Microsoft has released Windows 10, which combines the best of Microsoft’s previous operating systems and combines them into one ultimate package.
In case you opted in to the free upgrade and have changed your mind after running Windows 10, the good news is that you to roll back.
Microsoft has made it easy to change back to your previous operating system for a limited period.
Make sure you always backup before you downgrade or upgrading to Windows 10 because the processes are meant to keep your data in tact but nothing is ever definite and it’s not worth taking the risk.
Built-in Downgrade Option
When upgrading from a previous version of Windows to 10, your old operating system files will be stored in a folder called Windows.old. This can be removed to free up space, but its existence means that rollback is easy.
Windows 10 has a built-in feature that allows you to go back to your old operating system. However, this option is only available for one month after you’ve upgraded.
To get started, press Windows Key + I to bring up the Settings menu. Click Update & security and then select Recovery from the left-hand navigation. Here you will see a header called Go back to Windows X (dependent on what version you were on before). Click Get started.
A window will open to ask while you’re going back to an old version. Fill this in and continue to click Next, noting the prompts and information like not unplugging your system during the process. The rollback will then begin, during which you won’t be able to use your system.
In case your upgrade is older than one month, consider the options available below.
Reinstall Your Previous Windows Version
Another method you could opt for is to do a fresh install of your old operating system. This will wipe everything on your drive, meaning the backup of personal data mentioned earlier is a required step before proceeding with this solution.
If you’ve got the previous Windows version on physical media, like a disc or USB drive, put it into your computer. If you don’t have a physical version then you can create one direct from Microsoft thanks to their Windows 7 Software Recovery andWindows 8.1 Installation Media. We have previously explained in detail how to created bootable Windows installation media.
From a Drive Image
This one will only be applicable if you prepared ahead before upgrading to Windows 10. That is, if you have an image of your drive you can just restore that. An image is a complete copy of what’s on a drive, which includes personal data as well as the operating system’s files.
Microsoft’s rollback feature in Windows 10 will only be available for 30 days after you upgraded, so do it sooner rather than later if you want to use the easiest method.
[Via]
