Restore a previous version of Windows. Rollback from Windows 10 to Windows 7

As you know, after the release of Windows 10 in the release, Microsoft offered to go to it for free and even without a boot disk or flash drive. To do this, it was only necessary to click on the corresponding icon that appeared in the lower right corner. Many people immediately took the opportunity to try out Microsoft's innovations. But the point is that not all of them fell in love.

That's why this article will tell you in detail how to restore the previous version of Windows. This process can be divided into several stages and carried out by various methods, up to the cardinal ones. Therefore it is better to enlist, so to speak, the instruction and do everything on it to avoid irreversible consequences.

Rollback through the system

Probably, very few people know, but after updating to Windows 10 it is given exactly one calendar month to refuse and return all back. Right now we will consider the option when you did not like the OS after installation, and the permissible period of rollback has not expired.

Many, probably, noticed that, as soon as Windows 10 appeared before the eyes, on the hard drive, or more precisely, on the C drive, a daddy called Windows.old was formed. Familiar persons in the course, for which it is necessary, but we will enlighten those who are unaware.

So to say, just in case the operating system retains its previous version just in order to return, if necessary. This previous version remains in the Windows.old folder. She's been there for exactly one month. That's why above it was said that the rollback from Windows 10 to Windows 7 can be done if the deadline has not expired. How can this be done?

Now let's proceed directly to how to restore the previous version of Windows:

1. Before you should be a desktop. Press Win + I at the same time. The "Settings" section opens.

2. We need the fourth line on the list - "Recovery".

3. Now before the eyes there are various variations of further actions. We are only interested in the item "Back to Windows 7".

4. Feel free to click the "Start" button. After that, you will be asked about why you decided to restore the previous version of the OS.

5. Specify any option to choose from and move on. Even before the eyes will show the possible consequences of rollback and recommendations. Ignore.

6. Now it only remains to click "Next". If you have no doubt in your actions, then boldly press.

7. It remains to wait for the completion of progress, and after a while the seventh Windows will be your main OS.

As you can see, restoring the previous version of Windows is not such a complicated business. However, now the simplest version of the development of events was presented, and it is also possible that the attempt to restore the previous version of Windows can go wrong. Therefore, we move on to the next method.

Image recovery

The way that will now be presented is rarely used, but not because it is not effective, but because it is little-known. Still, it's worth mentioning, as this is another way how you can restore a previous version of Windows. How long it lasts, it is difficult to say, it all depends on how you prepared, but everything in order.

It's worth mentioning immediately that the rollback from Windows 10 to Windows 7 will now be considered, although this method is suitable for other versions of operating systems. And most importantly, what you need to know is that you need to capture the image at a time when you still have Windows 7:

1. The first step is to enter the "Control Panel" and select "System and Security".

2. Then click on "Backup and Restore."

3. There, on the left sidebar, there is a line "Creating an image of the system." We press on it.

4. Now you need to insert the USB flash drive into the USB connector.

5. In the window you have before your eyes three options how to write an image: on a hard disk, on a removable media or on the network. Choose a removable media.

6. After selecting a window appears, where you need to check the box next to your flash drive.

7. After clicking "Next", the recording process will take place. Wait for the end, and you're done. Now on your flash drive there is an image of Windows 7 in its current state.

Now, to restore the previous version of Windows, you need to insert the USB flash drive into your computer and roll back through the BIOS.

Reinstalling the system

If after you switched to the "top ten", it's already been a month and you did not burn the image of Windows 7, as was mentioned above, then the only reboot for you is a complete restart of Windows. This is an extremely radical method, but there are no more options.

The fact is that you will need to initially create a bootable USB flash drive or disk. You can do this on any OS, just write down Windows 7. So, now we'll look in detail what should be done.

Create bootable USB flash drive

To create a bootable flash drive you need to download the program. It's called Rufus, no matter which version. And also it is necessary to download an image of Windows 7 on the Internet. Make sure that the file format is exactly ".iso".

Now we insert the USB flash drive into the computer and start the program. Before you will be a small window.

1. Click on the disc icon in the lower left corner. Before you will be a window in which you need to pave the way to the downloaded image. Once the path is laid, click on "Open".

2. Now at the top of the window in the first line, select the USB flash drive.

3. In the second line, specify "MBR for computers with BIOS or UEFI".

4. The next line is to select the file system. Specify NTFS.

5. We press "Start".

That's all, after the end of the process, the flash drive with the image of Windows 7 will be created.

Installing Windows 7

After the flash drive is registered, it is necessary to start installation. To do this, stick the USB flash drive into the PC and restart the computer. At boot time, press Del or F2 to enter the BIOS. After in the BOOT tab, you must select the USB flash drive first boot device. Next, in the last tab, we exit the BIOS, saving the settings.

After the initial startup screen, the Windows Setup Wizard appears before you. Everything is simple. Follow the instructions, carefully read and install the OS on the C drive. After the installation begins, it will take about half an hour (depending on the power of your PC) and before your eyes a brand new and clean Windows 7 will appear.

Conclusion

As you can see, it is not so difficult to roll back from the "ten" to the "seven". Moreover, there are several options to choose from. Each of them is good in its own way. So, the first is not difficult and the simplest. The second method will teach you to write Windows and use it in the future, and all its settings before recording will be preserved. The third method will teach you how to reinstall operating systems. How to use, choose only you.