Shift Back to Windows 7

[tes1234]

Guys

I have a laptop that came pre-installed with windows 7 Home Basic. I have installed windows 8 on it and its amazing. But now i want to shift back to Windows 7 HB as i m going to sell the laptop.

I have the PEQSERVICE drive 15GB showing computer management. Any idea how i can shift back to Windows 7 which came pre installed ?

Laptop is ACER Aspire 5755G

[tkaw220]

Have you create a system restore disc before you replaced Win7 with Win8?

[tes1234]

Nope i didn't create the disc, but the recovery partition is still there.

[Shane Nokes]

Did you do an upgrade where you left all data intact or a fresh install?

If you did the latter it gets a bit trickier, but can usually be done.

[tes1234]

I did a clean install for Windows 8.

[StrikedOut]

Just found this;

No Restore CD / eRecovery / password / ALT + F10 or F10

• 1 - Recovery of password for data on the hidden partition PQSERVICE
  
  • A - Install the software R-Drive Image to create an image of this partition (this file has the extension. ARC)
    
  • B - With this software, always create a virtual disk logic to see the files
    
  • C - From the desktop, go to the newly created virtual disk and find the file aimdrs.dat. The open with the notepad and get the password.
    

  [*]2 - Reactivating the ALT + F10

  • A - Find two files on the virtual disk that has been created: mbrwrwin.exe and rtmbr.bin.
    
  • B - Copy these 2 files to drive C: \
    
  • C - Type the following command: mbrwrwin install rtmbr.bin
    
  • D - The function has been reactivated.
    

  [*]3 - Start of Restoration

  • A - At start-up, check the set-up to make sure D2D is enabled.
    
  • B - Once the audit is complete and the PC has restarted, simultaneously press ALT + F10 to start the restore utility twhen the ACER logo appears.
    
  • C - When it asks for the password, you need to type one found in the file aimdrs.dat
    
  • Note: If the operating system does not work, it is possible to do this from another PC by connecting the hard drive or USB slave
    

From here, http://en.kioskea.net/faq/2040-acer-pc-restore-to-factory-settings

Hopefully it will help you.

[Shane Nokes]

I hope that works as well.

Often clean installs mess up the restore partitions a bit, hopefully not the case here.

Next time make backup media before you do anything else. :)

[+Warwagon MVC]

I hope that works as well.

Often clean installs mess up the restore partitions a bit, hopefully not the case here.

Next time make backup media before you do anything else. :)

Or even better, a system image on an external drive.

[tes1234]

Thanks for the help guys.

It was easier than i thought, just ppressed alt + F10 and it took me to a menu pressed enter and showed me a few option and tada booted into Acer Recovery :)

But the sad thing lol i have decided to keep the laptop and get MS Surface (That how much i m pressed with Windows 8).

[Shane Nokes]

Good to hear. I also like 8. Enjoy :)

[winrez]

do keep in mind any retail copy(even a upgrade anywhere) of Windows and If I remember correct the CD Key area is before you get to deleting partitions. Unless you have a magical fairy in the hidden partition (or used it for recovery at the partition select screen I would choose advanced then would highlight each one and choose delete when the screen shows 1 unpartitiononed space choose next, install or setup.

[Growled Member]

Glad you got it sorted. Are you buying a new laptop with Windows 8 on it?

[tes1234]

No i m buying a Surface RT. Actually i wanted something portable to carry around so was thinking of ultrabook. After weighing the cons and pro's thought about buying an RT.

I already purchased Windows 8 retail copy which i was using on this laptop.

[Shane Nokes]

No i m buying a Surface RT. Actually i wanted something portable to carry around so was thinking of ultrabook. After weighing the cons and pro's thought about buying an RT.

I already purchased Windows 8 retail copy which i was using on this laptop.

If you can wait until after Christmas I would recommend the Surface Pro. It's about the same price as an ultrabook, but is still a Surface.

Now if the cons you're talking about are battery life and such, then yeah the RT would be better...but with less software compatibility due to no ability to install x86 based software.