Got W8 installed

I got W8 installed over Win7 finally. My opinion - - - IT SUCKS!

I notice that there is an 'Old Windows' folder on the HD. How can I get
my old Win 7 reloaded?

Mellowed wrote:
I got W8 installed over Win7 finally. My opinion - - - IT SUCKS!

I notice that there is an 'Old Windows' folder on the HD. How can I get
my old Win 7 reloaded?


Have you loaded ClassicShell yet ?

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/features.html

There are still reasons to dislike Windows 8, but with the
Classic Shell in place, at least occasionally the appearance
will be conventional. (I still hate being popped into a Metro
app, because some file association is wrong, but, that's life.)

*******

The ideal method would have been, to back up the Windows 7 C: drive
first. As then, you could have restored everything back with precision.
Windows 7 has the System Image function, which would be ideal for the
purpose. Or, you could download a copy of Macrium Reflect Free and
do the backup that way, restoring later if needed. Since Windows 7
may have involved C: and a volume called SYSTEM RESERVED, you'd want
to back up both of those.

*******

There is a recipe here, showing some steps for working with Windows.old .
But, this is not exactly for your scenario, and it involves a fair
number of steps.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971760

One other leech site, put up this recipe, but when I saw it,
I couldn't believe it would take that many steps. But later
in my search, I ran into that Microsoft KB article, and
it seems to be mostly the same recipe. You'd think if they
went to the trouble to preserve Windows.old, they would also
put something in Programs and Features so you could back out.

Paul

"Mellowed" wrote in message ...

got W8 installed over Win7 finally. My opinion - - - IT SUCKS!

I notice that there is an 'Old Windows' folder on the HD. How can I get my old Win 7 reloaded?

- Restore the image you made (with Win7 Backup/Restore or 3rd party imaging program - Acronis, Ghost, etc) prior installing Windows
7 ensuring that you also restore the System Reserved partition and the partition that Windows 7 existed on if not the same as the
System partition.
or
- boot from your Windows 7 DVD, wipe the partition, format the partition, and reinstall Windows. (if your Win7 DVD is an upgrade
DVD, you'll first need to install the prior o/s before upgrading it to Windows 7)
or
- restore Windows 7 using the Restore or Recovery media method/instructions provided by your OEM pc manufacture and provider of
Windows 7.

Optionally, if one of the above methods is not available, then you might consider using Windows 8 until you're familiar with both
modes (Start Screen UI or the Desktop UI). If you have a desire to run Win8 solely in a desktop/start menu mode consider
investigating one of the third party apps for enabling a pseudo-Win7 Start Menu.

--
....winston
msft mvp mail

"Paul" wrote in message ...


There is a recipe here, showing some steps for working with Windows.old ..
But, this is not exactly for your scenario, and it involves a fair
number of steps.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971760


Yes, that method also references boot.ini which Win7 no longer uses.

On 10/29/2012 10:49 PM, Paul wrote:
Mellowed wrote:
I got W8 installed over Win7 finally. My opinion - - - IT SUCKS!

I notice that there is an 'Old Windows' folder on the HD. How can I
get my old Win 7 reloaded?


Have you loaded ClassicShell yet ?

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/features.html

There are still reasons to dislike Windows 8, but with the
Classic Shell in place, at least occasionally the appearance
will be conventional. (I still hate being popped into a Metro
app, because some file association is wrong, but, that's life.)

*******

The ideal method would have been, to back up the Windows 7 C: drive
first. As then, you could have restored everything back with precision.
Windows 7 has the System Image function, which would be ideal for the
purpose. Or, you could download a copy of Macrium Reflect Free and
do the backup that way, restoring later if needed. Since Windows 7
may have involved C: and a volume called SYSTEM RESERVED, you'd want
to back up both of those.

*******

There is a recipe here, showing some steps for working with Windows.old .
But, this is not exactly for your scenario, and it involves a fair
number of steps.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971760

One other leech site, put up this recipe, but when I saw it,
I couldn't believe it would take that many steps. But later
in my search, I ran into that Microsoft KB article, and
it seems to be mostly the same recipe. You'd think if they
went to the trouble to preserve Windows.old, they would also
put something in Programs and Features so you could back out.

Paul
Thanks Paul. I'll try ClassicShell before I remove Win8. Win8 is on my
relatively new Toshiba Laptop and is used for travel and backup. I used
the $14.99 upgrade offer to try Win8. My external backup drive is on my
Desktop (Vista Ultimate). The Laptop has nothing. I can re-install Win
7 from scratch and recover all my data from the Desktop if necessary.
Not attractive, but do-able. The Desktop backup is on a WD Passport
drive. Not a big deal to get all of the documents, etc transferred. (I
love the Passport!)

In the future I don't know what I'll do if a Win7 isn't available. This
upgrade reminds me of Windows ME. My Vista system is from January '07
and is getting a little long in the tooth. I don't see a Win8 as a
replacement.

On 10/29/2012 11:09 PM, ...winston wrote:

"Mellowed" wrote in message ...

got W8 installed over Win7 finally. My opinion - - - IT SUCKS!

I notice that there is an 'Old Windows' folder on the HD. How can I
get my old Win 7 reloaded?

- Restore the image you made (with Win7 Backup/Restore or 3rd party
imaging program - Acronis, Ghost, etc) prior installing Windows 7
ensuring that you also restore the System Reserved partition and the
partition that Windows 7 existed on if not the same as the System
partition.
or
- boot from your Windows 7 DVD, wipe the partition, format the
partition, and reinstall Windows. (if your Win7 DVD is an upgrade DVD,
you'll first need to install the prior o/s before upgrading it to
Windows 7)
or
- restore Windows 7 using the Restore or Recovery media
method/instructions provided by your OEM pc manufacture and provider of
Windows 7.

Optionally, if one of the above methods is not available, then you might
consider using Windows 8 until you're familiar with both modes (Start
Screen UI or the Desktop UI). If you have a desire to run Win8 solely in
a desktop/start menu mode consider investigating one of the third party
apps for enabling a pseudo-Win7 Start Menu.

Thanks Winston. I'm going to try the Classic shell first and if that
isn't satisfactory I'll just do a clean install of Win 7. Win 8 is on
my laptop and the primary data is on the desktop which is fully backed
up. (See response to Paul)

On 10/30/2012 1:55 PM, Mellowed wrote:

In the future I don't know what I'll do if a Win7 isn't available.

http://www.netrunner-os.com/

--
Alias

On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 01:49:41 -0400, Paul wrote:

Have you loaded ClassicShell yet ?

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/features.html

There are still reasons to dislike Windows 8, but with the
Classic Shell in place, at least occasionally the appearance
will be conventional.


I used and liked Classic Shell until yesterday, when I switched to
Start8. Unlike Classic Shell, Start8 isn't free, but it costs only
$4.99 (nut there's a free 30-day trial).

They are both good, but I find Start8 somewhat better. Not a *lot*
better, but for only $4.99...


--
Ken Blake

Ken Blake wrote:
On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 01:49:41 -0400, Paul wrote:

Have you loaded ClassicShell yet ?

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/features.html

There are still reasons to dislike Windows 8, but with the Classic
Shell in place, at least occasionally the appearance will be
conventional.


I used and liked Classic Shell until yesterday, when I switched to
Start8. Unlike Classic Shell, Start8 isn't free, but it costs only
$4.99 (nut there's a free 30-day trial).

They are both good, but I find Start8 somewhat better. Not a *lot*
better, but for only $4.99...

I've been using Classic Shell since W2K, but that sounds like it is
worth a look if I ever install Win8. I don't know if I want to uninstall
Classic Shell on my Win7 computer to try it.
--
Crash

"The best argument against democracy is
a five-minute conversation with the average voter."
~ Winston Churchill ~

On 10/30/2012 6:39 AM, Alias wrote:
On 10/30/2012 1:55 PM, Mellowed wrote:

In the future I don't know what I'll do if a Win7 isn't available.

http://www.netrunner-os.com/

Thanks Alias. That could be a viable option in the future.

On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:47:17 -0400, "Dave \"Crash\" Dummy"
wrote:

Ken Blake wrote:
On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 01:49:41 -0400, Paul wrote:

Have you loaded ClassicShell yet ?

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/features.html

There are still reasons to dislike Windows 8, but with the Classic
Shell in place, at least occasionally the appearance will be
conventional.


I used and liked Classic Shell until yesterday, when I switched to
Start8. Unlike Classic Shell, Start8 isn't free, but it costs only
$4.99 (nut there's a free 30-day trial).

They are both good, but I find Start8 somewhat better. Not a *lot*
better, but for only $4.99...

I've been using Classic Shell since W2K, but that sounds like it is
worth a look if I ever install Win8. I don't know if I want to uninstall
Classic Shell on my Win7 computer to try it.


Start8, as the name indicates, is only for Windows 8. I assume that it
won't run on Windows 7.


--
Ken Blake

Ken Blake wrote:

I used and liked Classic Shell until yesterday, when I switched to
Start8. Unlike Classic Shell, Start8 isn't free, but it costs only
$4.99 (nut there's a free 30-day trial).

10% off coupon if you "like" them on facebook.

I hadn't bothered with Classic Shell on Win7, but put-up with the lack
of classic start menu I'd always used with WinXP, however not-Metro is
too far me to put-up with.

They are both good, but I find Start8 somewhat better. Not a *lot*
better

I'm pleased with Win8+Start8, choice of Win7 style rounded/transparent,
or Win8 style square and opaque, or a hybrid.

On Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:47:20 +0000, Redrawn Buns
wrote:

Ken Blake wrote:

I used and liked Classic Shell until yesterday, when I switched to
Start8. Unlike Classic Shell, Start8 isn't free, but it costs only
$4.99 (nut there's a free 30-day trial).

10% off coupon if you "like" them on facebook.



Yes, I saw that. But I don't do Facebook, and 10% is only 50 cents--a
very small amount of money that I didn't care about.



--
Ken Blake

Ken Blake wrote:

On Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:47:20 +0000, Redrawn Buns wrote:

10% off coupon if you "like" them on facebook.

Yes, I saw that. But I don't do Facebook

Neither do I, but I have a secret FB account in a fake name for such
eventualities ...

Lol...How secret is any Facebook account ?

Does it really matter if the name is fake too ?



--
....winston
msft mvp mail


"Redrawn Buns" wrote in message ...

Ken Blake wrote:

On Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:47:20 +0000, Redrawn Buns wrote:

10% off coupon if you "like" them on facebook.

Yes, I saw that. But I don't do Facebook

Neither do I, but I have a secret FB account in a fake name for such
eventualities ...