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Downgrading to Windows 10

Tags: Windows

Hi, I’m trying to downgrade from Windows 11. The computer originally shipped with 11, but I hate it and I much prefer 10 like my old computer had. I already have the windows 10 media creation tool thing, don’t know the exact name, and I’m gonna set a C: drive backup up on my D: drive. Should I use the built in backup tool in Control Panel, or use some third party tool? I had experience with AOMEI, and my experience wasn’t great, so I’d like to know what else there is to use. If I’m going to use Windows backup, is it ok to backup both the Program Files 64 and 32 bit folders as well as my user directory? I just want to know so I don’t lose my application data and other things that might be important. And if there are any other folders that can be put onto 10, please let me know. Thanks!

Topic

App data?

In reply to Downgrading to Windows 10

Too vague. If you need to backup say Thunderbird then you backup that and restore the data after the OS, drivers and apps are reinstalled.

There has never been a procedure to downgrade from 11 to 10 and keep all app data along the way.

downgrading to windows 10 but before take a backup

In reply to Downgrading to Windows 10

it is generally recommended to use the built in backup tool in windows called file history, to create a backup of files before downgrading to windows 10.
to use file history you can navigate to control panel>backup and restore > create a system image.
you should backup your user directory and the program files (x86) and the program folders, as these contain important data and application files that you may need after downgrading.
additionally it is important to backup the following folders,
* c\windows\system 32\config
* c\windows\ system 32\drivers
* c\windows\system 32\ spool
* c\windows\system 32\ user profiles
* c\windows\ system 32\ windows power shell
* c\program data
* c\users\default
* c\users\public
alternatively you can use third party tools like Acronis true image , EaseUS Todo backup, or macrium reflect to do a backup.

Odd advice.

In reply to downgrading to windows 10 but before take a backup

After decades I have never found the following folders to be useful on the backups to almost all users:
* c\windows\system 32\config
* c\windows\ system 32\drivers
* c\windows\system 32\ spool
* c\windows\system 32\ user profiles
* c\windows\ system 32\ windows power shell
* c\program data

If you change Windows 11 to 10 or clean install Windows, copying from the old folders listed above to the new install is unlikely to do much more than create a flurry of problems or a broken system.

Can you point to an article detailing what we might be able to use from these folders?

Reply To: Downgrading to Windows 10

In reply to Downgrading to Windows 10

downgrade only works when you’ve already made an upgrade. It won’t work for clean install.

Reply To: Downgrading to Windows 10

In reply to Downgrading to Windows 10

To backup your data before downgrading from Windows 11 to Windows 10, you can use the built-in Backup and Restore tool in Control Panel. Here’s how to use it:

Open Control Panel
Go to System and Security
Click on Backup and Restore (Windows 7)
Click on Set up backup
Select the D: drive as the backup location
Choose what you want to include in the backup, such as the Program Files (64-bit and 32-bit), your user directory, and any other important folders.
Alternatively, you can use third-party backup tools such as Acronis True Image or Macrium Reflect to backup your data. These tools offer more advanced features, such as incremental backups and the ability to create a bootable rescue media.

It is important to backup your data before downgrading to ensure that you do not lose any important files or applications. You may also want to backup your drivers, as you will need to install them again after downgrading to Windows 10.

If we’ve learned anything.

In reply to Reply To: Downgrading to Windows 10

Microsoft’s Backup app are garbage. I’ve lost count of folk that made a backup and then can’t restore.

-> Use a simple COPY to your backup device. Easy, rarely fails.

Also, driver backup? That’s very outdated advice. Stop repeating it. Out of date! Expired!

Reply To: Downgrading to Windows 10

In reply to Downgrading to Windows 10

To downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10, you can use the built-in backup tool in the Control Panel. It’s called “File History” and it can backup both the Program Files (64-bit and 32-bit) and your user directory, including your application data and other important information. To backup using File History, follow these steps:

Open Control Panel and select “System and Security.”
Select “File History” and then select “System Image Backup.”
Follow the on-screen instructions to create a system image backup.
You can also use third-party backup tools such as Acronis True Image or Macrium Reflect, which are known for their ease of use and reliable backups.

In addition to backing up the Program Files and user directory, it’s also recommended to backup any other data or files you want to keep, such as documents, music, videos, etc.

If we’ve learned anything over the years.

In reply to Reply To: Downgrading to Windows 10

Microsoft’s Backup solutions need a backup (other than Microsoft.)

I have to reveal that my view is one from a support position. Folk bring me the failures and with all the Microsoft Backup (by any name or version Microsoft produced) versions, it’s been a constant source of failures brought to me.

Use anything else with big nods to simple file copies to apps that sync your files with external drives.

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