We have already shown you how to downgrade from Windows 7 to Windows XP so that you can get back to your earlier Windows XP install from Windows 7.
This article describes you how to downgrade from Windows 7 to Vista. The procedure is pretty much similar to that of downgrading to XP from Windows 7 guide.
Downgrading from Windows 7 to Vista
1. Open your Windows 7 drive and make sure that you have Windows.old in the root of the drive. We use Windows.old folder to restore Windows Vista from Windows 7. So without Windows.old folder you can’t downgrade to Vista from Windows 7.
2. Next, make sure that you have enough free space on your Windows 7 drive (generally “C” drive) as you need to move all the contents of Windows 7 to a folder and then need to copy Vista contents from the Windows.old folder.
Jot down your DVD drive letter and also Windows 7 installed drive letter.
3. Insert your Windows 7 installation disc in the DVD drive and reboot your PC to boot into the recovery environment.
4. In the first screen, select your language, time and currency format and keyboard input method and click Next.
5. In the Install Windows window, click Repair your computer option to launch the System Recovery Options dialog box.
6. Select your Window 7 OS and click Next.
7. Here click Command Prompt to launch the same.
8. Now type following commands one by one and hit enter after each command to move all the contents of Windows 7 to a new folder (here “C” is your Windows 7 drive letter).
C:
Md Win7
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”
9. In this step, you will copy the contents from Windows.old folder to the drive. Now type following commands one by one and hit enter after each command (here “C” is your Windows 7 drive letter & D is your DVD drive letter).
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:\
10. You are almost done! It’s time to restore the boot sector of your Vista OS by entering the command given below (again, “D” is your DVD drive letter):
D:\boot\bootsect /nt60 c:
11. Finally, type exit and then reboot your PC to start using your Windows Vista OS. You can now safely delete the Win7 folder in the root of your “C” drive to free up disk space. Good luck!
Yarn Beady says
I have Windows 10 I am about to downgrade to Windows Vista I got my drivers in C:/WinVistaDrivers so do you think that there going to work in Windows Vista?
Rendel says
I Have No Window.old folder…
Can I Copy thiS on a Another PC That Haves Windows.old?
Please answer
Mike says
Love u broo
Vista says
Should you kill me after that? I am Windows Vista!
Hope you sleep and I come to yo dreams and punch you in face for killing me in OS (Operating System). I guess I’m coming to see Win8.1 OS to help me out to get rid of you in night time…
—————
Microsoft,
Windows Vista
Danny says
These steps doesn’t works! Please help me!
John Andersson says
After downgrading, is the video driver still working?
mannesr says
I dont have a windows.old folder … please help
colin says
i have no old folder which would mean i have win 7 home pre, fulling working copy on COD, NO inslution disc, look like new hd and inslution disc. thanhes,
Billy says
Everything is fine until I type “D:\boot\bootsect /nt60 c:”, and it tells me that “D:\boot\bootsect” is not a valid command. Any help?
Ed says
I need your help, everything was working fine until I got to this step in Step 9:
move /y “c:\Windows.old\Program Files” c:\
It said: Access is denied, so I can’t continue, what do I have to do?
Thanks a lot
nicolo says
Excuse me i have problem with step 2 when i insert the windows installation cd for win7 it doesnt appear the selection of language and keyboard setup . It shows the license terms and agreement screen . Thats why i cant click the system repair tool pls help me :(
Help says
I couldn’t complete step 9. I exited command prompt n tried restarting now windows wont load. How do I reverse every step? Help me please.
win7 says
this screen your are done in the virtual machines.
matthew says
Do you still keep all your programs and files when downgrading or will stuff like microsoft office have to be reinstalled?
matt says
Do you still keep all your programs and files when downgrading or will stuff like microsoft office have to be reinstalled?
Brandon says
I installed windows seven my programs are uninstalled and I want to know if by downgrading I will still have to reinstall everything?
Fred says
Thanks it works
Pep says
How can I reverse steps 8 and 9.