# Downgrading from Windows 8.1 to 7

Category: Geeks r Us

## Post 1 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Friday, 15-Aug-2014 22:25:07

As some of you may remember, I was seeking a cheap, light, and small computer for daily use. I eventually bought an Asus 1015E, running Windows 8.1. The specifications are listed here. I have the DS02, but they should be the same or similar enough not to matter. The ram was unclear here. MIne is 2gb.
http://www.cnet.com/products/asus-1015e-10-1-c-847-windows-8-64-bit-2-gb-ram-320-gb-hdd-series/specs/
I really have no complaints about the machine itself, other than that the battery takes a very long time to charge, and due to the physical design, the edges slope and are thin, which makes it difficult to clip my Eyebloc webcam cover and my Samson Go Mic to the laptop. I solved this by putting a folded braille index card under them. Other than that, it's a very portable and solid machine.
I have used netbooks in the past with XP and had no problems with their performance. All worked perfectly well for what I needed, and the only reason why I no longer have them is that they both had defects, which is why I bought an Asus this time and not an Acer. However, this machine is slow in certain basic tasks , and I'm not sure if it's because of the processor (which is much faster than the Atom 455 on my Aspire One D255, and certainly faster than that on the Aspire One AOA150), the operating system, or both. Oddly enough, I did not encounter these issues when I first used this machine, and I regularly use CCleaner and Revo Uninstaller to clear things out and to delete unwanted programs respectively.
As I have stated in other threads, I do not like Windows 8.1. I would like to downgrade this computer to either XP or 7 Starter, but I'm not sure which is best, given the specifications of the computer. I actually found Starter on Ebay. One seller has the COA and another has the key plus a disk. I carefull read the so-called limitations of this version, and none bothered me. It seems like a very usable system. I have heard that, on some computers, it is difficult to downgrade from 8 to 7, or any other system, for that matter, including Linux! Can anyone confirm this, and if so, how can this be overcome? For the record, I have seen the 1015E being sold with Windows 7, though never installed by Asus.

## Post 2 by sorressean (Zone BBS Addict) on Friday, 15-Aug-2014 22:40:26

You are comparing apples to oranges here. It depends exactly what on Linux you are downgrading. It can be hard, but that's generally because upgrades are for newer stuff and it's assumed that most people don't want to go back. You can downgrade from 8.1 to 7, but you will need the CD, possibly to slipstream extr drivers in and all of the drivers. Your manufacturer's site may have the drivers ffor 7 and it may not. Use driver magition to get an idea of what you need and collect all of them from there.

## Post 3 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Friday, 15-Aug-2014 22:55:16

The reference to Linux was not about downgrading but about installing. Basically, on some computers with Windows 8.1, they make it very difficult to install any opperating system, not just to downgrade to 7. I'll check out driver magition. I think Asus just has them for 8 but could be wrong. I will check. If not, then can I use generic Windows drivers for most things. We did a clean install of 7 on my Elitebook, and though it originally came with that system, since it was straight from an iso file, the drivers used were generic. Everything seems to work, including the sound, even though HP has specific drivers for audio, keyboard, etc. We're going to install the wireless one, but should we also install the other drivers, even though those features work?

## Post 4 by sorressean (Zone BBS Addict) on Friday, 15-Aug-2014 23:01:40

Yes. I don't remember the specs on your asus, but chipset drivers will speed things up. If you're running windows seven and have video drivers, that will improve rendering (which doesn't matter to you, but improves on speed). If the processor supports turbo boost it won't just magically happen, you need an interface.

## Post 5 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Friday, 15-Aug-2014 23:04:42

The Asus specs are in the first post. Here are the ones for the Elitebook.
http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/kb/docDisplay?javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.prp_ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01=wsrp-navigationalState%3DdocId%253Demr_na-c02068853-1%257CdocLocale%253D%257CcalledBy%253D&javax.portlet.tpst=ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01&ac.admitted=1408158204968.876444892.199480143

## Post 6 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Friday, 15-Aug-2014 23:38:55

Hi there,
If I were you, I would downgrade this netbook to either Windows Starter or Windows Basic; should run a lot faster. Hope this helps.

## Post 7 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 14:55:05

I've wanted to do the same thing on my Toshiba, since Windows 8.1 is currently uncompatable with some programs I use. And, to be honest, I just don't like it much. I wouldn't recommend downgrading to XP because, though it is amiliar, it is also no longer supported by Microsoft. As I understand it, Windows 8 downgrades aren't the easiest things to perform because some drivers your computer came with may not be supported on your machine when it has a different operating system. Can anyone confirm this.?

## Post 8 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 15:17:48

The issue with downgrading is not the downgrading itself, but the machines components.
Asus may not have drivers for, for example, Windows 7, for this model of computer.
If you can’t find drivers, you can’t downgrade. More accurately, some of the components may not work if you do.
Along with the suggestion provided, if I wanted to downgrade a machine, I’d ask Asus, or any other manufacture, if the model I wanted to downgrade had drivers available for the OS I wish to downgrade to.
If the manufacture has the drivers for that model, they’d be best retrieved directly from that manufacture.

## Post 9 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 15:51:14

Yes, Forreal put it much better than I did.

## Post 10 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 16:07:46

I just found this at the Asus site.
"•My new machine is preloaded with Windows 8. Can I downgrade it to Windows 7?
Solution
No,downgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 7 is not an option."
But I have seen the EEE PC 1015E with Windows 7 on it, sold in several places. So either they're lying or they sell it with this configuration and I was unaware of it. But I'm inclined to think the former, since there are guides on how to dowggrade.
http://support.asus.com/repair.aspx?no=605&Slanguage=en
As a sidenote, I have also seen the Thinkpad X60 and X61 with Windows 7 installed, and neither of them came with it as a default. But to be fair, Lenovo may have drivers for this purpose. I haven't checked yet. But there is a very detailed guide on how to do a clean install on that machine.

## Post 11 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 17:17:55

Smile.
Now, email Asus, or on the site put in your model number and see what drivers are available for it.
You didn't say what machine the person had.
Next, if Asus says no, it is probably a good bet it is no.
Asus suggest what they do because they don't want complaints.
Well. I went ahead and did it, but now my monitor is black, what do I do?
Buy a new Asus and leave it alone.
But, people will do what people want.

## Post 12 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 17:40:37

I went to the main driver site for my model.
http://www.asus.com/Notebooks_Ultrabooks/1015E/HelpDesk_Download/
When I hit the select operating system, the choices were "Windows 8 64bit" and "other". I first chose other and found only a few files. I think the safety and bios. Then, I chose Windows 8, and there were 67 results.
http://www.asus.com/Notebooks_Ultrabooks/1015E/HelpDesk_Download/
Can these still be used with Windows 7, and which are really necessary? I'm assuming that 7 comes with generic drivers for certain things. Also, this is for 64bit, and if I install Starter, that will be 32bit.

## Post 13 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 17:52:09

Dear Valued Customer,
ASUS is dedicated to provide the best products and greatest service to our users over the past few decades. In order to improve our website quality, please be informed that we are undergoing scheduled software and hardware update from Saturday 16th August until Monday 18th August. During this period, ASUS official site (www.asus.com) will be temporarily unavailable. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused during this period. Thank you so much
I tried, but that was the message I got. I wanted to see if the drivers for 7 were there.
You should not install a 32 bit OS on a 64 bit computer. Programs sure, but not the OS.
But again?
Smile.

## Post 14 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 19:21:05

It's looking more and more like I should sell this computer and get a proper 7 machine. That's really a shame, as I like this one a lot!

## Post 15 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 19:30:07

I just tried the link again, and it worked. Try it with Firefox. I don't see why it would make a difference, but it might help. If not, try typing EEE PC 1015E into Google. You'll see a link that says notebooks and ultrabooks. Go there and then to support, and then to drivers. Hopefully, you'll land on the link that I gave earlier.

## Post 16 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 20:20:19

YES! SELL IT and get something else! its not worth all the time your already putting into trying to make your computer do something it wasn't designed to do.

## Post 17 by SilverLightning (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 21:18:04

Or, and this is just me spitballing ideas. You could just get used to the
ribbons. Its only been a month or two since you were bitching last time. How
about giving it a bit more time than that? You might actually find you like the
ribbons. Or, and again, just spitballing here, how about learning some of the key
commands for the more basic functions? How about putting in a bit of effort first
before you decide to sell it, then come on here and ask us what computer you
should buy next time, ignore all of us who don't say you should buy an
anticathera mechanism, then go out and buy something on highly questionable
research based only on your warped sense of what a computer should do, then
dislike it and start the process over again. You'd think that after going through
your twentieth computer, a goal I'm sure you're approaching rapidly, you'd learn
that maybe its not a problem with the computer, maybe its operator error.

## Post 18 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 21:26:36

I will be getting my Thinkpad X60 back soon, so really, things should be fine. It's certainly a nice enough computer. I was just looking for something a bit lighter and smaller. But that one is a real laptop, so is more powerful than this Asus. Plus, it has a few extra ports etc. built-in.

## Post 19 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 21:30:57

When the Asus site comes back up so that it has full information, I'll post the link to Windows 7 drivers if they are available.
The site has the message, so isn't fully working.

## Post 20 by SilverLightning (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 21:38:27

If your thinkpad was so perfect, why were you on here a while ago asking for
something lighter and portable? Clearly that niche has been filled, and yet now
that you're having to actually do some effort to figure out how it works, you're
back saying that the niche you bought it to fill isn't really that important.

## Post 21 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 22:07:00

I wanted a smaller and lighter computer, not to have to relearn an operating system that I already knew how to use. It really was my fault. I should have just bought the one from Canada with 7 on it. I thought, for some reason, that 8 would be better than 7, or at least tolerable, and I wanted to receive it faster. Plus, it was cheaper from this seller. Another seller on Ebay has a service where if you send in your 8 machine, they'll put 7 on it. But they say it's for Professional, so I'm not sure if they do other versions, and I really doubt that it's a good idea to put Pro on here. Still, I may keep it and use it as a Linux testing machine. If I find a version that I like, I can then install it here. As a funny sidenote, there is a variant of this machine which is sold with FreeDOS preinstalled! Unfortunately, since this doesn't have a serial port, I couldn't use a synthesizer with it. USB works in DOS, but only for storage devices.

## Post 22 by SilverLightning (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 23:25:32

So, you wanted an upgrade in technology, but not the slight difficulties that
comes with the beginnings of buying an upgrade in technology. Yeah, you
thought that one through really well. Did you honestly think that windows 8
would be exactly the same as windows seven, which was exactly the same as
windows xp, which was in its turn exactly the same as windows 2000, which
was invariably the same as windows 98? You are aware of the fact that there's a
thing called upgrading, and that this mysterious thing involves changing certain
things in that operating system; right? You are aware of that, it didn't escape
you in your seemingly unending search for the one piece of technology that is
simultaneously new, and yet the same as the old one, while being large and
heavy enough for you to call it a laptop, while simultaneously remaining light
and easily portable. Honestly, do you even think about what you're asking
before you ask it?

## Post 23 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 23:31:33

A laptop is a laptop and a netbook is a netbook. I would not expect something like this to serve as a real laptop, even tough they're selling it as one. I also knew that there would be some differences in 8. I just didn't think I would have this many problems with it.

## Post 24 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 23:35:22

i can asure you your biggest problem is the processor. put it back to factory specs and sell it. somebody will by it

## Post 25 by forereel (Just posting.) on Sunday, 17-Aug-2014 7:33:23

This computer is not actually a netbook, it is a low powered laptop.
Nice in my opinion for what it can do for it's portability.

## Post 26 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Sunday, 17-Aug-2014 14:14:49

That's why I bought it. I wanted the portability and even on my full laptops, I am not a power user. I should have just stayed with my Thinkpad, which, though a bit heavier and slightly larger, charges much faster and has better specs. But I have always liked netbooks and wanted to see if I could get away with having another one and having it work this time. This was touted as a laptop, not a true netbook, and it only came out last year, so I thought I would do better buying it than an older model.

## Post 27 by SilverLightning (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 17-Aug-2014 15:39:08

Which you probably would have. Except you have this odd allergic reaction to
actually using any technology properly. You have to install nine different
programs so that you can use the antiquated and/or underpowered programs
you insist on using, rather than actually getting something worth using and
learning how to use it. So in times such as now, when you have a relatively
quality and new laptop that could easily do everything you want it to do, you're
blaming it for failing you simply because your exceptionally complicated system
of computing doesn't work as speedily as you somehow have convinced yourself
it should. Its strange how you haven't noticed that you are the only person who
ever seems to have this issue. You're the only one who posts topics such as
this. You're the only one who we can predict is going to log in every couple of
months with a new problem that is so similar to the last problem that you'd
have to examine it with a microscope to notice an appreciable difference. Could
it be that you are the only one who is to blame for these issues? My money's
squarely slapped down on Yep!

## Post 28 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Sunday, 17-Aug-2014 15:54:42

I don't really use any antiquated programs in Windows, other than Windows Live Messenger, which has never caused a problem. Everything I have is pretty much up-to-date, except possibly Debut, Doxilion, and Recordpad, which all work fine. I bought licenses for them, and unless a new version has some spectacular features, I se no reason to change them. But even they are only a year old at the most. Express Rip and Switch are both new. Other than that, I only really use Wordpad, NVDA, SATOGO and Samnet (though I might subscribe to System Access), Skype (though I preferred GW Connect), Klango (very rarely), Revo, CCleaner (which I only started using recently), Media Home Cinema (the new name of Media Player Classic), Firefox, and occasionally, Internet Explorer. If I try anything else, it's just for experimenting. CDesk is a good example of this, as are the Webbie programs, though some of tose are really useful.

## Post 29 by SilverLightning (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 17-Aug-2014 16:07:45

Ok, I'll be polite while I explain this. Tif, often, in fact frequently, an update to
a program, or even an operating system, doesn't actually include any drastically
new features that you can pin down and name directly. Often the changes in an
update are buried in the code somewhere and do very little more than make a
widget do its job better, or faster, or smoother, or with more pretty colors.
However, if you decide not to update, because they didn't add a whole new
widget for you to play with, they still assume you did. So, when they release
another new update, it has more little bits of code that make widgets work even
faster and smoother and with more pretty colors. But you're still using the
widgets from several months or years ago. The slower, rougher, less colorful
ones. So, while you may not be able to see drastic new changes to an update.
Perhaps they haven't added that calculator you've always wanted, or it can't
make coffee, whatever, its still an update. You should still use it, because its
better than the old one. Even Vista, which practically everyone hated, had
widgets that worked faster and smoother and with more pretty colors. So, one
of the reasons that you're computer is not working smoothly and quickly and
with pretty colors, is because you keep refusing to use the most up-to-date
software and programming. You have a brand new computer, you need the most
up-to-date programs being run on it. Otherwise, you're just throwing good
money after bad. You're putting lipstick on a pig. And probably a few other
phrases I can't think of.

## Post 30 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Sunday, 17-Aug-2014 16:15:16

Just to clarify, the programs that I have not updated (including Winzip 10, which I forgot to add), do not update themselves. This is especially true of the NCH ones. You have to physically go and download the new versions. Plus, updating those often would require me to buy new licenses for them. I'm not going to waste $14 here, $30 there, $40 there, every few months, just to say that I'm running the latest and gratest things. They don't bother me and I don't bother them.

## Post 31 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 18-Aug-2014 14:07:52

I promised to take a look for drivers for Windows 7. This model doesn't offer them.
You might have seen these with Windows 7, but they were also for sale. Asus doesn't support Windows 7 for this model.
I noted some of the parts are Windows 8 specific as I talked about.
This one needs to be left as is.
Reset it and it will run fast as it did when you first received it. Maybe even better, if the last owner made changes too.
I see on the drivers page you can email Asus, so there is an option.
I also see on that page locating service centers, and I'll bet you have one near.

## Post 32 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Monday, 18-Aug-2014 14:15:00

*sigh* Thanks. At least I won't have to waste my time doing that.

## Post 33 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Monday, 18-Aug-2014 15:19:08

nope, you'll just waste your time getting new computer after new computer, and bothering the zone with your dribble, when you don't even take the advice you're given, from people who actually know what they're talking about.

## Post 34 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Monday, 18-Aug-2014 15:24:03

If you don't want to help, you don't need to post. I didn't come here to fight.

## Post 35 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Monday, 18-Aug-2014 15:46:55

To be honest, I think many of these problems are due to using NVDA. I never thought I would say that, but even without refreshing this machine, the performance is far better with System Access to Go, not just in speed but in falling into the glitches like "unknown" and getting stuck in certain windows. This doesn't make me love or even like Windows 8.1, but it does make it much easier to use. So I'll use SATOGO exclusively for a few days, and if I really like it, I'll upgrade my Samnet subscription to include it. I can still use NVDA for things where System Access falls short, like Skype.

## Post 36 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 19-Aug-2014 15:27:59

Hey Tif,
Want to trade? Computer for computer? What's your comps specs? i

## Post 37 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Tuesday, 19-Aug-2014 16:00:15

Check the first post for the link with the specifications.

## Post 38 by forereel (Just posting.) on Tuesday, 19-Aug-2014 16:24:56

Now, this is interesting. What are you offering up Nathan?

## Post 39 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 19-Aug-2014 21:00:45

I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 with the follwing specifications:
Core 2 Duo at 2.00 GHZ; Windows 7 Professional; 2 GB of ram; runs Jaws fine; great sound; 4 USB ports; 100 GB HDD. Brand-new battery.
That's all.

## Post 40 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 19-Aug-2014 21:08:54

Well, it's a core 2 Duo; interestingly, it's being marketed as a notebook. I'm not sure how fast this thing is, because it's a low-voltage processor. How does it do on Word-processing? If it did well with that, I would buy it, and carry it around for note-taking and reading. How's the battery life?

## Post 41 by forereel (Just posting.) on Wednesday, 20-Aug-2014 13:37:58

To big for what she wanted though.
But if she wants to go back to Windows 7 for daily use, it do.

## Post 42 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Wednesday, 20-Aug-2014 13:49:59

I don't know of any computer that can't handle wordprocessing. To be fair, though, I only use Wordpad, and occasionally Notepad. I keep the brightness at 0 on battery, and get a little over five hours before it needs to be recharged. But the charging takes a long time. I actually put dots on the f12 and right shift keys, since the f keys are not grouped into fours, and the right shift key is the same size as the letter keys.

## Post 43 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 20-Aug-2014 14:45:23

I know of a few people that use NVDA. they're using 7, but it works well for them.

## Post 44 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Wednesday, 20-Aug-2014 22:35:41

Well, if you want to trade, how bout it? Like I said, it's got Win 7 Pro, 2 GB of memory, MS Word 2007 plus the Office sweet, as well as Firefox and Microsoft Security Essentials. NVDA can be installed, too.

## Post 45 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Wednesday, 20-Aug-2014 23:31:08

What are the other specs on it? What is the screen size, weight, battery life, and what is the actual model of the machine?

## Post 46 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 21-Aug-2014 10:00:44

Hm, well the screen size is about 15.4; weight is probably 4 plus pounds, keyboard is nice to type on; model is Inspiron 6400. It's Delll, but would definitely be alot faster than your machine currently. It's got a Core 2 Duo CPU T7200 running at 2.00 GHZ; 2 GB of installed memory; max; Windows 7 Pro; 100 GB HDD; built-in WiFi, Built-in modem; for dial-up internet; built-in Lan; 4 USB ports; no HDMI connection; media buttons in front to control volume, playback of music, E.T.C. VGA connection. From 2008, I believe. Just search on Google for Dell Insprion 6400. I'll put all the specs here.

## Post 47 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 21-Aug-2014 10:09:28

Here's an in debth review:
http://www.notebookreview.com/notebookreview/dell-inspiron-6400-review-pics-specs/
And, it has Win 7 Pro, not Vista.
The only difference is that mine has 2 GB of ram, not 1.

## Post 48 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 21-Aug-2014 10:09:39

Here's an in debth review:
http://www.notebookreview.com/notebookreview/dell-inspiron-6400-review-pics-specs/
And, it has Win 7 Pro, not Vista.
The only difference is that mine has 2 GB of ram, not 1.

## Post 49 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Thursday, 21-Aug-2014 15:18:54

It sounds good, but to be honest, my HP Elitebook 2540P (not the Asus 1015E that we were discussing here) has better specs and is slightly smaller. This is a bit large and heavy to carry around with me. But I do like the fact that it has volume control. I wish that I could upgrade my H Pavilion ZE5385US to 7, but I don't think it's possible. That most certainly isn't a carrier either, but it's a true desktop replacement. Still, the Elitebook can serve for that.

## Post 50 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 21-Aug-2014 17:59:22

Alright then, sounds good. That's what I have. I thought you may not want it, because it isn't small. But, you won't find a small machine in the $300 range that is fast, Tif.

## Post 51 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 21-Aug-2014 18:05:49

I can, but she wasn't interested due to battery life.
She's not getting the actually stated hours either, but I explained she'd not.
Battery life specs are odd, because they depend on many factors in cheaper computers.
People post them, and even companies, but unless you are in the higher price range/market, you'll not actually get that.