Can a new computer that came with Windows 8 be formatted so I can install Windows 7

jaytone1 · 02-07-2013, 08:37 AM

I am a little computer savy and remember something about new computers that come with Windows 8 cannot have Windows 7 installed because of something in the BIOS ????
I need to get a new computer (HP or Dell) and would like to remove the h.d that has Windows 8 and install a spare h.d. and install Windows 7.
Is it possible and what are they talking about that the BIOS may not allow an install of Windows 7 on a new h.d. and what would I have to do to get Windows 7 installed.
Hope this makes sense.

vailr · 02-07-2013, 09:12 AM

No: there's nothing in the bios to prevent wiping the existing HD and fresh installing any O.S. that you want. Maybe you're confusing Windows RT & regular Windows?

Yazoo · 02-07-2013, 09:45 AM

comment removed

jaytone1 · 02-07-2013, 10:36 AM

Sorry for my lack of knowledge, but I thought that new computers come with something called UEFI in the bios and you can't install Windows 7 with it enabled ? Am I wrong or do I have to do something in the BIOS to disable UEFI or will Windows 7 install if I do nothing in the BIOS.
Thanks for your patience.

CVSiN · 02-07-2013, 10:38 AM

Why downgrade in the first place? 8 is totally solid.
if you dont want to use Metro dont.

buy Start8 for 4 bucks and be done.
which puts the desktop and start menu back where they are supposed to be.
never even have to open Metro.
and get better performance all around.

JimKiler · 02-07-2013, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaytone1

Sorry for my lack of knowledge, but I thought that new computers come with something called UEFI in the bios and you can't install Windows 7 with it enabled ? Am I wrong or do I have to do something in the BIOS to disable UEFI or will Windows 7 install if I do nothing in the BIOS.
Thanks for your patience.

I have Win 7 installed on my UEFI BIOS. UEFI was created and sold before Win 8. Can UEFI work prior to Vista?

jaytone1 · 02-07-2013, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CVSiN

Why downgrade in the first place? 8 is totally solid.
if you dont want to use Metro dont.

buy Start8 for 4 bucks and be done.
which puts the desktop and start menu back where they are supposed to be.
never even have to open Metro.
and get better performance all around.

Reason being is that the software I am using for my store works on Windows 7 and not Windows 8. The company that makes the software wants alot of money for the new version that works on Windows 8 and I am happy with the current version that works on Windows 7 and I do need a new computer for our store.

CVSiN · 02-07-2013, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaytone1

Reason being is that the software I am using for my store works on Windows 7 and not Windows 8. The company that makes the software wants alot of money for the new version that works on Windows 8 and I am happy with the current version that works on Windows 7 and I do need a new computer for our store.

Um any software that runs on vista and 7 will run on 8.
there is no differnce in desktop mode.
whomever told you that is trying to fleece you.

open desktop and install just like windows 7.

Insert_Nickname · 02-07-2013, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimKiler

I have Win 7 installed on my UEFI BIOS. UEFI was created and sold before Win 8. Can UEFI work prior to Vista?

Nope, and you need Vista x64 SP1 to boot to UEFI mode...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930061

That being said, there should be a legacy BIOS emulator in the UEFI. Works fine on my XPBOX (ASUS C60M1-I).

VirtualLarry · 02-09-2013, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailr

No: there's nothing in the bios to prevent wiping the existing HD and fresh installing any O.S. that you want. Maybe you're confusing Windows RT & regular Windows?

Well, nothing except for "Secure Boot" and "Fast Boot". If those are implemented, they must be disabled in BIOS/UEFI in order to install Win7.

mechBgon · 02-09-2013, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirtualLarry

Well, nothing except for "Secure Boot" and "Fast Boot". If those are implemented, they must be disabled in BIOS/UEFI in order to install Win7.

This. And before you throw in the towel on Win8, try StartIsBack on it and see if you can live with it that way, because Win8 has security advances over Win7, and some of them probably will never be backported (the same has proven true for Win7 over Vista). So if you can stick with it despite a few leftover quirks, you'll have better security.

A few of the security goodies include support for a DEP-like feature called SMEP on Ivy Bridge CPUs (if you happen to have one), high-entropy ASLR, sandboxing of Metro-type apps (e.g. the built-in PDF reader), and Enhanced Protected Mode option for IE (if you use the "Desktop" version of IE, then you can enable EPM in the Internet Options > Advanced tab).

In-depth reading from BlackHat, for those interested:

https://media.blackhat.com/bh-us-12/...als_Slides.pdf (PDF) Valasek summarizes Win7 versus Win8 with checklists on pages 38 and 73, as shown below:

His take: it's a big step up from Win7. Could be worth putting up with a few quirks when it's your MMORPG account on the line

WilliamM2 · 02-09-2013, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CVSiN

Um any software that runs on vista and 7 will run on 8.
there is no differnce in desktop mode.
whomever told you that is trying to fleece you.

open desktop and install just like windows 7.

Really? When I install Corel Draw X5 on 8 it informs me it's incompatible. And sure enough, it doesn't work. Worked fine on 7. We have found several pieces of software at work that won't work on 8 as well, but worked fine on 7.

tommo123 · 02-10-2013, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CVSiN

Um any software that runs on vista and 7 will run on 8.
there is no differnce in desktop mode.
whomever told you that is trying to fleece you.

open desktop and install just like windows 7.

not true. i've found the odd piece of software that didn't work for me in win8. off the top of my head newsleecher was the one i can remember though. v4 betas didn't work in win8

Evander · 02-10-2013, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamM2

Really? When I install Corel Draw X5 on 8 it informs me it's incompatible. And sure enough, it doesn't work. Worked fine on 7. We have found several pieces of software at work that won't work on 8 as well, but worked fine on 7.

Nero 11 is another one that doesn't work, and it was a fairly recent release

lakedude · 02-10-2013, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evander

Nero 11 is another one that doesn't work, and it was a fairly recent release

Try ImgBurn and HandBrake (both FREE) to replace Nero. ImgBurn for burning, HandBrake for trans-coding.

I haven't used Nero in years, maybe since my XP version refused to work on Vista.

http://www.imgburn.com/

http://handbrake.fr/

nk215 · 02-12-2013, 12:10 PM

Can you run the old app in Win7 compatibility mode? I use classic shell (freeware) to get the old classic menu back. I can use Win8 on a touch screen but not with regular non-touch machine.