downgrade to Windows 7? need opinions please

[MPTech]

I built a desktop for my parents (75-ish years old) over 5 years, running WinXP, very stable and runs well for their needs (primarily surfing the net, reading email, looking at pictures, etc).

They've been asking me about my laptop (with Win7) and last week, they bought a nice Lenovo touch-screen laptop with Win8. I visited with them on Saturday and WOW! Win8 is totally different, I didn't even know where to start. They said they haven't even used the laptop since they bought it because they can't figure out how to do anything, and to be honest, neither could I.

Without investing serious time, I can't help them transition. I'm very comfortable with XP and Win7.
They asked me if I can remove Win8 and install WinXP or Win7 on it. I've built / re-built over 2 dozen PCs: 98, XP, Vista (yuch!), and Win7. So I'm relatively confident I can install it, but I don't know if this is a good idea.

Any gotcha's? Will they lose touch-screen abilities (I don't think so)
Any Pros / Cons, would be greatly appreciated.

I would like to learn and use Win8, but don't know if this is the right choice for them, now.

Thanks

[Steve R Jones]

First task-> Find Win 7 drivers.... If found, you should be good to go.

[MPTech]

First task-> Find Win 7 drivers.... If found, you should be good to go.

Can you elaborate?
Are you suggesting to install Win7 drivers, with the Win8 OS?

Or are you saying if I find the drivers to install Win7?
(btw, I thought Win7 would auto-load the drivers itself, when I install it)

just trying to get clarity. any opinions of Win8? (I haven't read very good reviews of it so far. And my first experience was over-whelmingly different. HUGE learning curve, and this is my concern with 75 year old users).

Thanks!

[photolady]

As Steve said, you need to find out if there are Win7 drivers available for that laptop. Yes, windows7 has some drivers, but not all of them. Check Lenovo's website for that model laptop and see if they provide the drivers for Win7.

[billman]

This would be MY opinion on this.

I have several people 75+ that I advised to buy PC's that came with Windows 8 on them.
And I am (was) the same way. stuck at a bunch of squares and no where to go!!
With a little bit of reading, I was able to get to a place that they can use the "new" PC.
They like the genealogy web stuff (and pay for it)

They grumbled a bit about missing XP,, but they l-o-v-e it now.
The new browser lets them view better web pages,, and much faster.

Here is a link for a gift from Dell,,, and this will help you with Windows 8

By downgrading to Windows 7, you will loose some of the good stuff Lenova packed on that laptop.

The one thing you want to get rid of for sure is The Norton stuff.

here is that link.

http://marketing.dell.com/Global/Fil...ws-8-ebook.pdf


Put log-me-in on it,,, and help them when they need it.
(and at night call into it and learn Windows 8!!!)

All just my 2 cents worth.