Have you tried Windows 10 and didn’t like it? Maybe you like your previous operating system more compared to the new Windows 10. Maybe a program that you really need doesn’t work well with Windows 10, or perhaps you think Cortana is not for you. So if you have upgraded to Windows 10 within the last 30 days, you are still in luck, as you can uninstall Windows 10 and revert back to the original Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 operating system. Don’t worry, if you want to try Windows 10 again in the future, you still can get it for free, even next year.
Before we proceed forward, you need to note that downgrading to the older OS requires the old folder at C:Windows.old. You can check whether this folder exists or not using Windows Explorer. If you have deleted this folder or have run the Disk Cleanup tool, then you’re out of luck, and things just get more difficult.
Rolling back from Windows 10 to a previous version
Before you start, it is always a good idea to back up everything, may be to a cloud-based service or to an external hard drive or a USB flash drive. Once you’ve backed up important data, also keep your old Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 product key ready. In most cases, you won’t need them, but have them ready just in case.
Now open the Start menu, go to the Settings app, and then go to Update & Security and click on Recovery.
You should now be able to see an option “Get Started” in “Go back to Windows 8.1” or “Go back to Windows 7.” However, this option will only be visible if you are eligible to downgrade and is valid for only a month. Click on this “Get Started” button and then follow the on-screen instructions. Microsoft will also ask you why you want to go back, and you will need to select the appropriate option from the list.
And just in case a month has passed and you want to restore back the old operating system, then you will need the recovery disc generated from your machine, or you might want to do a clean install.
