Is there a way of killing Windows 8 and getting Windows 7

[Ari]

I bought a new netbook thing at the weekend and it came with Windows 8.

What the hell is that all about!? Even the most basic task such as shutting down email is basically impossible as far as I can see.

Is there any way of reverting it to Windows 7 (before I hurl the whole bloody thing out of the window)?

[budgie smuggler]

yes, but it's easier to install classic shell. That gives you the start menu and some other things back.

http://www.classicshell.net/

If you want to go ahead with the downgrade anyway, what you need to search for is 'downgrade rights'.

Edited by budgie smuggler on Tuesday 21st April 15:50

[GetCarter]

...and Windows 7 was a bloody nightmare. 8 is a joke.

[P-Jay]

Stop using anything via the 'metro screen', pin programs you use often to the taskbar and accept the slight learning curve and it's actually a nice OS to use.

6 months from now all 7 and 8 users will be offered a free upgrade to 10 which should, well might please the 7 luddites and the 8 hipsters equally.

[Foliage]

Upgrade to 8.1, 8 as an operating system is excellent, its just the UI that is terrible, once its upgraded to 8.1 and tweaked to make metro a secondary function its good.

[RobinBanks]

8 is a lot better than 7.
At least it is with Classic Shell, which means that it will function exactly the same as 7 but more stable and quicker.

[WinstonWolf]

Did it come with a recovery CD with Windows 7 on?

If you're not in a rush you'll get Windows 10 for free when it's released.

[wolves_wanderer]

Ari said:

What the hell is that all about!? Even the most basic task such as shutting down email is basically impossible as far as I can see.

Alt-F4

[Ari]

wolves_wanderer said:

Alt-F4

That's very helpful, thank you.

But that's exactly what I'm talking about - Windows 7 you click the little 'x' at the top right to close it. Simple. With this there some command that you're just supposed to somehow know? And when it went it just left a blank blue screen. It took a bit of prodding various buttons until I could figure out how to get back to the start screen.

Hateful!

[Ari]

Hmmm... Even 'closed' it is still picking up emails...

[Crafty_]

As budge smuggler says, stick classic shell on it, boot to desktop, job done.

[ArsE92]

You don't need Classic Shell. Just update to 8.1 and configure it to boot to Desktop if you don't like the modern front page.

8.1 is a good, fast OS. The modern interface just has a steep learning curve.

[wolves_wanderer]

Ari said:

wolves_wanderer said:

Alt-F4

That's very helpful, thank you.

But that's exactly what I'm talking about - Windows 7 you click the little 'x' at the top right to close it. Simple. With this there some command that you're just supposed to somehow know? And when it went it just left a blank blue screen. It took a bit of prodding various buttons until I could figure out how to get back to the start screen.

Hateful!

If you get the latest updates to 8.1 you will get a close button appear when you hover the mouse at the top of the screen. Not ideal but all this will be fixed in Windows 10.

[eps]

P-Jay said:

Stop using anything via the 'metro screen', pin programs you use often to the taskbar and accept the slight learning curve and it's actually a nice OS to use.

6 months from now all 7 and 8 users will be offered a free upgrade to 10 which should, well might please the 7 luddites and the 8 hipsters equally.

This.

It's the same/similar with Server 2012. Initially it was a complete PITA but once items you actually use are pinned somewhere such as the Taskbar you can launch them quite quickly. It works really well, apart from IIS management but that won't affect any 8 users

[RobDickinson]

Windows 8 had some serious screw ups.

No real education on metro use or gestures, or how to run it with a mouse.

Coupled with defaulting all the programs to metro versions that had about 1/4 the features you were used to.

8.1 fixes a fair few things.

10 should sort it out, won't be too long.

It's a bit sad as under the hood 8 is fantastic once you beat it into shape.

[joebongo]

install Start8. I rarely even remember Metro exists. It's like Win7 but much better with the 8.1 engine inside.

[Tycho]

joebongo said:

install Start8. I rarely even remember Metro exists. It's like Win7 but much better with the 8.1 engine inside.

I've done the same with my media server/gaming pc at home and it is brilliant. The gestures etc IMO don't work at all with a mouse but on a Windows 8.1 tablet the gestures etc are great.

[98elise]

P-Jay said:

Stop using anything via the 'metro screen', pin programs you use often to the taskbar and accept the slight learning curve and it's actually a nice OS to use.

I've yet to meet anyone in the flesh that likes Windows 8!

[ZesPak]

GetCarter said:

...and Windows 7 was a bloody nightmare.

? Really? I think it's the best OS I've ever used.

As for windows 8, interface is horrible imho. I've come to terms with it (that and the addition of Win 8.1. But that's all. It's also a pretty lightweight OS so under the bonnet at least it looks fine.

I have high hopes for Win 10.

[R8VXF]

98elise said:

I've yet to meet anyone in the flesh that likes Windows 8!

Personally love, can't understand what all the bhing is about tbh.

OP: just upgrade to windows 10 already, available through windows update already: https://insider.windows.com/