I just bought a new laptop with windows 10 preinstalled. However, I dont like windows 8 or 10 and I am use to windows 7. I found some drivers for my laptop (Lenovo Ideapad 500) but im not sure how to go about installing them as there are no USB drivers or internet drivers for my laptop. Does anyone have any ideas of how I go about doing this? Thanks in advance.
Downgraded from windows 10 to windows 7 but I cant find drivers now
- Thread starter Alanp97
- Start date
Solution
- Sep 13, 2010
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Where did you find the drivers -- at Lenovo support? And are they specifically for your model?
I ask because many of the newer laptops and desktops do not have Windows 7 drivers available unless they are meant for corporate use, as Microsoft is pushing Windows 10 to OEMs.
I ask because many of the newer laptops and desktops do not have Windows 7 drivers available unless they are meant for corporate use, as Microsoft is pushing Windows 10 to OEMs.
Shaun o
Illustrious
- Oct 7, 2007
- 6,113
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The problem is Alan, as you buy newer laptops that have been pre setup with windows 10 Os installed on them.
Many of the laptop vendors don`t bother in any way or form of producing drivers for older operating systems you wish to use.
Through your own personal choice.
There a bit ignorant in many respects to that in relation to what the customer wants or if they prefer to run an older version of an operating system on the laptop.
And often don`t even provide drivers for the older Os`s you wish to use with the laptop.
And that is a catch 22 situation.
The only thing you can try to do is find out when it comes to for example the Ethernet port of the laptop is try to find the exact brand name of the chip they have used for thr Ethernet port and find out the model number of the chip.
Then do a search for drivers for windows 7 with the brand name of the chip and its model number.
For example Realtek PCIe Gbe controler driver windows 7 64 bit, as a google search.
The same would be for the Usb drivers for the laptop where you also have to find the brand of controler chip used and the model number.
By a google search.
Apart from trying that your pretty much stuck if the download and support drivers for your model of Lenovo laptop does not have drivers for windows 7.
Many of the laptop vendors don`t bother in any way or form of producing drivers for older operating systems you wish to use.
Through your own personal choice.
There a bit ignorant in many respects to that in relation to what the customer wants or if they prefer to run an older version of an operating system on the laptop.
And often don`t even provide drivers for the older Os`s you wish to use with the laptop.
And that is a catch 22 situation.
The only thing you can try to do is find out when it comes to for example the Ethernet port of the laptop is try to find the exact brand name of the chip they have used for thr Ethernet port and find out the model number of the chip.
Then do a search for drivers for windows 7 with the brand name of the chip and its model number.
For example Realtek PCIe Gbe controler driver windows 7 64 bit, as a google search.
The same would be for the Usb drivers for the laptop where you also have to find the brand of controler chip used and the model number.
By a google search.
Apart from trying that your pretty much stuck if the download and support drivers for your model of Lenovo laptop does not have drivers for windows 7.
techgeek
Splendid
- Apr 11, 2004
- 5,296
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I think what he's saying is he downloaded the drivers on another computer, put them on a USB stick, but Windows 7 doesn't have drivers to initialize the USB ports, so the laptop can't mount the USB stick he has the driver on. A bit of a catch 22.
If the computer you downloaded them on has a DVD / CD writer, you could burn them to a DVD / CD and install them that way. That is assuming the laptop has an optical drive.
If the computer you downloaded them on has a DVD / CD writer, you could burn them to a DVD / CD and install them that way. That is assuming the laptop has an optical drive.
- Sep 13, 2010
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Yes, it clearly does support Windows 7. The Atheros wireless and Realtek LAN drivers for Windows 7 dated Nov 2015 should work. You will need to install all the drivers including the chipset, sound, video.
Now I think I understand your issue, you downloaded them but cannot get them onto the computer.
What did you use to install Windows 7, a USB stick? Windows 7 does not support USB 3 without installing drivers that are not on the installation so only USB 2 should work.
You might try a different format USB 2 stick, like FAT32 or NTFS.
edit: looks like it does have an optical drive, so that would be an easy way to get the drivers on the laptop if a USB stick won't work.
Now I think I understand your issue, you downloaded them but cannot get them onto the computer.
What did you use to install Windows 7, a USB stick? Windows 7 does not support USB 3 without installing drivers that are not on the installation so only USB 2 should work.
You might try a different format USB 2 stick, like FAT32 or NTFS.
edit: looks like it does have an optical drive, so that would be an easy way to get the drivers on the laptop if a USB stick won't work.
I was thinking that myself but I wont have access to an optical drive for a few days. Is there any other way I could go about it? I know from before that windows would just recognise the usb. Is there anything I can do in command prompt or the bios settings?
techgeek
Splendid
- Apr 11, 2004
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If the drivers weren't installed with Windows 7 for either your USB 2.0 or 3.0 ports, you are stuck. You obviously don't have either ethernet or wifi drivers, so you can't download them directly to that computer.
Other than optical media, I don't know what you'll be able to do.
Other than optical media, I don't know what you'll be able to do.
techgeek
Splendid
- Apr 11, 2004
- 5,296
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Well I do know something that would work, but it's so ludicrous that it's almost not worth mentioning. It also requires that you have an external HDD enclosure or adapter.
It would require removing the HDD from the laptop and putting it in an external HDD enclosure (SATA internal / USB external) or an adapter that does the same thing. Then you would connect it to another computer that has an internet connection or has the drivers downloaded to it already. Once the laptop drive is connected to that computer you could copy the driver files over directly to the HDD. With this done, you would install the HDD back into the laptop and then run the driver files from the HDD.
It presumes you have access to an external enclosure or SATA / USB adapter, and that you were comfortable doing this.
It would require removing the HDD from the laptop and putting it in an external HDD enclosure (SATA internal / USB external) or an adapter that does the same thing. Then you would connect it to another computer that has an internet connection or has the drivers downloaded to it already. Once the laptop drive is connected to that computer you could copy the driver files over directly to the HDD. With this done, you would install the HDD back into the laptop and then run the driver files from the HDD.
It presumes you have access to an external enclosure or SATA / USB adapter, and that you were comfortable doing this.
- Sep 13, 2010
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Another off the wall idea, since we are there would be to boot from a Live Linux stick like Mint made using UNetbootin, then mount the laptop drive and another USB stick using the Live Linux which will only be running from the first USB stick and will not affect the Windows install on the HDD. Once both are mounted you can drag and drop the drivers to a folder on the HDD. Then shut down Mint and restart in Windows.
Mint 17 or 18 will support both USB 2 and 3 ports.
I've used this to repair broken Windows installs, very useful tool.
Mint 17 or 18 will support both USB 2 and 3 ports.
I've used this to repair broken Windows installs, very useful tool.
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