Downgrading to Win7 - HP Support says to go back

[onegooseegg]

I've looked through a lot of threads but haven't seen my particular problem. I got a HP Omen, so no optical drive. Really want/need to use Win7 due to an old platform I work in that still does not use Win10 and I just refuse to use Windows 8. I downgraded but the catch is now I have no USB ports (I have power but no recognition), no SD drive, and I even tried the HDMI port. Nothing is working without drivers and I have no idea how to get them on there. I'm just stuck. Thanks for any help

 

[greens]

You just need to download and install your drivers.

http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/readIndex?sp4ts.oid=7832044&swLangOid=8&swEnvOid=4059

There you are!

 

[kraelic]

Make a windows 7 thumbdrive and slipstream USB drivers into it and reinstall. Check out Asrock's windows 7 patcher.
http://www.asrock.com/microsite/win7install/

Or as above if you can get on the net, get the USB drivers and install.

 

[onegooseegg]

I failed to mention, I don't have the network adapter driver either, so not able to download. I've got Windows on a thumbdrive, so I'll try to slipstream USB drivers - thanks so much Kraelic. Will let you know how it goes.

 

[Karadjgne]

Sorry, you just proved positive the argument why some ppl insist on internal optical drives. Windows itself has all necessary drivers for basic operation, this includes USB, hdmi, Sata etc. The only thing mobo drivers contain is tailored drivers specific to the board for peak performance. Kinda like windows has VGA drivers native, but if you want 1080p, you'll need the tailored drivers from nvidia or AMD. Check your bios. It might be something as simple as the USB is physically turned off. Also can try setting for Legacy+Uefi. If that fails, try booting to command prompt (before windows hit F8, same as if you were trying to go to bios, choose command promp+network), CD.. CD.. At C type in sfc /scannow which will run through all your system files and fix/replace/add any that are missing, from the win7 cab files.

Hope that helps.

 

[onegooseegg]

I'm still dealing with this same situation and am trying to redo the slipstream method again when I've run into another problem. I need to delete/reboot Windows 7. I currently am in it, but not able to get online, use USB, download drivers - nothing. I need to delete windows 7 or roll it back but Windows 10 is not available anywhere I look. I know it is still there, as windows.old has Win10 files in there, but I did not partition correctly to have a dual login. When I try and delete Windows 7 under system config and boot, it is the only current os and default os. the delete button will not light to delete Windows 7. I just need to revert back to 10 so I can retry downloading Windows 7 with slipstream drivers. Hoping someone can help. Thanks

 

[kraelic]

Use the bios and boot off the thumb drive, then go through and select a clean install, when it asks to set up the hard disk I just remove all partitions and then hit next and let the software setup the partition and continue the installation.

Hold one sec, do you have any other pc? maybe move the laptop hard drive to another pc and get the usb and network drivers into the 2.5 inch drive's \users\public\public download\ folder then when it is back in the laptop you could install them then, if your keyboard and mouse work.

 

[Karadjgne]

HP has a recovery partition in the case of catastrophic failure. It'll contain the entire windows as of when the pc was brand new which will contain all necessary drivers. Not sure exactly what F key is needed, most bios its F8 for boot options or F5 sometimes. OP should be able to access Recovery from there and Factory Reset windows.

 

[onegooseegg]

So the bios with this computer (HP Omen) is the most limited one I've seen yet - no way to change USB settings, no no way to factory reset windows back to 10 - it is only offering up Windows 7. So I contacted HP Support on chat and was told that I should have purchased a recovery disk when I bought the unit. I had no idea it wasn't sending one with the computer and I certainly was never given the option when I bought it anyway. The dude did say that when you downgrade it to 7, it erases the partition that 10 was put in. I asked how much it would cost - $50. I'm so angry. I have a lump of frickin coal on my desk right now and no way to do anything in it. Can't believe I boxed myself in this situation. Thanks for all the help, though

 

[kraelic]

I always disliked the oem going so cheap they stopped giving out recovery discs. Most ask you to create the media when you boot up and have some dvd-r or usb. One other alternative, try to make a bootable usb diagnostic, or dos boot with ntfs support.

http://www.justclassicalguitar.com/mvbazz/usbbootthumbdrive.htm

copy the driver to the usb, then boot the thumbdrive, copy the driver to the users\public\public downloads folder, reboot to laptop hard drive, and run the USB installer.

 

[dgingeri]

Is it possible to take the drive out and hook it to another machine to save the drivers to the drive directly?