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Alert

Windows 10 Rollback Feature is Useless!

Aug 19, 2015 1:01AM PDT

Just giving you guys a head's up.
I upgraded Windows 10 3 days ago on top of Windows 7, and chose to keep all my info in case I wanted to revert to Windows 7. I started having too many problems and decided I'd better wait a while for Microsoft to iron out their software. So I attempted to roll back, as instructed. You are actually given an option under Recovery to go back to Windows 7. I chose that only to get the very unpleasant message: WE'RE SORRY, BUT YOU CAN'T GO BACK. THE FILES WE NEED TO TAKE YOU BACK TO A PREVIOUS VERSION OF WINDOWS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THIS PC.
What the hell?
So I contacted Microsoft and had a live chat with a tech. This is what I was told:

Hi, thanks for visiting Answer Desk! I'm Magdar A.

11:41 pm
Hello Magdar

11:41 pm
Hello, how may I help you today?

11:42 pm
I have a problem rolling back from windows 10 to windows

7.

11:42 pm
I upgraded to windows 10 less than a week ago, and when

I choose to roll back, it says it can't because all the

previous files have been deleted.

11:43 pm
I didn't delete them, and I'm pretty sure they are there

under windows.old.

11:43 pm
Okay, have perform a system scan?

11:43 pm
does the windows.old still there?

11:43 pm
yes

11:43 pm
Got that?

11:44 pm
yes, one moment please

11:45 pm
ok

11:45 pm
allow me 2-3 minutes for me to check my resources

pertaining to this matte

11:45 pm
ok

11:45 pm
Hello, thank you for waiting.

11:54 pm
ok

11:55 pm
may i ask, did you perform a clean install?

11:55 pm
No. It was an upgrade.

11:55 pm
I reserved the upgrade and installed it when it arrived.

11:56 pm
did you create a new user profile?

11:57 pm
I believe I did.

11:57 pm
I installed it just Saturday.

11:58 pm
This can't be the first time you've seen this issue.

11:59 pm
yes, and I confirming this to my senior tech

12:00 am
Out of all the thousands, maybe millions of people that

upgraded and want to go back, I'm the first?

12:01 am
no, there are also lots of inquiry pertaining to the go back

feature

12:01 am
ahh ok

12:01 am
This what I get when given the option to go back to

windows 7:

12:02 am
THE FILES WE NEED TO TAKE YOU BACK TO A

PREVIOUS VERSION OF WINDOWS WERE REMOVED

FROM THIS COMPUTER.

12:03 am
Yet, the folder that is called windows.old was created the

day I upgraded to W10 and is 23GB in size.

12:03 am
I see, then the privilege of using the go back feature is now

disabled as the profiles are now deleted.

12:06 am
I don't know. I'm just going by what I'm being told by

Windows. I didn't delete ANYTHING in case I wanted to roll

back.

12:07 am
It was literally installed on top of Windows 7. All my

programs are installed correctly for the most part.

12:08 am
I also had a dual boot with W7 and XP, and XP is now

corrupt. I can't boot from it.

12:09 am
be right back

12:10 am
back

12:12 am
Hello, i understand

12:12 am
But since the settings was change, the go back feature is

now not available

12:14 am
Then why did the installation do this if you're offered a 30

day rollback option?

12:15 am
there could have been discrepancy on the new profile

created which triggers this issue

12:17 am
This is going to be a huge issue if others have the same

problem. Is there no way you can reset something by

looking at my previous product key?

12:18 am
I apologize for this matter, but unfortunately we cannot

revert it back by looking on the product key.


My i ask what seems to be the issue with windows 10?

12:20 am
Incompatiblility with some programs, strange behavior,

screen flickering, sometimes doesn't wake up. Just to talk

to you I spent about 45 minutes trying to figure out how

because it was unable to do it with Firefox.

12:22 am
I don't have the patience to learn a new operating system. I

thought it was going to be very similar to xp or 7, but there

are too many differences that take time to find, and do

12:24 am
I understand, yes there are issues with windows 10,

especially drivers

12:26 am


I only installed it because there was that rollback option. I

trusted that. I don't want to do a clean install.

12:27 am


I understand, but were you able to update all your drivers

and run windows update?

12:27 am
Since the option to go back is not available, would you

consider familiarizing with windows 10 interface?

12:28 am
Not if I can't run some of my programs! I didn't want to be a

beta tester.

12:29 am
I never install a new operating system when it first comes

out. I like to wait. But again, with the rollback option and

the fact that so many were saying it was the best OS, I

thought I'd try it.

12:31 am
Do you know if they will create some kind of patch/program

to fix this issue? And if so, they will have to extend the 30

day period if it takes them time to figure it out.

12:32 am
I apologize but I am not sure if there will be a fix for this

issue.

12:33 am
So am I stuck with this?! This isn't right.

12:34 am
I apologize for that matter.

12:34 am
Ok, so we're done here?

12:34 am
Well, there's nothing I can do to help you with the go back

feature since it is now disabled.

12:36 am
Ok then. Thanks a lot.

END OF CONVERSATION

And just like that I am the proud owner of a buggy Windows 10 OS whether I like it or not. This is about as false advertising and it can get! Can't revert back after 3 days, forget 30.
Not a happy camper.

Discussion is locked

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Re: can't go back
Aug 19, 2015 1:10AM PDT

This proves what we use to say "You only lose what you didn't backup."

Better make an image backup of your system before trying a new OS. It's a native function in Windows 7 (http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/) and for those who don't like Microsofts backup (few people do) there's Acronis or free Easeus Todo Backup. No need for a clean install of Windows 7 then.

Kees

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You're assuming...
Aug 19, 2015 11:04AM PDT

... I didn't back up my stuff and I lost everything. That's not the case. I have all my important stuff backed up. The issue is Windows 10 won't let me revert to my previous version because their "rollback" options is broken. Even though they give you 30 days to revert, what is the use of it if that feature is no good? I think this is going to be a huge issue and MS is going to have to come up with some kind of tool to fix this.

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Not much new I fear.
Aug 19, 2015 11:13AM PDT

Microsoft's rollback has been hit and miss for over a decade. I didn't expect it to work in 10 either. Why this is, is a matter of debate but the history repeats. Thanks for reporting it for us.

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I was assuming ...
Aug 19, 2015 11:48AM PDT

you lost Windows 7, but now you write you have all your important stuff backed up. So either I understood your initial post wrong (sorry for that), or you didn't find Windows 7 important enough to backup. But then, why this post?

Kees

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Because....
Aug 19, 2015 2:19PM PDT

Windows 10 won't allow me to roll back to windows 7, as it's supposed to. You are given an option in Recovery to "go back to windows 7". And it doesn't work.

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I'd clarify that statement.
Aug 19, 2015 3:33PM PDT

The rollback didn't work for your PC. I've seen it work so far without fail but given a million machines it's a safe bet that for some reason a percent of them won't be rolling back.

If you can think of a reason it failed such as virus/trojan/register cleaner damage or such, share that so others can zero on on why.

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I was assuming...
Oct 1, 2015 7:19PM PDT

I downloaded Windows 10 in August and after hours of frustration, I decided to roll back to Windows 7 because I had no sound, and I could not print or send/receive fax messages. Did anyone else have this same problem? I'll try upgrading to Windows 10 at another time.

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This is one reason why I...
Aug 19, 2015 7:40AM PDT

love the installation disc on hand so that I can at least go back and start over. Too bad mfr. don't sell us a copy on the cheap.

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Thanks for this. The thing is
Aug 19, 2015 8:07AM PDT

System Restore was hit or miss in prior versions as well.

Not much has changed since this all began. That is, we must make backups of what we can't lose. While it would be nice for the PC to step forward to some system that would obviate the backup need, we're not even close on any OS to date unless you look at the ChromeOS.

In this case it sounds like the owner didn't know to prepare for say a HDD or other hard failure.

This story is usually where they learn first hand why so many write about backup.

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Just a short question
Sep 30, 2015 11:49AM PDT

You have helped me on occasion and that is greatly appreciated. My question concerning this issue is this. Would making a 'System Image' have allowed the OP to return to his original system ? That IS different than making a Data backup is it not? Thank you for any information and the responses I have received to date.

Communication is the way that we all learn. Let's keep the process going.

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Just a short question
Sep 30, 2015 11:53AM PDT

You have helped me on occasion and that is greatly appreciated. My question concerning this issue is this. Would making a 'System Image' have allowed the OP to return to his original system ? That IS different than making a Data backup is it not? Thank you for any information and the responses I have received to date.

Communication is the way that we all learn. Let's keep the process going.

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"System image" may be terminology based on backup pgm.
Sep 30, 2015 12:17PM PDT

However the software I've used for backup doesn't use that term. Without looking at a dictionary or other authority I can tell you this. A Windows SYSTEM consists of the Microsoft Windows software, plus any subsequently installed software (e.g. Office, games, graphics programs, antivirus programs, etc.) plus the user data (e.g. word processor documents, spreadsheets, music, etc.). If you just back up your DATA, you aren't backing up Windows or any of the additional software, just the documents, spreadsheets, music, pictures, etc. That I'm sure about.
Now as to the term "system image", that's not a term I normally use, but to me it implies something like a clone of a hard drive that could be put into another computer and run just like the original. Now since there are thousands of backup/restore programs out there, there's no telling exactly what the difference between "system backup" and "system image". They're closely related obviously, but the backups I make are compressed and can't be executed until restored onto a system hard drive (e.g. installed inside the PC box).
Clear as mud? Wink

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I'm curious
Aug 19, 2015 12:01PM PDT

has anyone renamed the windows folder to something else and then renamed the windows.old folder back to windows and then tried to reboot? It would have to be done on drive using a LIVE CD or DVD one booted to for access I think.

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I had that exact same problem, and a few others
Aug 19, 2015 1:16PM PDT

I have tried W10 on my 2 PCs, the SP3 and a ThinkPad. All have been reverted to 7 and 8.1, because of privacy concerns and the unfinished state W10 is in.
Going back was not without problems. Office and Project lost their licenses and had to be re-activated by phone on all of these. One, an i7 equipped PC from 2011 with several upgrades had that problem of the missing windows.old directory. It was there, but not accepted . Interestingly I had a backup of that folder. When I copied that backuped folder into the original I saw many files added. Hence something got indeed deleted from that folder, without me or anyone else having done that.
As some users say, an image backup before trying a new OS is clearly the best solution.

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I bit the bullet..
Aug 19, 2015 2:22PM PDT

..and just did a clean reinstall of Windows 7 over windows 10. I NEVER install new OS's when they come out. I made an exception here because of all the hoopla about Windows 10 being the best ever, and with that rollback option, there was nothing to lose...yeah right.

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MS should be responsible for a solution to this.
Sep 29, 2015 7:16PM PDT

Regardless of their 'history' of success concerning backup recovery, they make a claim that anyone can try their new Wiz-bang OS (10) while risking nothing due to the option to revert to your prior system OS easily. Obviously this did not happen for the OP and he was just told sorry, too bad, can't help by the very Mega-Company that is sucking so many in still. I'm quite sure if there is enough interest by them that they can rummage through the Vast Halls of Microsoft and find a copy of the MS 7 OS and dust it off and send it to him. This after he proves with his Product key that he actually DID have a legit copy of Win 7.

But they wont... because those who this happens to are prodded into simply accepting the loss or made to feel dumb here because they did not make backups or system images or whatever... because they trusted MS to honor their word.. They didn't. Just possibly they might not have the experience handling these issues that some here have.

Too bad there are no Legal avenues to take to recover their loss. These issues definitely helped me decide to keep my current Win-7 and Win 8 Desktop, and Win 8.1 Laptop. Too many programs I like, operating just the way I like, to chance messing that up.

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Just today I upgraded another PC to 10.
Sep 29, 2015 7:21PM PDT

Along the way I read the agreement. Did you? I also read that my files and PC are my responsibility, not Microsofts.

There are a lot of folk that really want free everything and no bugs. But with some million different PCs that are not made by Microsoft, why would you blame them for no backups?

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You are missing the OP's point
Sep 30, 2015 11:31AM PDT

I also read the OP's message and subsequent replies, did you? He stated that he DID backup all his personal data. That is not the issue. the issue is being able to revert BACK to the 'Operating System' Windows 7, that he had before. Even though MS said he COULD 'within 30 days'... he was not able to. They made a promise that for whatever reason, they could not keep. Ither that or they 'Misrepresented' their capabilities concerning return to the user's prior operating system. I say that as long as he can provide proof that he DID own a legitimate Windows 7, MS should be able and should be required to provide him with one. I'm sure they have a few stored somewhere.This is not a hard concept.

It's Kind of like a car dealer telling you to try out the new model for a few days (say 30) and only requiring you to leave your trade-in as a 'retainer'.
You do this, after three days or so decide you don't like the changes and return it to the Dealer expecting to receive your old car back and be done, only to be told he longer has your old car... A salesman accidentally sold it at their used car lot he would most likely be required to replace that car with an equal type.

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You seem not to understand SYSTEM backup.
Sep 30, 2015 11:40AM PDT

Backing up your personal data is not the same as backing your system up. If you back your system up, you can go back to it. If you just back up your data, you can't. Big difference.

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I missed one of the replies the OP made
Sep 30, 2015 12:08PM PDT

Apparently the OP already has fixed his own problem. "Under the title, "I bit the Bullet' he states that he did a 'Clean Install' of Win 7 back over the Win 10 installation. Ither he made a system Image or had a factory OP sys disk. Problem solved for him. Good

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WhenI installed Win 10, I was warned to backup my system.
Sep 29, 2015 7:30PM PDT

It sounds like some folks ignored that but took the rollback as absolute gospel. Hmmmm, I'm sure glad I made my backups. As Bob likes to say, you only lose what you don't backup. Live and learn.

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His data was backed up...
Sep 30, 2015 11:39AM PDT

reverting back to the prior Windows System seems to be the problem. If it had been you... I suppose you would be the one who learned.

Just because the reversion process worked before for 10 or ten million, does not change the fact that it did not work for the OP. MS should be able to easily fix his problem with a replacement copy of Win 7... what he had before. If not that,, maybe a replacement copy of Win 8, something he was familiar with and did want to use.

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Rollback
Oct 3, 2015 7:29PM PDT

My heart-felt condolences,I can understand Your frustration with trying to go back to Your previous system,i guess i'm one of the lucky ones that was able to go back,the reason that i'm butting in is that I can understand Your reason for wanting to go back to 7,,here are my reasons:1 nobody told me that windows 10 would be on top of 8.1 2 I do not like the fact that My computer would go back on by itself after I turned it off 3 I could not find a recycle Bin 4 I could not find My tools such as clean disk and de-frag 5 most of all I was unconfortable with loosing control of My system,because of the loss of privacy...the only thing I could suggest is to borrow a windows disk 7 or 8 or try Linux.Good Luck!