Rolling back windows 8 to 7

[traveller]

I just bought a second hand Alienware 14 gaming laptop as my next imaging and processing computer. The @&$/ has Windows 8 on it!
I am trying to roll the OS to Windows 7 but hitting a few hurdles. I am following the instructions from the Alienware support page from Dell, but looks like I don't have a win 8 pro http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19536476
My next move is to install a SSD in the mSATA slot and install a fresh Windows 7 there and boot from SSD before reformatting the HDD.
Has anyone else had a similar experience, particularly if you have/had an Alienware laptop before?
Thanks!
Bo

[StuTodd]

How about W10? I have no bother with it whatsoever...everything works fine.

[traveller]

I thought about it Stu,
My thinking is to have win7 on SSD and then get win 10 on HDD to make sure every program will run properly.
My current HP runs 7 and everything works.
Bo

[pluto]

You should probably check what version it first shipped with as if it came with Win8 then I doubt you'll be able to get drivers for Win7 for that laptop. Dell is good with updating their drivers too so if I were you I'd go forward, at least to Win8.1. I think 8.1 was a free upgrade from 8 but I guess you've missed out on a free upgrade to 10.

I don't understand the love many seem to still have for Win7 - sure it's better than Win8 but compared to Win8.1 or Win10 it was so slow, bloated, and unstable in my experience.

[traveller]

Guess I heard too many Win 10 not working with older programs and drivers etc.
I am happy to upgrade straight to win 10 if the following can all work properly.
EDMOD (works)
PHD2 (works)
Backyard EOS
Stellairum scope and Stellairum
Maxim DL
Images Plus camera control and processing
Photoshop 6
Registax 6
Deep sky stacker
SharpCap
I am quite sure most of them work in win10 but don't want to be stuck.
Maybe I am just over cautious :screwy:
Bo

[Tandum]

Win7 is Unstable :) That's new :poke:

Bo,
I'd go up not down. Soon you'll have no choice, so do it sooner rather than later I guess and get used to it.

They've stopped printing Win7 disks, and stopped selling Win8 Disks completely. I'm unsure how to get a product key if there are no disks for sale.

At least they sell an Office 2016 box with a product key in it. Pity it takes me 90 minutes to install the pig off the net.

[traveller]

Looks like I will need to spend $150 to buy a copy of Windows 10, missed the free upgrade offer....

[pluto]

I can confirm the following work on Win10 for me:

- Stellarium - haven't tried Stellarium Scope on 10 but can't imagine it wouldn't work as EQMOD works (and it works fine on 8.1).
- Registax 6
- DSS
- SharpCap

Also, perhaps there is still an opportunity to upgrade for free: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade?tduid=(3d0a9b914f4 e1448707e8ed162c69bb7)(266696)(1503 186)(skim33330X911647Xa68e5caea18d7 48c47809d1b2ce9d04b)()

[dannat]

Bo do you know anyone who can buy win10 at the special vic education price? $21 if I remember

[traveller]

No did not know about that. I do have two children at school and I am the school council president. Do I qualify?

[pluto]

Not sure if you qualify in your role as student council president but I'm pretty sure you do as the parent of school children. See here: https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msaus/en_AU/edu

EDIT: actually it sounds like you are eligable:

From here: https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msaus/en_AU/html/pbPage.StudentOfferTermsConditions

[traveller]

Thanks Hugh,
Just found this as well http://www.cnet.com/au/news/microsoft-windows-10-free-upgrade-offer-assistive-features/
:)

[pluto]

Great, that's the link I posted a few posts ago: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade?tduid=(3d0a9b914f4 e1448707e8ed162c69bb7)(266696)(1503 186)(skim33330X911647Xa68e5caea18d7 48c47809d1b2ce9d04b)(
Let me know if that works for you, I'd be very interested!

[traveller]

My bad Hugh, should have read it! I am downloading it now and will let you know.

[Exfso]

I read an article a couple of days ago saying you could still get it for free, I tried yesterday with an old Dell OptiPlex I have here running Windows 7 pro, and it worked, cost nothing and activated, so worth giving it a try, nothing to lose...

Here is the article.....

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-free-upgrade-is-still-available-using-windows-7-and-8-product-keys/?NL=WIN-01&Issue=WIN-01_20160811_WIN-01_704&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2_10

[Shano592]

It may pay first, to check that you can get Win10 drivers for all of your hardware (astro gear), and that they are compatible with 64-bit architecture.

[StuTodd]

Also had Stellarium working on W10 but I dislike it. I use CdC now no probs.
All my camera drivers etc were fine too..

Stu

[FlashDrive]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Alienware-M14x-system-repair-Factory-Recovery-/201533083805?hash=item2eec4ed09d:g: jgAAAOSwOVpXfSZo


Hope this can be of help

Col....

[traveller]

Windows 10 up and running, no major hassles so far, just updated a few Alienware drivers.
Will start installing and testing astro programs soon, wish me luck...
Col, mine is an Alienware 14, lots of grunt, 16 GB of RAM :)
I plan to install a SSD next and then migrate the OS over. If I manage to get a Win 7, I will install it on the HDD so I have dual OS to boot from, that's the theory anyway....
Bo

[FlashDrive]

:thumbsup:

[StuTodd]

Good thinking Bo!

Hope all is well with the system.

Stu