Downgrade Windows 10

[Mario F.]

Does "Windows 8" even have a stable 32bit to 64bit upgrade process?

Yup. Didn't noticed that detail on the original post.

.... so is installing a Linux distrib, then installing 8.1 again viable? I have Linux kits, old, but still.

Nope. Always Windows first, only then Linux. Windows keeps not playing nice with any installed operating system in the machine and it has become obvious at this point they never will. Repartition your hardrive leaving an empty partition (doesn't need to be formated) for Linux later. Install Windows on one of the partitions and only after that's done you can install Linux.

EDIT: Gentleman, seriously, put the jerk on your ignore list or something. He's just hijacking threads and replying to him just increases the damage he does.

[phantomotap]

[Edit]Wow. I needed to fix the formatting.[/Edit]

.... so is installing a Linux distrib, then installing 8.1 again viable? I have Linux kits, old, but still.

O_o

[Edit]
After reading the response from Mario, I think I may have misunderstood what your were asking.

I'll leave what I've already written, but you should definitely start by installing "Windows 8" first if you are talking about install both "Window" and a "Linux" distribution as Mario suggests; you'll have way fewer problems.
[/Edit]

[Edit]The original response which was almost certainly my misunderstanding:[/Edit]

You shouldn't have to install any intermediary operating system just to install a different operating system.

Even if you don't particularly like "Windows 10", you should be able to make your backups without to much trouble using what you have installed.

Once you get your backups made, you should be able to directly boot the installation media.

To be clear, I don't know that going for a clean install is best for you. I would go for a clean install, but I don't that an easier method isn't available.

[Edit]

Gentleman, seriously, put the jerk on your ignore list or something. He's just hijacking threads and replying to him just increases the damage he does.

I know I should, and I know you are correct, but I legit can't not read the posts.

The outdated, misleading, or simply wrong "Jesus Christ!" flavored technical posts combined with bursts of family anecdote is a strange animal.

I am compelled to look.
[/Edit]

Soma

[Fossaw]

I am a little confused now. I meant, install a Linux distrib as the operating system. I had not considered the possibility of two OS's on the system at the same time, that sounds fraught with issues to me.

Setting "Ignore" status takes up almost as much space as leaving the posts there I find. If I am ignoring someone, I don't really need a replacement post saying there was a post by someone you are ignoring.

[Tien Nguyen]

I am a little confused now. I meant, install a Linux distrib as the operating system. I had not considered the possibility of two OS's on the system at the same time, that sounds fraught with issues to me.

There is the possibility that your OS will corrupt the first one is basically what is said. So if you want to keep a stable system just do it your way and keep it simple. With all the time you waste trying this and that system you could have learned something programming.

[Fossaw]

I was a professional software engineer for 30+ years, there are probably things about programming I could still learn, but have no need. You are what?

[Epy]

Back many years ago when the ntfs-3g driver wasn't all that good, there was the chance for FS corruption, but now things are good and dual-boot is flawless. Install Windows first, then install your flavor of Linux. Easiest route. (Edit: Like Mario already said. Just now saw he said to do the same thing.)

[Tien Nguyen]

I was a professional software engineer for 30+ years, there are probably things about programming I could still learn, but have no need. You are what?

I am a brand new programmer in training. Just started not too long ago. I am nobody in the programming business.

[Elkvis]

I am a brand new programmer in training. Just started not too long ago. I am nobody in the programming business.

In other threads, you've claimed to have been a programmer in the 80s, and other such things. Which is it?

[Tien Nguyen]

In other threads, you've claimed to have been a programmer in the 80s, and other such things. Which is it?

No I've been around in the 80's however I'm using a technique I learn to kind of get me syked up for my programming. They say in Alcoholics Anonymous that you must first hit rockbottom before you can rise again. So I'm admitting I don't know anything in programming. So it is going to be a long war up, but Thanks to GOD I have faith all is well in the end! So the first thing a programmer learns is ask question. How do you make Windows draw pictures in Borland Turbo C 2.01 and Borland Turbo Assembler 4.1 using the Phar Lap extention.

[Mario F.]

I am a little confused now. I meant, install a Linux distrib as the operating system. I had not considered the possibility of two OS's on the system at the same time, that sounds fraught with issues to me.

Not really. Two (or more) side-by-side operating systems is a pretty common practice. Only care should be taken with order of installation (windows always first) and making sure if you wish to access the partitions of the other operating systems you always do it in read-only mode.

But if what you meant to say was to just install Linux, then please do! However it needs to be said that, as mentioned before, there is no problem here. You can just simply make backups of your current data and just install Windows 8 from your boot CD. Start the computer with the disk inside. It's that simple. You will want to overwrite the current Windows 10 installation completely, but you backed up your data.

Setting "Ignore" status takes up almost as much space as leaving the posts there I find. If I am ignoring someone, I don't really need a replacement post saying there was a post by someone you are ignoring.

This is true and very annoying. Can't stand vBulletin for that and many other reasons. But it's what we have. But for my peace of mind, I find that large box better than having to look at the ramblings of trash that can't live their life without annoying those around them. I take some inner satisfaction in knowing that he can't reach me and that I have become immune to his trolling.

[rcgldr]

After doing a backup, you should be able to do a clean install of Windows 8.1 from the install disk, either 32 bit or 64 bit. The main issue with 64 bit is that it doesn't run 16 bit dos apps from a console window. I don't know if something like dosbox will work or if you need to create a virtual pc and install msdos or some freeware version of it. I'm not aware of any issues running 32 bit programs.

I have a system just old enough to run Win XP and just new enough to run Win 10. Currently I multi-boot XP, XP X64, and Win 7. It's a desktop, so there's not much point in installing Win 10, and multi-boot start up is slowed down with Win 10 installed.

[Fossaw]

I have not tried actually booting from the install disk, I'd been mounting the CD and running the the setup job. I want to clear my BOINC jobs before doing this but have 5 days of work still to run, they are climate prediction jobs so take ages. Next week I will be in Germany, so unable to do anything concerning this.

[Tien Nguyen]

I don't know I have Windows XP and it runs 90% of the softwares out there. Softwares like PhotoShop CS2, Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft Excel 2003, Microsoft Outlook 2003, ...it even runs my 16-bit software since 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows XP is compatible with 16-bit softwares. So the solves my problem of Borland being obsolete since it still works in a modern system. Sure its not 64-bit XP however I hate it when I had 64-bit XP. They wouldn't let me run all the softwares I mentioned just because it was 32-bit. Besides you can dual boot. Windows is good with dual booting. I don't know about Linux though. I always get scared with Linux and had a bad problem with Linux in the past. So if you really need to buy the original 32-bit Microsoft Windows XP and also get the 64-bit Microsoft Windows XP separately. Then install both on your 64-bit computer which should be 64-bit chips these days. That way you can have maximum flexibility.

[Tien Nguyen]

Linux has too many options before you dualboot. You have to select this and that partition. You have to set this and that. Microsoft Windows on the other hand makes everything so easy for you. If you wanted to install another Microsoft Windows just do it and it takes care of the partitioning for you. So with Microsoft everytime you boot up you get to select the Microsoft Windows that you want to use.

[phantomotap]

So if you really need to buy the original 32-bit Microsoft Windows XP and also get the 64-bit Microsoft Windows XP separately. Then install both on your 64-bit computer which should be 64-bit chips these days. That way you can have maximum flexibility.

O_o

Is offering destructive advice against the terms?

Soma