Windows 10... Oh no.
Windows 10... Oh no.
Hey everyone, I should say I didn’t really consider that before installing Windows 10—I just upgraded from Windows 8.1 Pro to Windows 10. Now I’m curious if it’s possible to revert back.
Wouldn't formatting risk losing everything? I have many items I don’t want to lose.
Sorry for the confusion. After upgrading from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, you’re locked into version 10. You can’t revert back. To fix this, create a new partition on your drive to keep your personal data, then install Windows 8.1 on the different partition. After setting up in Windows 8.1, remove everything from the backup partition you made earlier and delete it completely.
Recommended method involves moving all desired files to an external hard drive, then reformatting the primary PC drive and reinstalling Windows 8.1. After installation, transfer the files back from the external drive. Following @ Altecice's advice is sensible, but using a separate physical drive for the files adds extra protection against accidental data loss.
Back up all necessary files to an external hard drive such as a WD My Book or My Passport. If you don’t have one, purchase it. Afterward, reinstall Windows and, while setting it up, choose custom partitioning and remove every existing partition, then pick the unallocated space for installing Windows 8.