changing back to Windows 10 please,

paul55 · Aug 3, 2022

Hi everybody.

I have recently Installed the Free Upgrade to Windows 11 on my Windows 10 Computer.

But usually you have the option of reverting back to Windows 10 if not happy with Windows 11.

I have my own Purchased Windows 10 Disk with it's Product Key which was originally on this Computer.

However, my Computer is not accepting It.

Do I have to purchase a new version of Windows 10 please ? Or is there a way around this.

Any help please ?

Many thanks.

Regards

Paul.

Ghot · Aug 3, 2022

@paul55

How.... is it not accepting the Windows 10 disk?

When you say Windows 10 disk... do you mean like a DVD or like a hard drive?

paul55 · Aug 3, 2022

Hi Paul, thanks for reply.

No answer to this, tried DVD Disk Three times with no result just said unable to load each time.

Many thanks.

Paul.

Ghot · Aug 3, 2022

paul55 said:
Hi Paul, thanks for reply.

No answer to this, tried DVD Disk Three times with no result just said unable to load each time.

Many thanks.

Paul.

The option to revert back to Windows 10 (easily), only lasts 10 days.

You will probably have to delete the Windows 11 partitions, before trying to install Windows 10.
Microsoft purposely made it difficult to... go back to an earlier OS on Windows 11.

Here is the link for Partition Wizard bootable CD.
Just burn this ISO to a CD and then boot from it.

Dropbox - File Deleted - Simplify your life

www.dropbox.com

This program will allow you to delete all the Windows 11 partitions.
THEN, you should be able to boot from your Windows 10 DVD.

Ofc... make a backup of Windows 11 with a program Like Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper, before deleting the Windows 11 partitions. Make sure to make the backup software's bootable media also.

/edit
Most of us made a backup of Windows 10, before upgrading to Windows 11. That way, if we didn't like Windows 11, we could just restore from our Windows 10 backup. But hindsight is 20/20.

glasskuter · Aug 3, 2022

If you are talking about Windows 10 on a dvd that comes from the manufacturer, the version of 10 on the disk is quite old. I would not use it anyway.
Use option 1 or 2 from this tutorial to make new installation media.

Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

How to Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 from

www.tenforums.com

BACKUP UP YOUR DATA-All data and installed programs will be lost in this procedure.

Clean Install Windows 10

How to Clean Install Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

paul55 · Aug 3, 2022

Ghot said:
The option to revert back to Windows 10 (easily), only lasts 10 days.

You will probably have to delete the Windows 11 partitions, before trying to install Windows 10.
Microsoft purposely made it difficult to... go back to an earlier OS on Windows 11.

Here is the link for Partition Wizard bootable CD.
Just burn this ISO to a CD and then boot from it.

Dropbox - File Deleted - Simplify your life

www.dropbox.com

This program will allow you to delete all the Windows 11 partitions.
THEN, you should be able to boot from your Windows 10 DVD.

Ofc... make a backup of Windows 11 with a program Like Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper, before deleting the Windows 11 partitions. Make sure to make the backup software's bootable media also.

/edit
Most of us made a backup of Windows 10, before upgrading to Windows 11. That way, if we didn't like Windows 11, we could just restore from our Windows 10 backup. But hindsight is 20/20.

paul55 · Aug 3, 2022

Hi, many thanks very much for the Information But :-

Not willing to put my Credit Card Details on line.

Got stung last Year to the Sum of £7500 although I did manage to get It back through my Bank.

Many thanks

Paul.

glasskuter · Aug 3, 2022

Getting back to Windows 10 is not difficult at all if you follow the tutorials in post #5. However, you must follow the steps exactly paying special attention that you remove all partitions during the installation process and install windows 10 on unallocated space. (as tutorial says) This process wipes out 11 entirely and installs 10.

If you have important files on your system you will lose them unless you back them up before you begin. You will also lose any software you had installed so you will need to have reinstallation media available to reinstall that software. You can use one of the FREE mentioned backup programs. No credit card is involved. If you choose not to do that, at the very least copy and paste your important files to external media prior to clean installing.

If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, please seek assistance.

Ben Myers · Aug 3, 2022

If it has been less than ten days since the upgrade, press the Windows and "i" keys simultaneously, select "Windows Update", "Update History", scroll to the bottom and select "Recovery options" and click "Go back".

Ben

Berton · Aug 3, 2022

This post is in the Windows Insider section of the forum but I get the sense that what you received with the new computer was the RTM/Release to Market/Manufacture version. If it's the RTM you might try the Media Creation tool and download either an .iso file used to create the DVD or the Bootable USB Thumb drive to reinstall. When I was in Insider Preview I always had to download the software. Also important to note the IP and RTM versions do use different keys which could cause failure to activate.

Ghot · Aug 3, 2022

paul55 said:
Hi, many thanks very much for the Information But :-

Not willing to put my Credit Card Details on line.

Got stung last Year to the Sum of £7500 although I did manage to get It back through my Bank.

Many thanks

Paul.

If you're talking about Dropbox... credit card details are not necessary.
Just close any ad windows and click the download link at top left.

NavyLCDR · Aug 3, 2022

Why would there be any need to delete partitions with partition wizard before starting a clean install? Running Windows 7 since it was in beta, I've never had to use any partitioning program to delete partitions before starting a clean install.

paul55 said:
Hi Paul, thanks for reply.

No answer to this, tried DVD Disk Three times with no result just said unable to load each time.

Many thanks.

Paul.

That sounds like a bad DVD to me.

Try3 · Aug 3, 2022

paul55 said:
No answer to this, tried DVD Disk Three times with no result just said unable to load each time.

Make your own up-to-date Windows 10 installation USB and use that.
Create Bootable Installation USB - TenForumsTutorials
Clean Install - TenForumsTutorials

Afterwards, you'll just have the latest Cumulative update*** & a couple of minor ones to do and you'll be right up-to-date.
*** KB5015807 CU - TenForums [with direct download link, this CU is 694MB]

Best of luck,
Denis

cereberus · Aug 4, 2022

Try3 said:
Make your own up-to-date Windows 10 installation USB and use that.
Create Bootable Installation USB - TenForumsTutorials
Clean Install - TenForumsTutorials

Afterwards, you'll just have the latest Cumulative update*** & a couple of minor ones to do and you'll be right up-to-date.
*** KB5015807 CU - TenForums [with direct download link, this CU is 694MB]

Best of luck,
Denis

@paul55 This is the correct method.

Also, nobody seems to have answered cost question.

You do not have to pay anything as you already have a digital licence for W10.

When you install it, just skip licence key entry.

zbook · Aug 4, 2022

When Windows 10 is updated licensing data is entered into Microsoft servers allowing clean installs and disk drive replacement.

With licensing data on Microsoft servers this enables a move back and forth from Windows 10 to Windows 11 or Windows 11 to Windows 10 without any fee.

It's possible that there could be a factory installed OEM that has no downgrade rights but I've not yet seen that reported.

If the computer is within the 10 day default or 60 day modified go back period then Windows.old may be available to go back.

If these time periods had passed then the Windows.old was scheduled for automatic deletion.

To check to see whether there is or is not a go back option open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:

dism /online /get-osuninstallwindow

If error 1168 is seen then the go back option is no long available.

If the go back option is no long available a clean install is required unless a backup image is available to restore.

For backing up files you can manually back up files to another disk drive or the cloud.
Alternatively Windows may be able to create a new Windows.old.
If this is successful important files can be backed up from the new Windows.old.

paul55 · Aug 4, 2022

NavyLCDR said:
zbook said:

zbook said:

Hi everybody.

Sorry to waste everyones time.

Had my Laptop Nicked Yesterday at Watford Gap Services.

So all the Help requested regarding Windows 11 Back to Windows 10 Is pretty much Irelevant at the moment.

Many, Many thanks for all the help anyway.

Regards

Paul.

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