Uninstall Windows 10 Version 1607 Without Losing Data!!
There was a lot of hype and expectations from Windows 10 Anniversary Update before its release. However, the update turned out to be buggy and crashed a lot apart from other issues.
Note:
If you face bugs and glitches after updating your Windows software, it is advised to-
- Check for updates - companies usually release a major patch that addresses and rectifies most issues.
- Read about the updates- Go through press releases launched by the company that may address update issues and may even release a date for a patch update.
- Approach a Forum- Forums are a great place to find users facing similar issues and sharing problems with those particular issues
No matter what the reason, if you wish to switch to a previous version of Windows you definitely can. Please continue reading to know more!
Rollback to Previous Versions of Windows 10
If Windows 10 freezes after the Anniversary update is installed on your PC with the OS stored on SSD (solid-state drive) and data & apps stored on a different drive. And this problem arises when you start Windows 10 in Safe Mode.
If you are facing this issue and still in within 10 days period, then you can log in to Windows 10 using Safe Mode, and move data and apps to the same drive as the OS. After this, you can go back to the previous version of Windows running on the system.
Can't Log in to your PC? You can still Rollback
If you want to go back to the previous version of Windows 10, but can’t log into your PC, then you can use these two methods:
Method 1: With Recovery Console
- Restart your computer, once you reach the sign-in screen, hold the Shift key and select Power > Restart.
- Once your PC restarts, it will open to the Choose an Option screen, select Troubleshoot, Advanced Options, and Go back to the previous build.
If this option is unavailable, use Method 2.
Method 2: Using Safe Mode
- Restart your computer, once you reach the sign-in screen, hold the Shift key and select Power > Restart.
- Once your PC restarts, it will open to the Choose an Option screen, select Troubleshoot --> Advanced Options --> Startup Settings, and select Restart.
- Once your computer restarts, a list of options is seen. Select F4 or 4 to start your computer in Safe Mode.
- Open Settings
- Choose Update & Security and then select Recovery.
- In “Go back to an earlier build”, click on Get Started and follow the instructions.
Rollback to Windows 7 or 8.1
If you don’t want Windows 10 at all and want to uninstall it and assume that you have upgraded your computer from Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10. Then you need to perform a clean install to get back to older versions of Windows.
To make it easy for you, Microsoft provides ISO files from where you can download Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. First download the official installation media from Microsoft and then copy it to a USB drive or you can burn the ISO file to a disc using Windows USB/DVD Download Tool. Then, boot from it and re-install Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 again. This will rewrite the Windows 10 which is there on your computer’s hard drive. Most importantly do take a backup of all important files from your Windows 10 PC before the clean install.
To re-install, you need the product key of your PC. For Windows 7, check your computer for “Certificate of Authenticity” sticker which has a key on it. The sticker can be under the removable battery compartment, the underside of the laptop, or maybe on the laptop’s power brick. And for Windows 8.1 PC you don’t have to do all this. The key would be embedded in the firmware of your computer, which Windows 8.1 will detect automatically, and permit you to re-install Windows 8.1 without needing you to enter the key.
Also Read: How to Fix Not Responding External Hard Drive On Windows 11/10?
My PC Came with Windows 10. How Do I Get the Previous Version?
If you have a new computer that came with Windows 10, it's quite tough to go back to previous versions of Windows. You’ll have to buy a Windows 7 or 8.1 license and install it from the start and enter the product key during the installation process.
Just in Case You Lost Data During Rollback to Previous Versions of Windows
To have a backup of important files before performing a clean install is very - very important as it wipes out your hard drive completely. If you forgot to backup your files, using a reliable hard drive data recovery for Windows is the only solution. The data recovery software is capable of retrieving and restoring all your files after performing the clean install.
