HP Laptop Windows 8.1 to windows 7

[WFox93]

Hi, I'm finally getting around to replacing my laptop that barely recognizes the fact that its a computer but I am on a budget, I decided on this http/ an HP Pavilion 17-e110dx.

Now to provide some background information I am A+ certified and I am certified by Microsoft for Windows 7 so I know what I am doing. That being said the laptop in mind comes with windows 8.1 now I plan on using that for but I've used windows 8 in the past and just can't like it so I was discussing with another certified friend of mine that works at geek squad (yes I know Geek Squad but he knows his sh*t) about "downgrading to windows 7 and he said that I may run into issues with that "downgrade" with hardware and driver support.

Do you guys think that I will run into any issues that can't be solved. I'm mainly looking at keyboard, optical drive, and NIC because most anything else IS supported on 3rd party sites.

TL;DR: I'm getting a laptop with windows 8.1 and want to put 7 on it. Will this cause problems.

 

[pcgaming98]

You shouldnt. All drivers are equally supported by windows 7/8 so you shouldnt run into any problems.

 

[WFox93]

You shouldnt. All drivers are equally supported by windows 7/8 so you shouldnt run into any problems.

That's what I was thinking but the fact that windows 7 isn't listed on the HP support page for it and what my buddy said just had me a little nervous so I figured I would do some research and get some more opinions

 

[pcgaming98]

Sometimes manufacturers (and people who strongly follow them, in this case, your friend) get the compatibilities wrong. I updated my Windows 7 laptop to 8 and I got the drivers that were supposedly for 7 only. I havent had any problems

 

[cpatel1987]

Windows 7 is not officially supported for this model, as per the website: http/h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?product=6787914&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us

Now, you can try dual booting windows 7 (heres a guide, remember, fast boot OFF: http/www.pagestart.com/win8dbwin701181301.html). Of course, before you attempt it, make sure to make recovery media. As the guide mentions, it could render your recover partition useless. Not to mention, if your the kind of person that likes to keep his drivers up to date, there is no guarantee that an update won't botch windows 7. Doing this can also potentially void your warranty, so confirm that as well. Nothing's worse than having a legit hardware issue, only not to be covered because they discovered you installed windows 8. Ya, unfair, but they can still do it.

 

[pcgaming98]

Windows 7 is not officially supported for this model, as per the website: http/h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?product=6787914&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us

Now, you can try dual booting windows 7 (heres a guide, remember, fast boot OFF: http/www.pagestart.com/win8dbwin701181301.html). Of course, before you attempt it, make sure to make recovery media. As the guide mentions, it could render your recover partition useless. Not to mention, if your the kind of person that likes to keep his drivers up to date, there is no guarantee that an update won't botch windows 7. Doing this can also potentially void your warranty, so confirm that as well.

I find it somewhat hard to believe a laptop with newer hardware wont support Windows 7, unless they mean Windows 7 wont get as many updates as 8, then manually downloading them still shouldnt be a problem.

 

[cpatel1987]

Windows 7 is not officially supported for this model, as per the website: http/h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?product=6787914&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us

Now, you can try dual booting windows 7 (heres a guide, remember, fast boot OFF: http/www.pagestart.com/win8dbwin701181301.html). Of course, before you attempt it, make sure to make recovery media. As the guide mentions, it could render your recover partition useless. Not to mention, if your the kind of person that likes to keep his drivers up to date, there is no guarantee that an update won't botch windows 7. Doing this can also potentially void your warranty, so confirm that as well.

I find it somewhat hard to believe a laptop with newer hardware wont support Windows 7, unless they mean Windows 7 wont get as many updates as 8, then manually downloading them still shouldnt be a problem.

Your right, but why take a risk by not dual booting? Manufacturers have made it clear that they haven't tested most of their Windows 8 ready laptop hardware with Windows 7. Plus, Microsoft has only made the downgrade guaranteed to work with Windows 7 Pro: http/www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/downgrade_rights.aspx#fbid=FXjR1-rT2VR

 

[pcgaming98]

Windows 7 is not officially supported for this model, as per the website: http/h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?product=6787914&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us

Now, you can try dual booting windows 7 (heres a guide, remember, fast boot OFF: http/www.pagestart.com/win8dbwin701181301.html). Of course, before you attempt it, make sure to make recovery media. As the guide mentions, it could render your recover partition useless. Not to mention, if your the kind of person that likes to keep his drivers up to date, there is no guarantee that an update won't botch windows 7. Doing this can also potentially void your warranty, so confirm that as well.

I find it somewhat hard to believe a laptop with newer hardware wont support Windows 7, unless they mean Windows 7 wont get as many updates as 8, then manually downloading them still shouldnt be a problem.

Your right, but why take a risk by not dual booting? Manufacturers have made it clear that they haven't tested most of their Windows 8 ready laptop hardware with Windows 7. Plus, Microsoft has only made the downgrade guaranteed to work with Windows 7 Pro: http/www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/downgrade_rights.aspx#fbid=FXjR1-rT2VR

I suppose you're right. Safety's first after all.

 

[WFox93]

Windows 7 is not officially supported for this model, as per the website: http/h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?product=6787914&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us

Now, you can try dual booting windows 7 (heres a guide, remember, fast boot OFF: http/www.pagestart.com/win8dbwin701181301.html). Of course, before you attempt it, make sure to make recovery media. As the guide mentions, it could render your recover partition useless. Not to mention, if your the kind of person that likes to keep his drivers up to date, there is no guarantee that an update won't botch windows 7. Doing this can also potentially void your warranty, so confirm that as well. Nothing's worse than having a legit hardware issue, only not to be covered because they discovered you installed windows 8. Ya, unfair, but they can still do it.

I think this is what I may end up doing atleast just to make sure I have full Functionality in win7 to start with then if it work to a clean install of 7 so I get all of my harddrive for Win7 and the only time I care about Up-to-date drivers is on my main computer which is my build so I don't have to worry about a manufacture telling me what to do

 

[jjnobody]

Tried it the next day after buying it. No driver support from HP and my lan and wifi driver was non-existent. So without a second machine, it's impossible to get drivers independently. Sucks that they have to make things that difficult. Either way, reformatted and repartitioned, got rid of 7 and threw my cracked black copy of 8.0 on and am running that.


That'll learn ya HP, ya bitches...

 

[WFox93]

Tried it the next day after buying it. No driver support from HP and my lan and wifi driver was non-existent. So without a second machine, it's impossible to get drivers independently. Sucks that they have to make things that difficult. Either way, reformatted and repartitioned, got rid of 7 and threw my cracked black copy of 8.0 on and am running that.


That'll learn ya HP, ya bitches...

Did you buy that same one ... if not still thanks for the help.