Reinstall Windows 7
- Sometimes things get so bad you have no choice but to nuke everything and start over. Getting malware on a Windows PC can be one of those situations.
- After reinstall I always scan the logs to resolve repeat errors, check System Resources, search for Problem solutions, Generate a System Health Report - as shown in these basic Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 to bookmark.
When you are using a Dell Direct USB key to reinstall Windows 7 refer to Dell Knowledge base article Dell Direct USB Key-FAQs. When your notebook does not have an optical drive, refer to the Using the built-in Dell Factory Image Restore partition tab first.
Not everyone loves Windows 10. Many people upgraded from Windows 7 and regretted it. It might not work with your favorite (and maybe old) software and seems to hang frequently. If you belong to this camp and are looking for ways to get back to Windows 7, here’s a breakdown of how to downgrade Windows 10 and reinstall Windows 7 on your PC.
Return to Windows 7
You can only use this option if you upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7. Note that this method will not work if you did a clean reinstall or if you’ve had your Windows 10 running for longer than thirty days.
To get started, press the Win + I as shown in the image below to call up the Settings menu.
Or use the Start Menu to call up your Settings menu.
When the Settings menu opens, click on “Updates & Securities”, followed by “Recovery.” An option to “Go back to Windows 7” will appear.
Click on “Get Started” to remove Windows 10 from your PC. The question “Why are you going back?” will show. Choose whatever option suits you and click “Next.”
You’ll get an option to update Windows 10 instead. A reminder to disable your password will also come up. Finally, the “Go back to windows 7” button will show up. Click on it.
Your PC will be downgraded to Windows 7. Downgrading will take a while to process.
Reinstall Windows 7 Using an ISO
Sometimes Windows 10 won’t give you the option to downgrade to Windows 7. This situation may be the result of your Windows 10 being older or because an error occurred with your upgrade. In this case you’ll have to do a clean install of Windows.
You may either use the installation disc or an ISO file to reinstall your Windows 7. An ISO file is an image file that works as if you’ve inserted your original installation disc into your PC.
For this process use your Windows 7 installation code and disc – the disc that either came with your PC or your Windows 7 software when you bought it. Check the base of your PC for a “Certificate of Authenticity” sticker to find your product key.
Your product key may also be in your battery compartment. Sometimes Microsoft sends it as part of your welcome email after you buy your PC or Windows OS. If your installation disc is lost, use Microsoft’s ISO file that can be downloaded from their website.
First, backup your PC’s data to an external disc. Make sure you know your system requirements. You’ll also need to have a few things handy to get your ISO file.
- The product key of your Windows 7 (Windows 10 doesn’t use a product key)
- An Internet connection
- Data storage space on your PC, external drive, or USB storage that’s sufficient for the ISO file
- A blank DVD or external storage that has at least 4 gigabytes of storage space
Once on the Microsoft site, enter your Windows 7 product key, and click “Verify.” Choose your product language and whether your PC is 32-bit or 64-bit.
Back up your data to an external disc. If you have an ISO file, then you’ll need the Windows USB/DVD download tool to create a bootable USB drive/DVD.
With the Windows ISO file on your external storage, run the “Windows DVD Download Tool” to install your Windows 7 from that external DVD drive directly. If your PC has no DVD drive, use a USB drive. Boot Windows 7 from it and ask it to overwrite Windows 10.
Wrapping Up
The two options provided above make it easy to reinstall Windows 7 if you’re currently on Windows 10.
The first method works (direct downgrade) only if you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 within the last thirty days. Use the second option – ISO file or clean Windows install – if the other is not available. Also, remember to back up all your data first.
The Complete Windows 10 Customization Guide
In this ebook we’ll be exploring the multitude of options to fully customize Windows 10. By the end of this ebook you’ll know how to make Windows 10 your own and become an expert Windows 10 user.
Many computers ship without Windows 7 installation discs. Instead they come with 'recovery' discs and/or partitions that claim to restore your PC to its 'factory fresh' state, but include a ton of bloatware (free trials, media players, useless utilities, and the like) along with Windows. Removing each piece of bloat is time-consuming, and just not the same as truly starting fresh.
Related: Install any version of Windows using any Windows disc you can find
In this article, you'll learn how to make your own Windows 7 installation disc (or USB flash drive) and use the valid product key you already have to perform a fresh reinstallation. The following method is effective and legal, and doesn’t require a lot of technical expertise. (If you do need help with bloatware, however, read 'What to Do With a New PC.')
However, we don't recommend that you delete your recovery partition or throw away your existing recovery discs. Although many people have had success with the following procedure, others have not. Some users have not been able to activate their copy of Windows even after entering a valid product key, while others own PCs that require software not included in a Windows 7 ISO. You have no way to know whether this procedure will work for you until you try, and you need a backup plan in case it doesn’t.
Also, save your files and drivers to external media before you start. Reinstalling Windows wipes out all personal data and causes a loss of functionality in devices for which Windows lacks an adequate built-in driver. Plan on loading the latest device drivers from media you create before reinstalling Windows.
Reinstalling Windows 7, Step by Step
1. Find your Windows 7 product key: Typically this 25-character alphanumeric string is printed on a sticker affixed to your PC or on documentation included with your PC. Alternatively, you can use a keyfinder program such as Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder to pull your product key from the Registry. You need your product key to reinstall Windows.
2. Download the ISO file for the version of Windows 7 you own:
Reinstall Windows 7 Professional
The above links point to Digital River, a licensed distributor of Microsoft software. These downloads are each over 3GB, and your product key will work only with your edition of Windows, so make sure to select the right one. UPDATE 2/25/15 Digital River no longer works; you can now download Windows 7 ISOs from Microsoft's Software Recovery website.
3. Download the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool. This utility lets you copy your Windows 7 ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive. Whether you choose DVD or USB makes no difference; just confirm that your PC can boot to the media type you select.
Reinstall Windows 7 Dell
4. Boot your computer using the Windows 7 DVD or USB flash drive. Follow the prompts to prepare the destination hard drive and install Windows.
Or read our guide to installing Windows 8.