"

then run the tool with a USB drive inserted, and use the tool to create you bootable Win installation USB drive?

Dawn121988 · 04 Dec 2022

dalchina said:

Thank you for the clarification.

You have a Lenovo laptop. As you say, F12 is the appropriate option.

As for the bootable disk, you say

Specifically, did you go here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/soft...load/windows10
- click "Download tool now"

then run the tool with a USB drive inserted, and use the tool to create you bootable Win installation USB drive?

Yes that is how I made the "USB" but now how do I delete everything and install. Do I need to go into the F12 area. Or do I just start my windows like normal and access the "USB" that way some how.