Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Windows startup fail after reverting from Windows 10 to 7??

Sep 20, 2015 7:57AM PDT

I downloaded windows 10 from Microsoft windows website and I installed it but I thought of reverting back to windows 7 and so I did. The windows 7 boot up logo showed up but got stuck in between the boot logo. then the windows startup fixing program would be recommended for me and I did it but failed to fix the boot up error. and i cant even start windows from the safe mode as well. So what do i do to bring back windows 7 back up. and which one windows is good 7 or 8 or 8.1 and sure that i wouldn't wanna go back to 10. so how do i start up windows again?? Yeah i guess i will have to make a bootable USB or DVD drive. I would like to go for usb but not sure how to create one bootable usb drive. so can anybody help me out to create it? Any help would be accepted thanks a lot

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Did you back up your Windows 7 system before going to 10?
Sep 20, 2015 8:02AM PDT

Your story seems to happen a good bit. The best way to deal with this kind of thing is to back up your entire system before making the upgrade to 10. Short of that, you'll need to backup your data and reset to factory settings.
`
Good luck.

- Collapse -
How do I backup and reset to factory setting?
Sep 20, 2015 10:58PM PDT

I can't open my windows not even in safe mode. How can I even back up and reset to factory setting?

- Collapse -
Re: backup and restore to factory setting
Sep 20, 2015 11:57PM PDT

Backup: boot from a Linux disk (ore USB-stick) and copy all your stuff to an external hard disk. You'll first have to make such a disk or stick on another PC.

Restore: that's different between makers and models, but the usual is to boot from the recovery partition or from the restore media that came with the machine or that you made first thing when you got it.

Kees

- Collapse -
I'm seeing this page here but not sure what is it?
Sep 21, 2015 1:02AM PDT
- Collapse -
Re: what it is
Sep 21, 2015 1:15AM PDT

It's a tool to make a bootable USB from the Windows installation .iso-file you bought from the Microsoft Store. It's also known as the Media Creation Tool: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install
I don't know if it works with the Windows 7 .iso you can download. But that certainly works for installation from a DVD.

To make a bootable USB stick with (certain variants of) Linux, use the "Universal USB installer".

Burning the .iso file to a DVD is easier than making a bootable USB, if the PC you work on has a DVD burner.

You didn't tell what make and model your PC is. Just in case it's an Acer, read http://acer-ame.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/29925/~/use-acer-erecovery-management-to-restore-your-system-or-create-recovery-media
Your PC might have something comparable to go back to factory conditions. Check the user manual.

Kees

Post was last edited on September 21, 2015 1:31 AM PDT

- Collapse -
No way than Start Up Repair!
Sep 22, 2015 11:35PM PDT

Windows 7 is the best thing ever Windows 10 sucks

- Collapse -
Answer
(NT) No restore media ?
Sep 20, 2015 8:33AM PDT
- Collapse -
whats restore media? and also whats (NT)?
Sep 21, 2015 12:59AM PDT

I'm new to all this so I know nothing and i have decided to make a bootable usb drive but not yet able so can you help me out? or anyone? I mean how to make a bootable usb drive ??

- Collapse -
Re: bootable USB
Sep 21, 2015 1:09AM PDT

You already found a way to make a bootable USB. See your own post above.

To answer your other questions:
- restore media are the disks that came with the PC or laptop (or that you made yourself) to restore the PC or laptop to its initial state (factory conditions, that is, how it was when you bought it).
- (NT) is short for "no text" and is forum speak meaning the post only contains a subject line

Kees

- Collapse -
(NT) Thank you very much for the explanation you have provided.
Sep 21, 2015 8:08AM PDT