Aspire M5-581T Windows 8: Downgrade to Windows 7???

ChrisFarrell
ChrisFarrell Member Posts: 7 New User

I bouth this Aspire M5-581T off the shelf (a return at Best Buy) for a great price.  Thought it would do the trick for my needs (doctoral student).  However, I am having a daily issue.  This morning, the network adapter stalls.  Yesterday, Micosoft Word 2013 hung.  The day before ports were missing, including my wireless network adapter.  I am extremely computer literate...all updates are installed, Mcafee virus scan updated.  The hardware is all functioning properly.  I am 95% certain it is Windows 8.

 

Does anyone know if there is a Window7 downgrade available?  Other advice? 

Answers

  • Alan-London
    Alan-London ACE Posts: 793 Pioneer

    While I make no secret of my loathing of Win8, I find it hard to believe that Win8 is the reason you are experiencing these issues. Perhaps the first owner has meddled and caused the problems. Assuming you are happy with Win8, you could try a complete windows reinstall and see if that does the trick.

     

    I am not aware of any downgrade (I prefer to use 'upgrade'!) offer from Microsoft. After all, that would fly in the face of what they are trying to achieve. Do bear in mind that Windows7 is considerably more expensive than Windows8. Win8 is, after all, a mobile phone/pad OS.

     

    If you do decide to upgrade to Win7, bite the bullet and buy your preferred version. I'm sure you will be glad you did! (I have an M5-581TG and, once upgraded, is a joy to use with Windows 7 Ultimate - and no issues whatsoever.)

     

  • ChrisFarrell
    ChrisFarrell Member Posts: 7 New User

    I should have been more clear about why I think it is Win 8.  I have work computer that I run the same exact tasks on (which I bring home and use a lot).  Bought this Acer, it was wiped out and cleaned when I bought it.  Wanted to get the same programs running at home so I don't have to carry a computer back and forth to work everyday.  Everything I do works fine on Win7 Pro on my office computer.  The Acer with Windows 8 is an entire story.  Again this afternoon, I could not upload to Blackboard.  Microsoft Word hung, then Windows hung up.  Waited, and waited...got an IE must close.  This is repeatedly happening.  After I restart, it works for a little while and then does it again.  I don't really care what operating system I have as long as it works with out a continual headache.  I have a legal copy of Win7 Pro but was hoping to find a downgrade for Acer so I could use the Win 7 on another computer.   Using Chrome does appear to work better....but as a power user, I am not gonna keep doing this! Smiley Happy  If anyone knows of a legal downgrade for Acer computers let me know.  I did a search of the knowledge base with only finding upgrades.  May go ahead and contact tech support. 

     

    Thanks.

  • Alan-London
    Alan-London ACE Posts: 793 Pioneer

    Your suggestion appears to be that Windows 8 cannot reliably run IE or Microsoft word.
    That clearly would be a wrong assumption.
    Given that you have a fresh OS installed, I would be inclined to suspect faulty hardware.
    Perhaps that is why your machine was returned.

     

  • ChrisFarrell
    ChrisFarrell Member Posts: 7 New User

    Yes, I thought about that as well.  But, other programs work fine under the similar hardware usage.    For example, transferring with Samsung Kies from my Samsung Note.  Uploading to google drive, no issues. But again going back to something not being fully compatible with Win8. Word 13 will continually freeze upon closing a file.  Does not matter what other software is up.  I notice it most often when uploading and copy/paste into BlackBoard. 

     

    I suspect the reason the notebook was returned was because of the touch pad.  It has way too many hot/tap zones, which for inexperienced users they would think that the thing was not working correctly.  Other than the hanging up, it works great.

  • Alan-London
    Alan-London ACE Posts: 793 Pioneer

    Regardless of one's thoughts and opinions of Microsoft, it is surely inconceivable that they would bring to market a new OS that hadn't been tested to exhaustion with two of their flagship products.

    In addition, I have seen no indications on the web by disgruntled users of Acer, or indeed any other machine, that there are any reasons for concern.

     

    Whether other programs work is irrelevant - they perform different actions and/or interact with hardware in different ways. I may also be missing your point but how is the performance of your Samsung, running Samsung software in anyway relevant? How is that indicative of a compatibility issue between Word 13 and Win 8?

     

    Have you checked your event logs for clues?

     

    I apologise for my apparent negativity - I really am trying to be positive here!

     

    OK, what would I do in your position?

    First I would check and ensure that your supplier has retained your recovery partitions. If they did and you are able to create recovery media (1 x DVD and 1 x 16GB USB) I might well be inclined to install your copy of Windows 7 and do a thorough test - you can test for 30 days without the need to activate and potentially lose your licence.

     

    If your incompatibility theory proves true and you are fully satisfied that the hardware is good then I suggest your first port of call would be to Microsoft.

    On the other hand, failure may well indicate a hardware problem and a call to Acer tech support (or the supplier) would likely be the appropriate course.

     

This discussion has been closed.