Downgrade from updated Windows 10 back to original Windows 8.1

[Mojah]

Hi Paul Tikkanen, Hi all

Like several people on this site, I also upgraded to Windows 10 from the pre-installed Windows 8.1, a while after 10 was first emblazoned on the Net, much to my deep regret.

In trying to remedy the frequent update requests against the ever decreasing space on my HP Stream 14 laptop, I've managed to use the link provided, by you Paul to earlier seekers, to download the ISO and reached as far as the Setup Application for Windows 8.1 Pro.

The problem is I am not able to get pass that Setup stage. Everytime I try, a blue screen appears with the words:

" Something happened
Setup has failed to determine supported install choices ".

Please can you, Paul, or anyone else help me?

Is there another, link I can use to find a suitable 8.1 OEM version (together with compatible product key), that will allow me to get pass this barrier, to finally return my laptop to its original state?

Do let me know if further information is required.

Many thanks
Mojah

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Mojah:

What is the full model number or product number of your notebook?

Use this guide to find that information.  Please do not post the serial number.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00033108

[Mojah]

Hi Paul

Thank you for your speedy response.  The product number is 1DM45EA#ABU

Full laptop name: HP Stream 14-ax0XX

Regards

Mojah

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

The product specs for your notebook indicate that it came with W10 Home 64 bit from HP, not W8.1.

https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c05363753

That is most likely why W8.1 is giving you that error message.

If you still have W10 on there, run the free utility that I zipped up and attached below, that will show you the Windows product key that is in the BIOS, and the version of Windows the key is good for.

Don't post the product key numbers, just the report of the version of Windows.

[Mojah]

Hi Paul

Thank you for the SKP link.  I must say I was very surprised to learn about W10 actually being pre-installed and not W8.1!  

The SKP report indicates that Windows 10 Home is currently installed, but that the Original OS was "Win 10 RTM Core OEM:DM"!!

I'll now go back to your software-download link, to try to clean install Win 10 Core -  It's getting late now so I'll attempt this tomorrow.

Thank you again, Paul, for your amazing help so far.  I'll report back to you/the community tomorrow.

Kind regards

Maureen

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Maureen.

Yes, just use the media creation tool to create a bootable USB installation flash drive and clean install W10.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

When you get to the part of the installation that asks 'Where do you want to install Windows,' delete every partition on the drive, leaving just one partition of unallocated space.

Click Next, and W10 will install.

After W10 has completed installing, you can install the drivers and available software from your notebook's support page.

https://support.hp.com/gb-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-stream-14-ax000-laptop-pc/12499221/model/1355616...

[Mojah]

Hi Paul

I'm stuck!

I've been trying to create the media installation tool for ages now.  Every time I get to the stage where the system asks "what's to be updated, this PC or an external device" and I click external device (a Sandisk memory card with a spare 119GB on it) and then click next, it keeps telling me to make 8GB of space on the PC.  It does not seem recognise the Sandisk.  It then gives the option, only, to close.  I then have to start again from the beginning at "Download  tool now".

Any advice, please?

Thanks

Maureen

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Maureen.

You have to use a USB flash drive only.  A SD card won't work.

An 8 GB USB flash drive will suffice.

[Mojah]

Hi Paul

Thanks for that.  I located a flash drive with 21GB spare. 

I went through the steps stated in the "Download tool now" and, again, as soon as I reach the point of Select Language, architecture and edition and next,  the system again advised that "8GB of free disk space needed on (C:)".

I restarted my PC, with the flash drive inserted, to ensure it was aware the flash drive was present (it shows up under the Open Devices and Printers section of the task bar), to no avail.

Still stuck ...

Regards

Maureen

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I take it that you trying to make the installation media on the Stream notebook?

If so, you don't have enough space on the main drive (C:\) for that.

Try making the media using another Windows PC.