Is it worth the trouble to "upgrade" Windows 8 to Windows 7?

ixfd64 · 2013-04-09, 06:56

I'm thinking about getting a new laptop (to replace the one with the dead HDD) soon. However, it seems most new computers come with Windows 8, and it's only a matter of time before Windows 7 is fully discontinued. I tried Windows 8 but don't like it very much.

I know it's possible to do a clean install of Windows 7 over Windows 8 by wiping the OS first, but I've heard many people say it's a hassle. Has anyone here ever tried this?

ET_ · 2013-04-09, 07:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by ixfd64

I'm thinking about getting a new laptop (to replace the one with the dead HDD) soon. However, it seems most new computers come with Windows 8, and it's only a matter of time before Windows 7 is fully discontinued. I tried Windows 8 but don't like it very much.

I know it's possible to do a clean install of Windows 7 over Windows 8 by wiping the OS first, but I've heard many people say it's a hassle. Has anyone here ever tried this?

I did. (very

)

I tried to install both Windows 7 and Ubuntu 12.04 64bits over Windows 8.
The PC was a "Compaq-HP", and I lost 24 hours to get rid of UEFI configuration.
It was no piece of cake.

Luigi

pinhodecarlos · 2013-04-09, 09:26

I didn't like too Windows 8 so I installed Ubuntu 12.10. Since then I've been very happy with learning linux.

Carlos

Chuck · 2013-04-10, 00:12

There is a cheap Windows 8 utility program called "Start8" from Stardock. It costs $4.99 if you decide to buy it. I found it very worthwhile for a laptop I recently bought that came with Windows 8. It makes the start menu function just as it did in Windows 7 and eliminates the maddening dumbed-down "Metro" interface.

TObject · 2013-04-10, 00:22

There is also a free one, Classic Shell by Ivo Beltchev.

kladner · 2013-04-10, 01:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by TObject

There is also a free one, Classic Shell by Ivo Beltchev.

I recommend Classic Shell for Win 7 as well. Among other virtues, it gets rid of the weird behavior in Windows Explorer which causes expanded directories to jump to the bottom of the window, obscuring the sub-directories.

EDIT: That said, I have no inclination whatsoever to get on board with Microsoft's latest "improvements."

Dubslow · 2013-04-10, 01:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by kladner

That said, I have no inclination whatsoever to get on board with Microsoft's latest "improvements."

Normally with Windows 8 I'd be championing GNU-Linux as a great alternative, but for the last couple of years it seems like the developers have been in a competition with Microsoft for "Worst User Interface".

E_tron · 2013-04-10, 03:36

Consider "upgrading" to Windows 2000. It's a great product; still works

I think Windows 8 computers come with secure UEFI booting enabled by default. Try disabling that function before trying to gut the OS. Secure boot is kind of pointless feature that makes installing an alternative OS difficult for anyone.

Windows 8 makes we feel sick

; I pressed the Windows 8 Start button and nearly had a conniption. The ugliest thing I've ever seen. Why Microsoft; why? Windows 7 is a "reasonable" OS, but I haven't accepted it yet.

I've been exceedingly resistant to accepting the Vista, 7, 8 lineage of desktop operating systems. They consume entirely too much system resources. All of my Windows machines are either 2000 or XP. I've forced myself to Debian 6 and Ubuntu 12 when an upgrade is necessary.
.

kladner · 2013-04-10, 03:43

XP is a solid system. If its 64 bit version were better supported I might have considered it. 7 suits my uses fairly well as a Photoshop user and GIMPSter. That said, I avoid Win 7's "improvements" such as Aero. I run it in Classic mode, as close to XP feel as I can get it, and I never let XP frills get carried away, either.

ixfd64 · 2013-04-10, 05:24

I've heard secure boot can be hard to disable in certain implementations of UEFI. Anyone know which brands make it easy, and which don't?

xilman · 2013-04-10, 06:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubslow

Normally with Windows 8 I'd be championing GNU-Linux as a great alternative, but for the last couple of years it seems like the developers have been in a competition with Microsoft for "Worst User Interface".

It's easy enough to avoid Gnome 3 and Unity.

One of my machines doesn't even run a GUI, though that may be too much of a throwback to the 1970s for some people here.

You could try getting hold of a copy of Mint and seeing whether you like it. I don't run it on any of my live systems but it's the distro of choice when booting from DVD for whatever reason.

2013-04-09, 06:56	#1
ixfd64 Bemusing Prompter "Danny" Dec 2002 California 2·29·43 Posts	Is it worth the trouble to "upgrade" Windows 8 to Windows 7? I'm thinking about getting a new laptop (to replace the one with the dead HDD) soon. However, it seems most new computers come with Windows 8, and it's only a matter of time before Windows 7 is fully discontinued. I tried Windows 8 but don't like it very much. I know it's possible to do a clean install of Windows 7 over Windows 8 by wiping the OS first, but I've heard many people say it's a hassle. Has anyone here ever tried this?

2013-04-10, 00:12	#4
Chuck May 2011 Orange Park, FL 2·3·151 Posts	Start8 There is a cheap Windows 8 utility program called "Start8" from Stardock. It costs $4.99 if you decide to buy it. I found it very worthwhile for a laptop I recently bought that came with Windows 8. It makes the start menu function just as it did in Windows 7 and eliminates the maddening dumbed-down "Metro" interface.

2013-04-10, 03:36	#8
E_tron Sep 2002 Austin, TX 231₁₆ Posts	Consider "upgrading" to Windows 2000. It's a great product; still works I think Windows 8 computers come with secure UEFI booting enabled by default. Try disabling that function before trying to gut the OS. Secure boot is kind of pointless feature that makes installing an alternative OS difficult for anyone. Windows 8 makes we feel sick ; I pressed the Windows 8 Start button and nearly had a conniption. The ugliest thing I've ever seen. Why Microsoft; why? Windows 7 is a "reasonable" OS, but I haven't accepted it yet. I've been exceedingly resistant to accepting the Vista, 7, 8 lineage of desktop operating systems. They consume entirely too much system resources. All of my Windows machines are either 2000 or XP. I've forced myself to Debian 6 and Ubuntu 12 when an upgrade is necessary. . Last fiddled with by E_tron on 2013-04-10 at 03:39

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2013-04-09, 09:26	#3
pinhodecarlos "Carlos Pinho" Oct 2011 Milton Keynes, UK 1408₁₆ Posts	I didn't like too Windows 8 so I installed Ubuntu 12.10. Since then I've been very happy with learning linux. Carlos

2013-04-10, 00:22	#5
TObject Feb 2012 625₈ Posts	There is also a free one, Classic Shell by Ivo Beltchev.

2013-04-10, 03:43	#9
kladner "Kieren" Jul 2011 In My Own Galaxy! 2·3·1,693 Posts	XP is a solid system. If its 64 bit version were better supported I might have considered it. 7 suits my uses fairly well as a Photoshop user and GIMPSter. That said, I avoid Win 7's "improvements" such as Aero. I run it in Classic mode, as close to XP feel as I can get it, and I never let XP frills get carried away, either.

2013-04-10, 05:24	#10
ixfd64 Bemusing Prompter "Danny" Dec 2002 California 2·29·43 Posts	I've heard secure boot can be hard to disable in certain implementations of UEFI. Anyone know which brands make it easy, and which don't?