There are different methods to roll back from the new and still crude Windows 10 to the old and reliable Windows 7, which has previously served the user’s computer for a long time. If you have a question: “How to roll back Windows 10 to Windows 7?”, then effective methods for doing this are described below. The PC owner only needs to choose one of the methods that suits him and then follow the step-by-step instructions to return Windows to the previous modification installed on the computer before it was updated to “Ten”.
Requirements
A method for solving the burning question: “How to return everything to the way it was?” depends on the time that has passed since the transition to Windows 10. But it is immediately necessary to reassure unhurried users that they can always return to “Seven”, regardless of the length of the operating system with the index “10”.
The following 2 scenarios are possible here:
- If the user did not manage to get rid of the directory that Ten created during the update procedure within 30 days, then a simple system restore must be performed;
- In other options, more stringent measures will be required.
Instructions for recovery via system rollback
If the user is lucky and falls under option 1 of the action scenarios discussed above, then in the memory of his computer there is a large directory called “Windows.old”.
The directory contains all Windows 7 data, which is stored in the PC memory for 1 month. After a month of operation, “Ten” uninstalls this backup copy of the OS in order to save disk space.
To roll back the OS you must perform the following sequential steps:
Returning to Windows 7 using a previously saved image
If the user took care of and saved the Windows 7 image in advance, then returning to the old OS is available at any time.
The algorithm of actions consists of the following steps:
Note: the user has the right to use this saved copy of the system an infinite number of times in the future, i.e., constantly use it to restore the OS on his PC.
Windows 7 recovery procedure
If Windows 10 has been in use on your PC for more than 30 days, then to return to Windows 7 you will need to install it. Of course, this procedure will take a significant amount of time, but a system will be guaranteed to be installed on the PC, completely free of any errors and malicious applications, since it will be virtually new.
Windows 10 is being installed by an increasing number of users. But what if you don't like the new operating system? How to go back from the new design and virtual assistant Cortana?
It turns out that to make life easier for users, Microsoft allows you to rollback the installation Windows 10 to the previous operating system within 30 days after the update. Don't worry if you want to go back to OS Windows 10 Later. A free update is available until the end of the year.
There is only one requirement. To go back to your old OS, you shouldn't have deleted the folder Windows.old, which, as a rule, is located by default on the C:\ drive. If you have already deleted it, the action to return it is impossible. At least to your old files.
Getting ready for a rollback
Before using the rollback option, take your time to complete the action. Make sure all your data is backed up on an external hard drive or a cloud backup service such as Backblaze or Carbonite.
You may also want to make sure you have your old product keys Windows 7 or 8 . They will come in handy in case the system doubts that you have a licensed version of the product.
The keys for your previous operating system are usually found on the installation discs or on a sticker on the back of your computer (under the battery if you're on a laptop).
After you have done everything possible to save the documents, we proceed to the rollback procedure. To do this, go to the Start menu, select Application Settings and go to Update & Security > Recovery.
If you have the English version Windows 10, then you look like this: Open the Start menu, select the Settings app, and go to Update & Security > Recovery.
Once you've downgraded to a previous version of Windows, you don't actually need to change anything. In some cases, you have to reinstall old programs or enter new passwords for your login login. In general, everything returns to the situation as it was before you decided to install Windows 10
The rollback system makes sense for 30 days after installation. If you want to step over this milestone, make a backup of the system using a recovery disk created from the original Windows 7 or 8 to do a clean install of your old system, or keep a system image backup with you in case Microsoft will require you to pay for a new operating system after a year of use.
If all of the above options do not apply, create a virtual environment for Windows 7 or 8.1 on your PC with Windows 10. Then you can return to the old OS for a while at any time, in order, for example, to use old programs or drivers that are no longer supported Windows 10
After installing Windows 10 on top of an already installed system (this can only be Windows 7 or Windows 8.1), the user can return the previous version of the OS without reinstallation if the new OS is unstable or simply does not like it. In this article we will show you how to roll back a Windows 10 installation and look at the features and limitations of such a downgrade process.
Rolling back Windows 10 after upgrading from a previous version of Windows
To roll back to an older version of the OS, in Windows 10, open the menu Start and go to the section -> Settings -> Update and Security -> Recovery(in the Russian version Start -> Settings -> Update and Security -> Recovery). In the Recovery section in the section Go back to Windows 8.1/ Return to Windows 8.1 (or Windows 7 depending on the version of the previously installed OS) you need to click the button Get started/ Begin.
In the window that opens, you will need to indicate the reason why Windows 10 does not suit you, and then follow the simple instructions of the wizard. After the reboot, the computer will boot into a special mode in which Windows 10 will be removed and the previous system will be restored. At this time, the inscription “” will be displayed on the screen.
After another reboot, the desktop of the previously installed version of Windows will load.
Folders Windows.old and $WINDOWS.~BT and 30 day period
The ability to restore the previous OS is available only during 30 days after upgrading to Windows 10. After 30 days, a Windows maintenance job will automatically remove the hidden Windows.old and $WINDOWS.~BT directories (in some cases there is also a $Windows.~WS directory) in the root of the system drive. It is in these directories that the data and files of the previous version of Windows necessary for performing a rollback are stored. Therefore, if you plan to retain the ability to roll back Windows 10, under no circumstances should you use $WINDOWS.~BT using the Disk Cleanup wizard or manually.
To be able to downgrade the OS even after 30 days, you need to rename these three directories, for example, to BAK-Windows.old, BAK-$WINDOWS.~BT and BAK-$Windows.~WS. In this case, Windows 10 will not delete these directories, because their names have changed.
In the future, when performing a rollback, you need to return the original names to the directories.
Starting to downgrade Windows 10 through recovery mode
If you cannot access the Windows desktop (the system does not boot or there are other errors), then to start the aging procedure to the previous version, you need to boot Windows 10 into a special recovery mode. To start this mode, you can use the instructions, boot from the Windows 10 installation disk (described) or interrupt the normal boot of the computer three times in a row. In the window that appears Advanced Recovery Options need to choose Troubleshoot -> Advanced options and press the button. 
Restoring Windows.old and $WINDOWS.~BT directories after deletion
In the event that after upgrading to Windows 10, More than a month, you will not be able to roll back to a previous version of Windows, because the Windows.old and $WINDOWS.~BT directories were automatically deleted. Therefore, to return to a previous version of Windows, you will first have to try to restore the data in these directories. The success of this procedure depends on how actively your disk is used, how much free space is on it, how long ago the deletion was performed, and the quality of the utility for recovering deleted files.
I used an already well-proven program Hetman Partition Recovery(https://hetmanrecovery.com/ru/hard_drive_recovery/software-3.htm).
Windows 10 Anniversary Update and 10 day period
If you installed Windows 10 from an official ISO system image released after August 2, 2016, keep in mind: starting with Windows 10 Version 1607 (the so-called Anniversary Update), Microsoft has reduced the time during which you can roll back the system, from 30 to 10 days! Apparently, according to MS, the system is already good enough to understand within 10 days whether the user liked it or not.
The worrying question is whether they will be able to return to the old version of the OS after this; if they don’t like the “ten”, will they have to completely reinstall their OS.
There are a dozen methods for rolling back to the original version of your OS. To do this, you can use the tools built into the OS or resort to additional tools.
How to roll back windows 10 to windows 7 using the built-in rollback option
To start the process, press the “Win + I” button in combination to bring up the settings screen. Then click on the item called “Update and Security”. Then select the section called “Recovery”, it will be located on the left navigation. The “Return to Windows X” window will appear, where x is the version of the OS that was installed previously. Click the “Start” button.
You will need to select the reason for switching to Windows 7. This data is sent to Microsoft. Place a tick on the appropriate one from all the proposed options. Click "Next". 
Having indicated any reason why you decided to roll back from the new version, you will be warned about the likely consequences of the installation. Then all recommendations for carrying out the process will be shown. Click the “Next” button. 
After which Microsoft will express gratitude for using its product. If you decide to perform a system restore from Windows 10 to 7, you will need to click on the “Return to Windows 7” item. 
After completing all the manipulations, the previously installed update will be canceled. This way you can get Windows 7 back.
How to restore windows to an earlier state
If you updated Windows to the latest version, but not a month has passed since that time, then you can easily cancel the update and return to the version that was before.
How to remove 10 and return 7? This manipulation is possible due to the creation of the “Windows.old” folder on the computer’s hard drive.
It saves all information about the previously installed version. This folder is stored on the device’s hard drive for exactly one month. After this time, it is deleted permanently. Therefore, it will definitely be impossible to return the old OS using this method.
The folder takes up a lot of disk space, resulting in a lack of free memory on the PC. If you update regularly, the system automatically creates backups, each of which takes up approximately 10 GB.
During the rollback, Windows files from the “C:\Windows.old” folder will be used.
You can find it if necessary in Explorer / File Explorer. By opening it, you can restore certain files from the old installation. 
You can find out how much space it takes up using the Disk Cleanup tool. To launch it, open the “Start” menu, enter “disk cleanup” in the search, select the search result “Free up disk space by deleting unnecessary files.” Then run the tool and scan the disk. Click on the item called Clean up system files.
From the list, select an item called Previous Windows installations, after which it will be indicated how much space the old OS takes up on your hard drive. If you no longer need it, you can delete it using the Disk Cleanup application, freeing up a lot of space. 
How to install windows 7 instead of windows 10
If you don’t know how to change the OS, you can install the desired version again. This manipulation will erase all information on the disk. You will need a bootable DVD/USB drive for installation. Insert the media into the computer and start the installation. If necessary, you can create an image from Microsoft using Windows 7 Software Recovery and Windows 8.1 Installation Media. 
Reboot the system and wait for the screen with the message “press F12 key”. A window will open with a list of all boot devices; you need to select the one you need.
Use the arrow keys to select a device, then press Enter. Then follow the installation wizard instructions. After which the seven will be installed on your computer.
How to restore Windows 7 from an image
It is possible to return the OS using a pre-recorded image. You need to create it before updating the system with Windows 10. If updates are installed, the disk image will not help.
If there is a disk image with Windows 7 on the hard drive or removable media, then you can return everything to its previous state at any time.
First, you will need to open the Control Panel, then find the item called “System and Security”.
Select "Backup and Restore".
In addition to restoring the system, it is possible to create a disk image by clicking on the line “Create a system image” on the left side of the window. 
Then choose where to save the image (on a hard drive, on removable media or on the network).
Then select those disks that need to be archived immediately with the creation of an image. To create images of several disks, you need to check the box next to the appropriate items.
After confirming the archiving parameters, the image creation process will begin. Upon completion, a corresponding message will appear.
Windows 10 combines the best practices of previous releases of Microsoft operating systems. As a rule, it can be installed on a computer from media, but if it already has one of the latest versions of the software, the user is prompted to update it. The software will not only allow you to save all the information and parameters, but also, if desired, perform the reverse procedure if for some reason the old system suited you better.
Initially, no one really expected that some of the users would be interested in the question of how to roll back Windows 10 to Windows 7 / 8.1 / 8, and there are quite clear prerequisites for this. For example, someone notices a decrease in performance, some users do not like the interface style. Even after a number of patches, the OS has not become perfect, and one can often observe obvious problems in it: a whole topic could be devoted to questions about brightness settings on laptops, crashes and errors in applications. Of course, most problems occur rarely and do not create any special problems, but in combination with other factors, this may force the PC owner to change his mind.
You can roll back Windows within a few days, undoing all the latest updates and returning to your usual “environment”. There is more than one method that you can use, but, of course, you should start with the most optimal actions.
How to roll back Windows 10 using the built-in option?
Immediately after updating the OS, all old system files will also be saved. Go to the hard drive directory - there you will see Windows.old - this folder contains data so that the Windows system can be returned to its original state. Users who are satisfied with everything can, in principle, remove components and also not be afraid to clean CCleaner, because the application frees up space from unnecessary stored files. The nuance is that the function is active for a month from the date of the update, but then it will be unavailable: then it will not be possible to roll back Windows using the method described in this paragraph.
- To go to the menu from which you can start the process, press the combination “Windows + I”. An interactive settings screen will appear. In it we are interested in “Update and Security”, and then we need to click on the “Recovery” function, which can be found in the navigation on the left. You will see a header in which the OS version that was installed before the update will be written. Click on the “Start” button.
- A window will immediately open in which you will need to confirm your desire to return to the older edition. Before you roll back the software, doing a kind of Windows 8 or 7 restore, carefully read the instructions and recommendations on the screen. For example, there will be an important note that it is unacceptable to turn off the system during the process - this can lead to an irreversible failure, due to which you will have to reinstall everything again, losing all existing data.
It is possible that a couple of programs will require reinstallation or configuration changes after a rollback. In general, the recovery procedure is quite simple and will not take a long period of time.
Reinstalling Windows
You can choose a slightly different method - a complete, clean installation of the previous version of the OS. Yes, it can no longer be called a rollback, but if it is no longer possible to use the files in the Windows.old folder (due to the passage of time, or after accidental erasure), then backing up user personal data will help you. This mandatory step will allow you to quickly return your computer and laptop to their usual appearance.
- Thus, if you have a previous version of Windows on removable media: an optical disk, a USB drive, a portable hard drive, connect the device to the PC. If this method is not possible, Software Recovery for Windows 7 or Installation Media for Windows 8.1 and 8 is available to achieve the result.
- After this, we reboot the OS and wait for a screen to appear with a message that you can now press the hotkey (for example, F12) and go to the settings to select a boot device. Naturally, different motherboards have their own function button - for laptops it is often F1 or F2, and regular computers can have F8, F11, etc.
- In the menu you can view the full registry of boot devices and select one of them. Use the keyboard buttons (arrow and Enter) to prioritize the media you just inserted, then press Enter. The version you select, say Windows 7, will launch the installation wizard, in which you will need to confirm your choice of installing the OS again and follow further instructions. Use the license key from the box in which you purchased the software, or by looking at it on the sticker - in the case when you purchased a PC where the system was already installed. It's quite simple!
How to roll back a Windows 10 system via a disk image?
The method is possible when the user has prepared in advance, namely, created a disk image containing all the data before Windows was updated to the latest version. An image is, as a rule, a complete copy of all information, down to personal data and other minor files. Another good option is how to roll back the system without creating problems for yourself. The disk image itself is created by you in Windows 7 or 8.1 through the System Image application. Then, up to a certain point, it can be stored on a removable storage medium.
- To restore the previous state in this way, press the combination “Windows + I”, then the “Update and Security” menu.
- Select the “Recovery” section, and then click on the “Restart now” function.
- We follow the instructions that will help us restore the OS from a previously created disk image, which was, of course, recorded before the Windows 10 update took place.
Conclusion
Of course, Microsoft expects that users will like the new release and will enjoy using it. Nevertheless, the corporation listens to what is happening, tries to fix the “jambs”, and also gives users the opportunity to return to an older version, despite the fact that the OS was voluntarily updated.
We remind you that the Windows restore point provided by the developers (the files for this option are stored in Windows.old) is available to everyone for 30 days! So don’t miss this moment, because this method is the fastest, most optimal and convenient.
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