How do I rollback Win7 Pro trial version to XP3

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I have a very old Toshiba Satellite laptop (1410 Aussie(?) series — model no. PS141A-0502YP) upon which my significant other (while I was @work one nite) installed a “trial version” of Windows 7.

Trial period has expired! and I would like to uninstall Windows 7 and revert to Windows XP.

I’ve done some research and it appears that this is “do-able” (according to many sources), w/out losing any data, but haven’t been able to determine exactly how this is done.

Apparently it involves getting the computer to boot to the old OS but, unfortunately, I’m not exactly sure how this is done.

I really do like Win7 but am saving $$ to buy a new laptop so would really appreciate any assistance.

OLD OS: win XP pro SP3.

NEW OS: Windows 7Pro Build 7600 (expired) trial version

I do have the WinXP key and 2 folders named:

* Windows.old
* Windows.old.000

which, as I understand it, is a prerequisite for rolling back to Windows XP.

One potential problem, I do not have an install or recovery disk — only the holographic product key on bottom of computer.

Thanx! fer takin the time to read this —

— and —

Happy Holidaze To You And Yours

Best wishes,
Roger

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IF it was installed using the “Upgrade” method, then in “Programs and Features” there MAY be a uninstall entry for the Windows 7.
You may need to click show updates.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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My understanding is that Vista is the only OS you could roll back to only if you upgraded. XP would have to be reinstalled from scratch. To install Win7 from XP is to do a new install.

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Brian S is right from all I’ve read, plus is you tied to roll back to XP, you’d have a very unstable mess for an OS. Save your important files, software keys and whatnot, then install XP. You want to format the partition that win7 is on, which is XP will do once you bypass the warning that there is a version of Windows already on the hard drive and ok overwriting it. If any of this is confusing, take it to a reputable repair shop.

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If you do try a rollback, maybe with the guidelines in http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=933168&SD=tech, treat it as if it were a new install and have all data backed up and be prepared for a new install if it doesn’t turn out well.

If it were my system, I was backed up and had Plan B ready, I would give it a try and see if I could make Plan A work, but if time was limited and I wanted it to work for sure, I’d go straight to Plan B.

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This is where a IMAGE comes in real handy, burn a image BEFORE installing Beta or Preview ware, install preview ware and run run it, IF and when you need to restore back, run a new data back up, as it may have been some time since the images was burned. Restore your image and then you latest data backup. You are now bak where you were but with all of your current data.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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The way I see it you have two choices. You can check your laptop documentation for how to reinstall using the recovery partition that may or may not be on your laptop harddrive or you can contact Toshiba with the proper info from the tag on the bottom of your laptop and possibly the receipt from where you bought it and have a disc sent to you. Most laptops nowdays and several years ago have a hidden partition on the main hard drive with the original OS and recovery files installed there. Ask Toshiba or check your user manual but you can usually access such a partition during the early boot process by tapping one of the F keys, usually f10, f11, or f12. Win7 does have to be a fresh install if winXP is already installed but those windows.old files probably do contain your old OS. I haven’t had this particular problem yet so I can’t help more than this.

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If a different OS has been installed, the the program needed to start the Recover has been wipe out, so one in most cases MUST get out their System DVDs and rebuild from scratch.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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I’ve assumed you’ve “chewed” him or her out already?? LOL
I think the first thing you should do is burn a copy of the files that you mentioned; “* Windows.old, * Windows.old.000″…if you have not done so already..so as not to loose
any important data have have burried in XP. If you are unable to copy those directories from within Window 7 (expired & non accessable?) see if you can have a Windows 7 boot disk made from another
machine running the same bit-operating system…or a realy good dos bootdisk…or BartPE?

bootdisk

BartPE

You might have access to reinstall XP from within the boot disk but I’m highly doubtfull of this. I think your best bet is to try and save the data.

[what exactly is in those folders; “* Windows.old, * Windows.old.000”. take a closser look, remember to turn off
the “hide file extentions and “don’t show hidden files/folders” options in your present os. Looking for XP specific boot files??]

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