Downgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 7

[GeekOfBroadband]

Hi,

I'm downgrading to Windows 7 and I have some questions before I do.

Question 1: Which version of Windows 7 should I get Home/Premium/Ultimate, should I get the Ultimate because it's the same price as the other 2 from where I can get them, so is the ultimate fine? There's no speed differences is there?

Question 2: I have a gaming laptop and when I get Windows 7 should I get them from my laptops drivers from the Clevo website or AMD and Intel themselves? I heard you should get them from your laptops maker but other people said go straight to AMD or Intel because there more up to date than Clevo, so should I do that?

Question 3: Is there any advantages Windows 7 has over Windows 8 like boot times? CPU and RAM consumptions?

Thanks

 

[IAntDemo]

Answer 1: From my personal view, used all, on 32bit x86 they all allow only a max of 4gb, but with the x64 it is double then triple, check this out:

Check out the main editions section and the comparison chart sections on this page:
Windows 7 editions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Answer 2:

A good place to download drivers would be from the manufacture of the product you added to the computer, if I add a ATI graphics card, I'd goto ATI website and find the latest from their.

Answer 3:

Big subject, easy answer, it's totally upto you and what you prefer, windows 7 has less bugs then windows 8, yet windows 8 doesn't use as many resources to hog cpu performance, but their are rumors some older games are slow on windows 8 and some won't play.

If you want my personal advice, I'd stick with 7 Premium or Professional with a x64 CPU until you may want a change.

 

[BikerEcho]

I'll add my take on the questions as well.

Answer 1:
If Ultimate is the same price of the other once then definitely get the ultimate version.
I think Microsoft should stop making all these versions and just make a home versions and a business version.

Answer 2:
i usually go the the laptops manufacture website to look trough the drivers and choose what i need.
it's not the best way to do it, but it is the fastest and easiest way. the best way would be what IantDemo stated to make sure you are getting the latest drivers.
however i always download Drivers for the GPU from AMD/Nvidia's homepage.

Answer 3:
Personally i would not spend money downgrading to Win7. Win8 has some flaws, but it is updated frequently and it has some advantages over win7 like a more polished desktop UI, inbuilt .iso mounting (amen for that) and quicker boot time.
You can make Win8 look alot like win7. Download IObit Start Menu 8.
it's a nice looking startmenu that allows you to skip the stupid metro UI and disable the hot corners. I use it on my Win8 work laptop.
IObit Start Menu 8 for Windows 8 Free download, Bring Windows 8 Start Menu back

 

[robert key]

i think windows 7 ultimate would be a better choice

 

[iPwn]

Whoah whoah whoah... hold the phone!

You shouldn't get any version of Windows 7... you already have a license for Windows 7 Pro.

Understanding downgrade rights

Use this link to download the ISO, burn, install and use the Windows 8 OEM key that is on your PC for the Windows 7 Pro install.

Re: Pro vs. Ultimate
The only useful feature you gain from upgrading to Ultimate is BitLocker. Since you have a license for Pro already, that one feature will cost an additional $129 to get... not worth it when there are free alternatives that work the same or better.

 

[Smart_Guy]

Hi,

I'm downgrading to Windows 7 and I have some questions before I do.

Question 1: Which version of Windows 7 should I get Home/Premium/Ultimate, should I get the Ultimate because it's the same price as the other 2 from where I can get them, so is the ultimate fine? There's no speed differences is there?

Question 2: I have a gaming laptop and when I get Windows 7 should I get them from my laptops drivers from the Clevo website or AMD and Intel themselves? I heard you should get them from your laptops maker but other people said go straight to AMD or Intel because there more up to date than Clevo, so should I do that?

Question 3: Is there any advantages Windows 7 has over Windows 8 like boot times? CPU and RAM consumptions?

Thanks

Here is my HO, which stands for humble opinion

1: Did your laptop originally had Windows 7 or 8? if 7, download the exact same untouched version of 7 and use the serial on the back of the laptop. If not, then just get the cheapest 32-bit you can find if the RAM you have is 4GB or less, or the cheapest 64-bit if more than 4GB, according the downgrade rules iPwn provided. Just stay away from Basic. I don't see any need for higher than Home for gaming.

2: Get the drivers from the laptop provider. Try to avoid any other source as much as possible, even the original makers. Laptops are annoying in this division. Laptop makers usually edit the drivers so the originals could cause serious problems. Otherwise, do it on your own risk. Or perhaps to experiment and make sure maybe they will work for future use.

3: The only objective advantage of 7 over 8 is compatibility. It is much more patched, fixed and improved (I mean tested better). Other subjective advantages could be something like the user interface. 7 is still very friendly with CPU and RAM and there is no complaints of what so ever these days.

You're welcome

 

[GeekOfBroadband]

I got my laptop off of PC Specialist and I got it with windows 8 so could I just uninstall it then install windows 7 no problems?

 

[IAntDemo]

Yes read Ipwn post, that will provide you with what you want, the shop might have already bought a licensed key that can be reused, so I'm not 100% sure but I'd ring them incase.