How To Install Windows 7 And Remove Windows 8

Download Article

A lot of people love Windows vii, but a lot less dearest Windows 8. If y'all've upgraded just want to go back, y'all have a couple of different options. You tin can install Windows 7 alongside Windows viii, which allows you to choose which one you want to use when your computer turns on. You can too install Windows 7 inside a "virtual machine", which is a simulated computer that runs on your desktop. This allows you to use Windows 7 and Windows 8 at the same time on 1 computer. Finally, if you just want to become back, you can reinstall Windows 7, wiping out Windows 8 in the process.

1

Start with Windows 7. Windows 8 includes a new boot manager, which is the software your reckoner uses to determine which operating arrangement to load. This means that if you lot want to dual-boot Windows 7 and Windows 8, Windows 8 needs to be installed final, or Windows 8 won't exist able to boot.
two

Backup any important data. Before installing your two operating systems, yous'll want to brand certain that any important data has been safely backed up to a secure storage location. Installing operating systems will wipe anything that's currently on the disc. Click here for detailed instructions on backing up your data.

Advertisement
3
Beginning the Windows seven installation. Insert the Windows 7 DVD into your computer and kick from it to begin the Windows vii installation procedure. Select "Custom (avant-garde)" as your installation type and follow the prompts until you lot get to the "Where practise y'all want to install Windows?" screen.
- Click here for details on starting the installation process.
4
Create 2 dissimilar partitions. The "Where do y'all want to install Windows?" screen allows you to create and format partitions on your difficult drive. A sectionalization is a segment of your drive that is formatted separately and given its own bulldoze letter. Each partition acts like a split up difficult drive. Note: If yous have two split up physical drives, you don't have to worry about division, as yous tin can install each operating organisation to its own drive.
- Click the "Bulldoze options (advanced)" option.
- Delete all of your existing partitions. All of the infinite on your drive will exist combined into i clamper of "Unallocated infinite".
- Select the unallocated space and click "New". Gear up how large y'all desire the Windows vii drive to exist. Repeat this to create the partition for Windows 8 (you'll apply it later but creating it now makes things easier down the route). Make sure each partition is at least 25 GB, more if yous plan on installing a lot of programs.
v

Go along installing Windows 7 on the first partition you created. Follow the guide linked above to finish the installation every bit normal.
half dozen
Insert your Windows 8 disc and install it after installing Windows 7. Once Windows 7 has been successfully installed on the first sectionalization, you can go ahead and install Windows 8 on the second sectionalization.
- Click here for detailed instructions on installing Windows 8.
- Select "Custom: Install Windows but (avant-garde)" for the installation type.
- Make sure yous select the right partition in the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen. The i with Windows 7 installed on it will exist marked "System" in the "Type" cavalcade.
7

Boot into Windows 8. After installing Windows 8, it will be set as your primary operating organisation. It will start automatically if you don't select an operating system from the boot manager.
eight
Alter your kicking settings. If you'd prefer to automatically boot into Windows 7, or want to adjust the fourth dimension that you have to select your option when the computer starts upwards, y'all can make changes to your computers boot settings from within Windows 8.^[1]
- Press ⊞ Win+R , type msconfig, and press ↵ Enter
- Click the Kicking tab.
- Select the operating system you desire to automatically boot to and click Prepare every bit default .
- Change the time y'all have to select your operating system when the computer starts past irresolute the "Timeout" value.
- Click Apply when you are satisfied with your changes.
Advertisement

1
Download and install Oracle VM VirtualBox. This program allows you lot to create a virtual difficult drive on your computer which yous can then install Windows vii on. You lot can then kicking upwardly Windows seven in a window while you're running Windows 8.
- Nigh users can exit the installation options at their defaults. You tin download from Oracle VM VirtualBox virtualbox.org/
- Oracle VM VirtualBox is a costless program, though in that location are other options available every bit well.
- This method is groovy for getting quick access to Windows vii without having to reboot, but graphic-intensive programs such as games will not perform well on the virtual machine.
2
Ensure you have enough free infinite to install Windows vii. When using VirtualBox, you'll be creating a virtual drive out of the free space on your hard drive. You'll want to be able to dedicate at to the lowest degree enough space for the operating organisation to install and run properly (about twenty GB), more than if yous desire to be able to install programs.
- Make sure that you are leaving enough infinite for Windows 8 programs and files as well.
3

Click the "New" push button at the elevation of the VirtualBox window. This will start the process for installing a new virtual operating organization.
4
Enter in the basic data for your virtual car. Yous will be prompted to give the car a name and select the operating arrangement.
- You can name the virtual motorcar annihilation, though simply naming it "Windows 7" might be the most user-friendly.
- Select "Microsoft Windows" as the type.
- Select "Windows 7 (32 scrap)" or "Windows 7 (64 bit)" depending on the version you lot are installing. Your Windows installation disc will say which version it is. Yous cannot run a virtual 64-scrap machine on a 32-bit computer. Click hither for details on determine what version computer you take.
five
Set the corporeality of memory (RAM) you want to dedicate to the machine. You can merely dedicate RAM from the physical amount installed on your computer. Windows seven requires 1 GB (1024 MB) of RAM, and it is recommended that you allocate about one-half of your available RAM for good operation.
- Don't classify all of your RAM, or your regular operating arrangement will run into errors when the virtual machine is running.
6

Select "Create a virtual hard drive now". This will start the process for creating a new virtual drive to install Windows seven on.
vii

Select "VDI" equally the difficult drive file type. If you know you'll need the hard bulldoze image file for other programs, you tin choose the appropriate file type, but most users can get out "VDI" selected.
8
Select between a "Dynamically allocated" or "Fixed size" drive. The option is up to y'all. A stock-still size drive will offering improved performance, but the dynamic drive may have up less space on the computer.
- If you select "Dynamic", you'll still need to set a maximum size.
ix

Select a location for the virtual bulldoze. Click the Folder icon next to the drive proper noun to select where you desire it saved. This is particularly useful if you want to store your virtual machines on a storage drive.
x

Set the drive size or limit. Beneath the virtual bulldoze proper noun, you'll see a slider that allows you to set the size or limit. Make sure that you include at to the lowest degree enough space to comfortably install Windows 7 (20 GB).
11

Look for the bulldoze to exist created. This may have a while, peculiarly if you lot are creating a big fixed drive.
12
Download the Windows 7 ISO file, or insert your installation disc in your DVD drive. Y'all can install Windows vii from an ISO file just like yous would an installation DVD. Both crave a valid Product Key.
- If you purchased Windows 7 from the Microsoft website, you'll nigh likely exist using an ISO.
13

Select your new virtual motorcar in the VirtualBox chief window. You'll see the details of the arrangement in the main frame.
fourteen

Click the "Storage" header. This volition open the Storage card, where you lot can select your installation disc or ISO.
15

Select the virtual CD/DVD drive. it will likely say "Empty". You volition encounter the Attributes and Information on the right.
16
Click the small Disc button in the Attributes section. Select how you would similar to load the installation disc.
- If you have an installation disc inserted in your computer, select the appropriate "Host Bulldoze". The term "Host" refers to your physical computer.
- If y'all are installing from an ISO, select "Choose a virtual CD/DVD disk file". This volition open up a file browser, allowing y'all to find and select your ISO file.
17

Get-go the virtual automobile. In one case y'all've selected your installation media, yous can start the virtual machine and brainstorm installing Windows 7. Select your Windows 7 virtual machine and click "Start". A new window volition open mimicking the display of another reckoner.
18

Press a central when prompted to first the installation. Yous volition see a message indicating when to press any key on your keyboard.
xix
twenty

Beginning the virtual automobile. Once you lot accept Windows 7 installed, you can outset it at whatsoever time by opening VirtualBox, selecting your Windows 7 virtual machine, and clicking Get-go. Yous can also correct-click on the virtual auto in VirtualBox to create a shortcut on your desktop which allows y'all to commencement the machine with a single click.^[2]

Advertizing

i
2

Insert your Windows 7 installation disc. If you only have an ISO file, yous will need to burn it to a DVD or create a bootable USB drive.
3
Kick your reckoner from your installation drive. You tin can set your kick society in your calculator's BIOS menu, which can exist accessed as the computer boots upwardly by pressing the correct key. Typical keys include F2 , F10 , F11 , and Del .
- Navigate to the Kick menu to alter the club of your boot drives. Make sure that your installation drive is set to be the starting time boot device.
four

Save your changes and reboot. You will be prompted to printing a key to brainstorm the setup procedure.
5

Follow the prompts to kickoff the installation. Y'all will be asked to select language and input settings, every bit well as concur to the terms and license.
6
Select your Windows 8 partitioning when asked where you want to install. Your Windows vii partition volition be marked equally "Organisation" in the "Type" column.
- Installing over your Windows viii partition will erase all of the data on information technology.
7

Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

Can I still return to indows eight subsequently installing Windows vii?

Joshua Chuah

Community Reply

Y'all sure tin! But do the same matter just with a Windows 8 DVD (or USB) instead of a Windows seven installation media.