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Putting Windows 7 on to a Windows 8 laptop
toogoodfortv
Posts: 6,536
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Hi all,
Any advice would be appreciated. I haven't actually owned a windows laptop in a couple of years but the OH got a new laptop for work there and it has Windows 8 on it. He can't stand it and is used to Windows 7 with all his software he uses for work etc.
Suppose it's not a major big deal like .. he could get used to it, but is it possible to put Windows 7 on to the new laptop without a disk? Or does it Need the disk.
One of the guys at his work has said he has Windows 7 Home Premium on USB.. not sure if I trust it though ...
Would he not have to buy the disk?
What's the best solution here? The old OH is a stubborn one and is doing my head in with his complaining about Windows 8
Any advice would be appreciated. I haven't actually owned a windows laptop in a couple of years but the OH got a new laptop for work there and it has Windows 8 on it. He can't stand it and is used to Windows 7 with all his software he uses for work etc.
Suppose it's not a major big deal like .. he could get used to it, but is it possible to put Windows 7 on to the new laptop without a disk? Or does it Need the disk.
One of the guys at his work has said he has Windows 7 Home Premium on USB.. not sure if I trust it though ...
Would he not have to buy the disk?
What's the best solution here? The old OH is a stubborn one and is doing my head in with his complaining about Windows 8
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W8 is actually a better OS than W7.......;)
http://www.classicshell.net/
which makes it look like W7 and he can ignore the Metro interface.
I'm a 'usual suspect'.
And it might be unnecessary anyway. There are ways and means to make Windows 8 look a bit like Windows 7. There are a number of add ons to Windows 8 that can be used to make it look more like earlier versions of Windows.
A few options to investigate
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=windows+8+classic+look
As I don't use Windows 8 I can't comment on how good bad or indifferent any of these are.
I predicted you would say that...
I knew you would......:cool:
Does all the work software run correctly under w8 ?
Me too.
But yes, stick something like Classic shell on and it will act more like windows7/Xp.
Virtually all modern packages run ok. I have found a couple of old things that don't work but that happnes at every upgrade.
I use the start8 package which you can disable most of the annoying track pad swipes that jump you to Modern (formerly known as Prince:D). Also if you look at your mouse/trackpad options, on many pcs you can disable virtually all the swipes not stopped by Start8 as well.
I now control the PC not the other way round!
I hate Windows 8 (which I have said many times in the past !)
People have mentioned Classic Shell to me, which apparently makes Windows 8 LOOK LIKE Windows 7.
I don't want it to LOOK LIKE Windows 7.
I WANT WINDOWS SEVEN !!
Just buy Windows 7 then. Backup all your data etc. Then clean install and restore data.
It involves calling Microsoft and giving them your Windows 8 Pro key. They will then generate a Windows 7 Pro key for you. Of course you'll need Windows 7 Pro installation media too.
I've never tried this, and the people that have had varying degrees of success. There are details scattered over the web (pretty sure i saw it on the Lenovo forums).
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2417359,00.asp
How to add Windows 7 as a dual boot option on a Windows 8 computer:
http://www.pagestart.com/win8dbwin701181301.html
I can't vouch for the accuracy of either of the above articles. Replacing Windows 8.1 might require different procedures.
Here is a list of utilities for Windows 8 which can replace the Start button and its menu, enable booting in desktop mode, and disable the charm icons:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Start_Menu_replacements_for_Windows_8
Microsoft have a free downloadable manual for Metro here (strangely they call it a "training brochure"):
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39055
Dont know why, Windows 8 with classic shell is much better than 7 which in itself was pretty dam good.
Besides he will get the free upgrade to 8.1 within the next couple of months which fine tune it even more.
W8 is a better os. I use start8, boots up into the desktop and works the same as if it were w7. What's the problem?
With W8, there is probably an age group that are the mainstay of the haters society.
I have no problem with anyone using Classic Shell etc, but, I don't think it should be an automatic choice or suggestion for someone new to W8. I see a lot of people just repeating what they have read somewhere else, without really having tried it for themselves.
It's not perfect, then again it's not as bad as some would have others believe....
Looking forward to next months 8.1 and the changes that will bring.....Plenty will have something to say about them, but, going by W8 few will try them...;):)
I agree with what you are saying and I Myself have no problems with W8, but do not really make any use of the Metro UI and store apps (with my home user hat on). Like many on here, I am constantly having to help fiends or family through the W8 UI to get them their traditional Windows back.
I recently observed many users at a consumer trade show recently, on an adjacent stand of laptops running W8.
The majority of users did not get far with the W8 Metro UI using either a mouse or touch screen themselves. I was amazed really how many had not seen or experienced W8.
When some were introduced to the desktop by the stand staff, the first question was always 'where is the start menu', I smiled. Everyone I noticed grabbed a mouse and pointed straight to the left bottom corner.
They were then shown the new UI and told you can install Classic Shell etc, on which they were taken to a laptop that had that installed.
Of course, there were questions, why is it missing? Does it run XP and W7 programs?
Why does it have those apps? Can I use the Google play store or iTunes store. Their reaction was not positive at all.
The amount of Marketing that MS have done, it does amaze me how many consumers are still very confused/muddled by what W8 is.
Dont want to hijack the thread, but what is your usb dongle, plenty of other software out there as an alternative to media center?
Its an Aldi special under their brand name of Tevion
But why? The Windows 8 underneath is better than 7 so why not just use what you have and install something like classic shell and have the best of both world?
Or are you expecting Windows 7 to come with MS Office?
Thats old, I remember those, it was a Kworld dvb-t 100 under the hood. Should work with the kworld dvb-t plus software.
I thought that they came with Arcsoft theatre software which would run ok on W8.
Suppose you have tried it with other pvr software like media portal and next pvr
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_PVR_software_packages