SOLVED Getting Back To Reinstalling Windows 10 with a Windows 7 Recovery Partition

[johndoc37]

I have a Compaq CQ 61-421SA laptop purchase in 2010. I have Recovery Discs from that time.

I upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7, early 2016.
I do not have Windows 10 Recovery Discs.
I have installed every Windows 10 update as soon as each one has been released.

I have recently experienced the 'Windows 10 100% Disc Usage' issue.

Installing the most Windows 10 update (within the last couple of days since 8 Nov 2016) resulted in a failed update and my laptop has been unuseable since.

I am presently attempting to recover my laptop to Windows 7 using the recovery partition. The recovery process is proving to be extremely slow (i.e. leaving the laptop running overnight produces no progress).

There is no data which I need to recover from the laptop.


MY QUESTIONS:

1. Should I be looking to get back to Windows 7?

2. Can I get back to Windows 10 (since I downloaded/installed Windows 10 during the free upgrade period) once Windows 7 has reinstalled on the laptop?


Any and all assistance with my issue will be most appreciated.


Many thanks

johndoc37

 

[Trouble]

1. Should I be looking to get back to Windows 7?

No.

2. Can I get back to Windows 10 (since I downloaded/installed Windows 10 during the free upgrade period) once Windows 7 has reinstalled on the laptop?

Yes and reinstalling Windows 7 is not or at least should not be a prerequisite.

There is no data which I need to recover from the laptop.

IF Windows 10 has been installed and activated on your computer, then you can re-install it (custom clean install) any time you want and the fact that you have no critical data to worry about makes that a great option.

IF you do not have the installation media, the ISO can be obtained here
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sof...459594)(TnL5HPStwNw-WaTVja5C7z2Vs7q82apCPg)()

Choose Windows 10, the first item in the first drop down (not single language at the bottom) * see note at bottom.
Next choose your language and your bit version (32 or 64 bit to match your system architecture or in the case of an upgrade, to match your currently installed version of Windows).
That will provide an ISO that will boot, upgrade, repair (or clean install) either or both Windows 10 Pro and Home.
*NOTE: In some cases, we've learned that some people have the "Single Language" version installed. In which case you would need that download. It's important that you match the ISO version that you download with your installation.

Once you have downloaded the ISO you can use ImgBurn to burn it to a DVD http://imgburn.com/index.php?act=download
OR
Rufus to burn it to a USB ThumbDrive http://rufus.akeo.ie/
To create the bootable installation media you will need to perform a custom clean install.

When you are prompted for a product key during the installation, simply click the link that says "I don't have one".
After the install and when you are connected to the internet, Windows 10 will activate again automatically.

While Windows 10 will likely have native driver support for most of your hardware, you may need to go to the manufacturer's support website to clean up device manager and get everything working again.

 

[johndoc37]

Hello Trouble,

Here's how matters played out for me since my post ...

My laptop hard-drive promptly failed
I purchased another from Amazon UK
I installed the new drive (a first for me!)
I installed Windows 10 from a USB stick

So, my laptop is now back to tiptop condition

Thank you very much for your assistance.

johndoc37

 

[Trouble]

Glad to hear it.
Thanks for the follow-up info.
Much appreciated