Windows 8.1 into windows 10 preinstalled

Need to install windows 8.1 into windows 10 preinstalled

This request because I have to install SQL Server 2012 in Win 8.1 as I am having difficulties in doing on Win10.

Thanks for your help.

Wilfredo

Hello Wilfredopr Welcome to the Ten Forums!

Actually you will need an 8.1 key since 10 keys won't work on previous versions in the opposite of how 7, 8, 8.1 keys will now work on 10 as far as seeing Windows activated. You can't user newer on older! An alternative to seeing 10 replaced by 8.1 would be seeing a dual boot of both versions set up. Windows 10 - Dual Boot with Windows 7 or Windows 8 - Windows 10 Forums

But you have one big problem! Since OEM Primaries are tough to resize a brand new primary would be needed which means a total nuke of the drive! The other option since two drives can't go in at the same time would be with still seeing another 8.1 key swap drives out where one would see 8.1 keeping the 10 drive set aside. The alternative for the dual boot however would see both on one drive which might have to be larger in size if you are only running with a 500gb not a 750gb or 1tb if not some seeing 2tb drives.

On a 750 since you wouldn't need as large a primary in order to keep 10 as the main OS you could run with a smaller 120-150gb primary leaving the rest for 10. That would come out to about 500gb for 10. You would also want to see a good full system image backup of the drive before proceeding in case you are still under warranty! If the laptop had to go back for other then a hard drive letting go it might be hard to see the image restored on the replacement drive unless that was installed onto another laptop or connected to one or a desktop by external enclosure simply to see the image backup restored before shipping the laptop back.

How to avoid all that? Since the SQL Server 2012 is out you may want to consider the 2016 instead which wouldn't or shouldn't have any problem on 10 at all. The release notes were just updated for that. SQL Server 2016 Release Notes

Have you considered virtualisation? It would be more convenient to you if you just opened vmware say and ran Windows 8.1 while still in your main OS with access to its other software.

That would "Virtualization" and not actually suitable for the type of MS SQL application he wants to see running again. This is why the suggestion to consider the 2016 version would be one option. The need for that would be for a physical not virtual type of network set up even a WHS(Windows Home Server) if not a web site.

The SQL Server 2014 Express is also an option already available for the free download. Download Microsoft® SQL Server® 2014 Express from Official Microsoft Download Center

You're going to like this one!

System RequirementsSupported Operating System
Windows 10 , Windows 7, Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2

• • Processor
    
    • Intel - compatible processor with a minimum speed of 1 GHz or a faster processor
    
    
  • RAM
    
    • Minimum 512 MB for SQL Server Express with Tools, and SQL Server Express with Advanced Services and 4 GB for Reporting Services that installs with SQL Server Express with Advanced Services
    
    
  • Hard Disk Space
    
    • 4.2 GB of Disk Space
  
  
  Limitations : Microsoft SQL Server Express supports 1 physical processor, 1 GB memory, and 10 GB storage