Windows 7 forum: Revert back to Vista ...How do I do it?

There is no way to 'downgrade' or 'roll back' your operating system. Thus, you must get out your Windows Vista DVD and reinstall from scratch, reinstall all of your applications, restore your files from backup, and recreate all of your settings. That's one of the reasons Microsoft posted warnings on their website telling users not to install Windows 7 on primary/production machines.

John

Nowadays you have to burn your own discs upon reception of a new computer. If that step was not completed, you have to order a set of recovery discs form the manufacturer for a nominal (<$30) fee.

John

You performed a clean installation from Vista to Windows 7, in which case the prior files are automatically moved to the Windows.OLD directory. Performing a standard upgrade does not move all old files to Windows.OLD, thus negating that as an option to revert.

John


-> NOTE: The prior set of instructions contains significant typographical errors that will result in the operation's failure even if the Windows.OLD directory does exist. In addition, the instructions would have to be entered through the Windows DVD's command prompt, not by accessing Vista's/Windows 7's command prompt (not DOS) boot option.

If you have XP then:

Step 1: Determine whether there is a Windows.OLD folder and whether there is sufficient free space on the Windows hard disk

1. Click Start
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Start button
, and then click Computer.
2. On the View menu, click Details.
3. In the Free Space column, note how much space is available for Local Disk (C:) under the Hard Disk Drives area.
4. In the Hard Disk Drives area, double-click Local Disk (C:), and then determine whether the Windows.OLD folder exists.

Important If the Windows.OLD folder does not exist, you cannot follow the steps in this article to restore the previous Windows installation to this computer.
5. Right-click the Windows.OLD folder.
6. Windows Vista will determine the size of the folder after several seconds.

Determine whether the Windows.OLD folder is smaller than the free space that is available for Local Disk (C:) in step 2.

Note If the Windows.OLD folder is two times as large as the free space that is available for the Local Disk (C:) entry, you may be unable to restore the previous Windows installation.



Step 2: Start the Windows Recovery Environment

1. Put the Windows Vista installation disc in the DVD drive, and then restart the computer.
2. Press a key when you are prompted to restart from the disc.
3. In the Install Windows window, select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard input method or other input method, and then click Next.
4. In the Install Windows window, click Repair your computer.
5. In the System Recovery Options window, click the version of the Windows Vista operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.
6. In the System Recovery Options window, click Command Prompt.

The Command Prompt window opens, and it displays the command prompt. The command prompt is where you will type the commands that are described in the following steps.


Next steps: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=933168&SD=tech