How to install the former version of Windows 7. Restore files of the previous version of Windows

Previous versions - These are either copies of files and folders created by Windows archiving, or copies of files and folders that Windows automatically saves as part of the recovery point.

Previous versions can be used to restore randomly modified, deleted or damaged files and folders. Depending on the type of file or folder, you can open, save in another location or restore the previous version.

How to create previous versions

Previous versions are automatically saved as part of the recovery point. If the system protection is enabled, Windows automatically creates previous versions of files and folders that changed from the moment the last recovery point is created. Usually recovery points are created once a day.

If the disk is divided or on a computer multiple hard drives, you should enable the system protection for other sections or disks. Previous versions are also created by Windows archiving when backing up files.

Note: If within one day the file changed several times, only the latest version at the time of creating a recovery point or backup is saved as the previous version.

How to recover previous files and folders

Click the file or folder with the right mouse button and select the command. .

A list of available previous versions of the file or folder will appear. The list will contain files stored during backup (if Windows archiving) and recovery points are used to back up files.

Note: To restore the previous version of the file or folder added to the library, right-click the file or folder in the location in which the library is saved, and not in the library. For example, to restore the previous version of the image, added to the image library, but in the folder My drawingsRight-click the folder My drawings and select Restore previous versions.

What is the difference between the recovery point from the backup

If you restore the previous version from the recovery point, the file downloaded on the computer, so nothing more needs to be done.

To restore the previous version of a file or folder from a backup, after selecting the previous version and press the Restore button, Windows opens the file recovery wizard, after which the steps specified in the wizard should be performed.

The disk or media on which the backup is stored must be available so that you can restore items from the backup.

Why there are no previous versions of some files

Possible reasons:

The file was not changed. Previous versions are available only for files that have been changed.
The recovery point or backup is created after changing the file.
It is possible for a disk on which these files are stored, the system protection is not turned on. If the system protection is not enabled, Windows cannot create previous versions.

You can restore the deleted file or folder

If you accidentally deleted or renamed a file or folder, you can restore the previous version of the file or folderBut you need to know the location where they are saved.

To restore deleted or renamed file or folder, follow these steps:

prompt: If you do not remember the file name or folder or location, enter a part of the name in the search field in the Computer folder.

The release of the new operating system is always accompanied by a mass of problems. It may be the lack of compatibility with drivers for computer components or specific applications. Some users simply did not have the Windows 10 operating system because of its new design and the mass change in the functionality plan, compared with the past software versions. If the new operating system from Microsoft has not arranged a computer user in terms of functionality, there are several ways to return from Windows 10 on Windows 7 or Windows 8. This can be made by standard means of the system and with third-party applications.

How to restore Windows 7 or Windows 8 after installing Windows 10 tools

When installing a new version of the operating system, the computer is prudently remains that you can use if you want to return the last version of Windows. At the same time, it is saved only in the situation when the operating system is updated without formatting the hard disk.

To use the Windows.old folder to restore Windows 7 or 8 after updating on Windows 10, you must do the following:

Attention: If during the update process folder Windows.old was damaged and did not save the backup information to restore the operating system, this menu item may be missing.

With the Windows 10 rollback method described above on earlier versions of the operating system, the user gets the ability to save while restoring all its programs as well as available files.

In a situation where it did not work in a similar way (due to the lack of a item in the menu or for another reason), we recommend trying a system recovery using third-party software, which is described below in the instructions.

System rollback with Windows 10 on Windows 7 or Windows 8 with third-party software

When the operating system parameters do not have a recovery point before the previous version of Windows, but the Windows folder is saved, you can use specialized utilities, which in some cases are able to solve the problem. The most famous program that allows you to restore Windows 7 or Windows 8 after installing Windows 10 is NEOSMART Windows 10 Rollback Utility. It weighs just over 200 megabytes and is a way to write on a CD / DVD or a flash drive to create a recovery medium.

The easiest way to write the NEOSMART Windows 10 Rollback Utility program using a special utility, also developed by NEOSMART, which is called USB Creator. All program voiced programs are available on the official website of developers in free trial versions, which will be enough to return to Windows 10 to the version of the operating system saved in Windows.old. Please note that other applications can also be used to record the boot disk or flash drive, for example, the well-known Ultraiso program.

When the utility is recorded, you can begin the recovery procedure. To do this, go to the BIOS and set the process of booting from the media to which the utility is recorded. After that restart the computer and select Automated Repair on the first screen that opens. Next you will see all the systems to which you can return. To start the recovery procedure, click on Roll Back.

Attention: Neosmart Windows 10 Rollback Utility Automatically, while rollback, saves the current version of Windows 10 in case the installation occurs with the installation.

How to return Windows 7 or Windows 8 after installing Windows 10 with full formatting

If you have completely deleted the last version of the operating system from the computer and installed Windows 10 to a clean hard drive, you can try to restore Windows 7 or Windows 8 using the preserved system tools or licensed keys.

On laptops, there is almost always a separate partition on the hard disk, which is systemic, and the image recovery image is stored. Depending on the model of the laptop or computer, this tool can work differently, but it allows you to install the version of the operating system that was on the hard disk initially.

The second way to restore Windows 7 or Windows 8 is to load the image of the system from the Internet. On the website of Microsoft, you can download the image of any version of Windows. Next it must be written on the USB flash drive or DVD and install. The problem in the installation process will arise with the lack of a license key, but if you use a laptop or computer on which Windows was initially installed, then you can get the necessary in advance.

Please note that Microsoft gives users 30 days to return with Windows 10 to an earlier version of the OEM key operating system. After 30 days, it ceases to be valid and "attached" to Windows 10.

Today we will analyze: how to return the previous version of Windows if Windows 8/10 has been installed, why do you need a Windows folder, why it takes a lot of space and how it can be deleted.

The Windows.old folder is a special directory within which all data is located in the previous version of the operating system. This folder appears if the user updated its OS to the new version (for example, Windows 8 update to Windows 10 was updated).

The main purpose of Windows.old is the ability to quickly roll back the current operating system to the previous version, which was installed before the update. This can be useful if the user did not come up with a newer Windows for system requirements, functions, design, or any other parameters.

It is worth noting that in addition to returning the operating system to the previous state, the user will be able to return all installed applications, settings and files. Thus, the computer will be able to return to the state when setting the new version of Windows.

Because each computer uses an individual software set, the Windows folder can have a different size depending on the number of stored files, installed programs and other information.

Important! Windows folder.old is a temporary directory that will automatically removed in thirty days After installing the system.

How to return the system to the previous version

If the user decided to return his old version of Windows after installing Windows 10, then such a procedure can be quickly performed using the system interface:

Step 1. Press right mouse button by button "Start" and in the opened menu choose the item "Parameters".

Step 2. In the window that opens, select "Update and Security".

Step 3. In the update menu, go to the graph "Restoration", Find Point "Return to Windows" And click the button "To begin".

After that, the previous version of Windows will be automatically installed, the files of which were located in the Windows.old folder.

Data recovery from the Windows.old folder

In addition to running off the system, the Windows folder can be used to manually restore files and data present at the old version of the OS. To do this, just go along the way "C: \\ Windows.old." and open the folder in the conductor "C: \\ Windows.old. \\ Users \\ username"where data from the old version will be located.

If you find that some important files are missing or they are not saved in the Windows.old folder - it may be the cause incorrect file transfer work During the installation of a new Windows.

This problem may occur in rare cases, so the developers of the operating system are always recommended create backup copies of important datawhich may be lost in the transfer process.

The problem of deleting data and files cannot be solved using the built-in system tools, and the user needs to use third-party programs to restore files. For these purposes, the company Recovery Software. It offers to use one of its utilities that are intended to restore information after removing, formatting, destruction when changing the logical structure of the drive or the action of malicious programs.

In Arsenale Recovery Software.The following utilities are present that can quickly return lost data:

RS Partition Recovery is a specialized utility for comprehensive recovery of lost information. The functionality of the program allows you to restore the data after formatting, changing the file system and redistribution of disk partitions. RS Partition Recovery. Suitable for all types of files.
RS Office Recovery - Recovery Program text files, office documents and files created in Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, Adobe etc. The utility capabilities allow you to quickly find important documents using a selective search for file extensions, the creation date and other characteristics.
RS Photo Recovery - Emergency Recovery Program images, photos, pictures and other graphic files any types. The utility will become an indispensable assistant for photographers, shooting in RAW or storing processed photos in PSD. RS Photo Recovery. With ease will restore the randomly remote photo session from the memory card, regardless of its format.

Each utility will help return the remote important data of the required type. Suggescent algorithms are used for program operation, allowing you to scan the surface of the disk and carry out a deep check for finding all possible information that can be restored. Software Recovery Software. has available system requirements, which allows use utilities on any laptop or office computer. In addition, the utilities have an intuitive interface and embedded assistants that will help restore the data in just a few clicks.

To restore files in the Windows.old directory, it is enough to scan the system disk with a deep or fast scanning and go through the program interface to the folder where the data was stored.

You can restore deleted files with a corresponding button located in the upper left corner of the program for recovery.

How to delete a Windows.old folder?

If you were convinced that all important data were transferred to a new operating system, then in the Windows folder, there is no longer any need and can be deleted, without waiting for a month when automatic cleaning occurs.

It is worth noting that the size of the folder can reach more than 20 gigabytesWhat can be a significant part of the system partition, so to delete the folder we advise to proceed to such steps:

Step 1. Go to the folder "My computer" or "This computer" and click right-click According to the system partition (as a rule it is a "disk"). In the menu that opens, select the item "Properties".

Step 2. In the window that opens, select the item "Cleaning the disk".

Step 3. In the next window, click on the button "Clear system files".

Step 3. To clean the Windows folder. It follows in the column "Delete the following data" Mark point "Previous installations of Windows" and confirm the action with the button "OK".

In addition to the Windows folder on the computer, another large number of unnecessary information occupies a disk space can be stored on the computer. How to deal with it, you can find in the article "

Microsoft will officially launch Windows 10 Fall Creators Update update (version 1709), starting from October 17, 2017. Many users will be able to automatically update the system with saving all personal files, settings, installed programs and drivers.

Many changes in Fall Creators Update are positive and expected for many users. However, if you were in a situation where you need to return to the previous assembly, Microsoft provides a simple solution to roll back to Windows 10 Creators Update (version 1703).

Faced with serious problems, some users will want to return to the previous version of Windows 10, which worked stably and smoothly. After installing Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, all users have 10 days to test the new version and, if desired, return to version 1703.

How to roll back to Windows 10 Creators Update

Run the application Parameters, go to the section Update and security and select tab Restoration.
Select the option Return to the previous version of Windows 10. You will not see this option if you reset the computer to the source or deleted the folder Windows.old.. In most cases, after upgrading to version 1709, within 10 days you will see this option.

Click the Start button and follow the screen prompts. The recovery process may take some time, after which the previous version of Windows 10 will be installed.

Note: This procedure will return the initial state of files and installed programs (which was before the update). Make

In some cases, you may need to restore a computer from Windows 7 to the previous installation of Windows. This article will help to perform actions to manually return the computer to the previous version of Windows.

Note.To do this, use the command prompt to enter certain commands to rename and move folders between different versions of Windows.

To solve this problem, follow the steps below to restore the previous version of Windows using the Windows.old computer folder.

Council: It may be easier, follow the steps if you prefix an article.

Step 1: Determine whether there is a Windows.old folder, as well as that on the hard disk of Windows sufficient free space

Define whether the Windows folder is less free of charge available for local disk (C :) In step 1.2.

Note If the folder is Windows.old twice the size of the free space available for local disk (C :)Restore the previous version of Windows may not succeed.

Step 2. Running Windows Recovery Environment

Insert the Windows 7 installation disk into the drive and restart the computer.
Press the key when you appear a request to restart the system from the disk.
In the window " Installing Windows. »Select language, time, currency, input method from keyboard or other input method and click Further.
In the window " Installing Windows. »Press the button Restore computer.
In the window, select the version of the Windows 7 operating system you want to restore and press the button. Further.
In the window System recovery parameters Choose Command line.

A command prompt window opens and displays on the command prompt. The command line is designed to enter the commands described in subsequent actions.

Step 3. Moving Windows 7 folders to a new Win7 folder

Note

Having received this message, go to the next step in this section and enter the command in the next action.

Move Windows Win7 \\ Windows

MOVE "PROGRAM FILES" "WIN7 \\ PROGRAM FILES"

Move Users Win7 \\ Users

ATTRIB -H -S -R PROGRAMDATA

Move ProgramData Win7 \\ Programdata

RD "Documents and Settings"

Step 4. Copy or move the contents of the Windows.old folder.

Note When following the instructions below and enter one or more commands in the command prompt and press the input key, the following message may appear:

The system fails to find the specified file.

If this message appears, go to the next step in this section and enter the following step.

Enter the following commands by pressing the Enter key after each command:

mOVE / Y C: \\ Windows.old \\ Windows C: \\

mOVE / Y "C: \\ Windows.old \\ Program Files" C: \\

mOVE / Y C: \\ Windows.old \\ ProgramData C: \\

mOVE / Y C: \\ Windows.old \\ users C: \\

mOVE / Y "C: \\ Windows.old \\ Documents and Settings" C: \\

Step 5: Restore the boot sector for the previous installation of Windows

Enter one of the following commands in the command prompt, depending on the specific situation.

Note In the following commands D: Represents DVDs. If the DVD disks on the computer seems to be another letter, for example E:, use this letter in the command.

If the previous installation of Windows is Windows Server 2003, Windows XP or Microsoft Windows 2000
D: \\ Boot \\ BootSect / NT52 C:
If the previous installation of Windows - Windows Vista
Enter the following command and press Enter:
D: \\ Boot \\ BootSect / NT60 C:

Step 6: Restore Boot.ini file for previous installation Windows, Windows XP or Windows 2000

Note Only if the previous installation was Windows XP or Windows 2000, follow these steps.

Enter the following commands by pressing the Enter key after each command.

Users who switched to Windows 10 by updating have the ability to return to the previous operating system.

T.N. Rolled back is simple and can be performed in just a few clicks with mouse.

Windows 10 rollback conditions

Also, as in the case of updating, there is no need to perform a classic reinstall - it is enough to do a few steps to roll back winds 10.

In the process of updating the system, the Windows.Old directory is created in which the data of the current system is copied and which performs the backup function.

Thirty days later, from the moment of installation, this directory will be deleted by the system automatically. .

The removal of the WINDOVS catalog is implied by the impossibility of rollback.

Note! The ability to roll back to Windows 7 or 8 is valid only for 30 calendar days after the update and, provided that the user has not deleted Windows.Old.

Before proceeding with the process of return, we recommend backing up all important data on any available external drive or data storage service.

How to roll back Windows 10 to Windows 8.1 / 7

The sequence of actions when a rollback to Windows 7 is no different from the sequence of action for the eighth version. The current system will automatically set the version of the OS, which was installed earlier.

So, proceed:

Step 1.We go to the "Start" menu, the "Parameters" submenu.

Step 2.In the "Settings" menu, go to the "Update and Security" submenu.

Step 3.In the "Recovery" submenu, select the item "Back to Windows X", where x version of the operating system, which was before the update. In our case, this is Windows 7. Click "Start".

Step 4. We choose the reason, because of which the rollback is performed, we describe the essence of the situation in the "Tell me more details" field and click "Next".

If you have updated to Windows 10 and found that it does not fit or encounter other problems that are currently related to video card drivers and other equipment, you can return the previous version of the OS and roll back with Windows 10. You can do this in several ways.

After the update, all the files of your old operating system are stored in the Windows.old folder, which it was sometimes possible to delete manually before, and this time it will automatically be deleted in a month (that is, if you updated more than a month ago, you cannot delete Windows 10) . Also in the system appeared a function to roll back after the update, easy to use for any novice user.

Consider that if you deleted the above folder manually, the method described below return to Windows 8.1 or 7 will not work. A possible version of actions in this case, if the manufacturer's restore image is presence, run a computer return to the original state (other options are described in the last section of the instruction).

Rollback from Windows 10 to the previous OS

To use the function, click on the notification icon on the right side of the taskbar and click All Options.

In the settings window that opens, select "Update and Security", and then "Restore".

The last step is to click the "Start" button in the "Back to Windows 8.1" section or "Back to Windows 7". At the same time, you will be asked to specify the reason for the rollback (choose any), after which Windows 10 will be deleted, and you will return to your previous version of the OS, with all programs and user files (that is, it does not reset the manufacturer's recovery image).

Some users who have decided to delete Windows 10 and return Windows 7 or 8 with the situation that despite the presence of a Windows folder. Rollback does not occur anyway - sometimes there is simply no necessary point in parameters, sometimes for some reason errors occur when rollback occurs.

In this case, you can try the NEOSMART Windows 10 Rollback Utility utility, built on the basis of their Easy Recovery product. The utility is a loading image of ISO (200 MB), when loading from which (writing to a pre-disk or flash drive), you will see the recovery menu, in which:

Write an image to a disk You can any disk recording program, and to create a boot flash drive, the developer offers its own Easy USB Creator Lite utility available on their website. neosmart.net/usbcreator/ However, in the Virustotal utility issues two warnings (which, in general, not scary, usually in such quantities - false responses). However, if you are afraid, you can write the image on the USB flash drive or (in the latter case, select the Grub4DOS field field).

Also, when using the utility, it creates a backup copy of the current Windows 10 system. So, if something goes wrong, you can return "everything as it was" with it.

You can download Windows 10 Rollback Utility from the official page https://neosmart.net/win10rollback/ (when downloading is asked to enter an e-mail and name, but there is no check).

Manual reinstalling Windows 10 on Windows 7 and 8 (or 8.1)

If none of the ways helped you, and after upgrading to Windows 10, less than 30 days passed, then you can do in the following ways:

Perform a reset to factory settings with automatic reinstalling Windows 7 and Windows 8 if you have a hidden image recovery on a computer or laptop. Read more: (also suitable for branded PCs and monoblocks with pre-installed OS).
You can independently perform a clean system setting if you know its key or it is in UEFI (for devices with 8-ko and above). You can see the "Suspender" key in UEFI (BIOS) using the ShowKeyplus program in the OEM-Key section (wrote in the article. At the same time, if you need to download the original Windows image to reinstall in the desired editorial board (home, professional, for one language, etc.), then you can do this as follows :.

In general, I would recommend to stay on Windows 10 - of course, the system is not ideal, but is clearly better than 8 on the day of its release. And to solve certain problems that may arise at this stage, it is worth searching for options on the Internet, and at the same time go to the official sites of computer and equipment manufacturers to find drivers for Windows 10.