How to uninstall Windows 8 and install Windows 7

Long story short my current laptop has had a lot of problems with it. MSI have decided to give me a replacement model rather than repair it.

The model I will be receiving is a GT60-0ND

It comes pre-installed with Windows 8. Before I accepted the trade from MSI I asked if it could come with Windows 7 rather than Windows 8 or if they could supply me with a CD to downgrade myself.

The reply was " unfortunately the system is pre-installed with WIN8 BIOS version and license key thus it cannot be changed or downgraded to Win7."

Is there anyway I could uninstall Windows 8 completely and re-install Windows 7 if I buy one? It seems like there's several different versions and factors, some that would allow me and some that wouldn't

or at the very least could I install Windows 7 / Ubuntu alongside Windows 8 and just never use it.

And if there is a way, would it void my warranty with the laptop?

Thanks in advance!

 

Yes, you need to go into BIOS setup and enable CSM. Then you can install Windows 7; it simply won't be installed under UEFI.

You can also downgrade, but because of the downgrade rights stipulations, you can only downgrade from Windows 8 Pro to Windows 7 Professional.

And no, that won't void your warranty. Although I don't know how adequate support will be from them if you have a Windows 7 inquiry for a Windows 8 machine.

 

So If I go into the BIOS and enable CSM, all I'll have to do is Stick in my Windows 7 CD, boot it from CD. Go through the installing Windows 7 and delete any of the Windows 8 / recovery partitions and it will work? (I know obviously I'll have to re install all my drivers but that shouldn't be too much hassle)

So as long as I enable CSM, I should have no problem uninstalling Windows 8 OEM via clearing the partition using the Windows 7 Home Premium CD ?

I just wasn't sure as I'd read some people have tried it and the parition / drive the windows 8 installation was on, was protected from reformatting using the windows 7 CD

 

Pretty much. Just disable Secure Boot as well, or it will never boot off any installation media, be it a disc or a drive.

 

Haxed, look forward to see how's your downgrade process from Win8 to Win7, can you keep post here and share what you experienced ?

 

Yeah I will be posting. I got a response from the MSI customer service person. They gave me a link and said that all the documentation to do so was online. It looks a bit confusing but sure I'll figure it out haha. On the GT60 page on their website, it gives you the software for the Windows 7 & 8 BIOS upgrade / install.

Still not 100% sure If I will downgrade or just change Windows 8 to look similar to Windows 7. (Pretty sure I'll go the downgrade option)

Won't be doing so until around the 16th. My old laptop should be delivered to their warehouse in Poland on the 10th, then they will confirm the fault and send me a new GT60 so may take a while.

I will post on here and send you a private message with how it went, how I did it and any problems en-counted.

 

Just to clarify:

Downgrade = Taking a qualifying, installed version of Windows and downgrading to a previous, qualifying version [of Windows].

What you're trying to do is install Windows 7 over Windows 8, if I understand correctly. The procedure is a little different, but a fresh install can be a more convenient and desirable route.

Good luck! And if you get tied up in those directions, you always have the NBR community to help you out.

 

Yeah it's basically a Fresh Install I want to do. Completely wipeout Windows 8 and install windows 7. As I don't have the Pro version of Windows 8. Do I literally just enable CSM, disable secure boot and then stick in my windows 7 cd, delete / format the windows 8 partitions and recovery and hey presto?

I was just a little confused over the BIOS thing. MSI told me that I would have to install / flash a different version of BIOS on to my laptop to get everything working correctly?

 

If it shipped with Windows 8 from factory, then that's generally the procedure. Enable CSM so that UEFI doesn't reference the key per OA 3.0 (the embedded key), and disable Secure Boot so that your installation media can be booted from. I would try that before flashing the BIOS, as flashing BIOS won't remove the OA 3.0; it's generally done to provide any fixes for known hardware or firmware problems at a sub-OS level.

 

Could I install Windows 7 alongside Windows 8?

 

I haven't had the opportunity to do it myself, but you can try following this guide. With Windows 7 installs requiring reverting to legacy BIOS/CSM and MBR partitions, I'm not sure how feasible it is on a Windows 8 from factory system is all.