14 replies to this topic 1 votes

[Dane]

I have a quick question.

If I buy a new computer from say like Dell, or HP. They come with windows 8.

Would Windows 7 work correctly on it?

I would just put the disk in, format, and install windows 7.

[mduren2445]

The only reason I could see a problem is drivers....if the computer you buy is using hardware that only has windows 8 drivers available then there could be trouble ...spec out a pc, call the company and ask them if the one your interested in can be downgraded to 7

[Dane]

mduren2445, on 08 January 2013 - 13:06, said:

The only reason I could see a problem is drivers....if the computer you buy is using hardware that only has windows 8 drivers available then there could be trouble ...spec out a pc, call the company and ask them if the one your interested in can be downgraded to 7

I thought about that, I was just asking incase they wouldn't be able to downgrade it.

[+sc302]

I have downgraded a couple of computer to win7. Drivers can be a pain, but if you know the manufacturer of the driver and the win 8 driver isn't working (which happened to me a few times) I was able to go to the manufacturer site and get the driver for 7.

[HSoft]

Shouldn't be a problem but rather than you doing it, you can ask Dell to do it instead. They still sell and support Windows 7, should just need to request it.

[kiddingguy]

I'm thinking on drivers as well. But if they are on the manufacturers site I guess you'll be fine.

Better to check at PC/notebook maker to be sure...

[Raa]

Yes it'd work fine. Just need the right drivers, but you'll probably find Win8 drivers will work in Win7 for most things!

[Athlonite]

mduren2445, on 08 January 2013 - 13:06, said:

The only reason I could see a problem is drivers....if the computer you buy is using hardware that only has windows 8 drivers available then there could be trouble ...spec out a pc, call the company and ask them if the one your interested in can be downgraded to 7

and what hardware today is win 8 exclusive um none pretty much if it can run win8 it'll run win7 you just need to go to the manufacturers sites to pick up current drivers for the likes of mobo, nic, sound, sata (Raid or AHCI) and guru3d for the latest in GPU drivers everything else will most likely use the generic MS drivers that come in an win7 install

[Michael Lacey]

Windows 8 is still lighter and faster than 7, is there a reason you need to downgrade?

[Dane]

Thanks everyone for the replies!!

Michael Lacey, on 09 January 2013 - 01:44, said:

Windows 8 is still lighter and faster than 7, is there a reason you need to downgrade?

I have played around with it since it was first publically available. I cannot get used to it. I have used windows since 3.1. This is the only OS I cannot get used to. So if I can "downgrade" I think it helps.

[Inertia]

Dane, on 09 January 2013 - 03:05, said:

Thanks everyone for the replies!!





I have played around with it since it was first publically available. I cannot get used to it. I have used windows since 3.1. This is the only OS I cannot get used to. So if I can "downgrade" I think it helps.

Use windows 8 and a start menu replacement App (stardock start8 is what I use) and just use Windows 8 desktop and dump metro.

The experience is the same as 7, but the performance is a bit better and the gui a bit more modern. Win8 is actually a brilliant desktop OS once you get rid of the fugly interface MS thinks everyone will want to use for some reason.

[DaDude]

Michael Lacey, on 09 January 2013 - 01:44, said:

Windows 8 is still lighter and faster than 7, is there a reason you need to downgrade?

+1

[guitmz]

i've tested a few win 8 drivers on win 7 and win 7 drivers on win 8 and they worked (maybe its not your case but its not 100% failure, you may check online for the components first before buying)

[Astra.Xtreme]

I downgraded a new HP Envy for somebody and everything seemed to work except for the USB drivers. Only one of the USB ports would work for some reason. Pretty strange.

I do remember that I had to pull out the hard drive and format it before the Windows 7 installer would recognize it. It seemed like HP tried really hard for you to not to be able to downgrade. The BIOS (or UEFI) was really dumbed down compared to any other laptop I'd seen before. Even getting it to boot from my USB stick wasn't a simple task as it should have been.

If you have a spare hard drive, I'd suggest throwing that in and seeing if you can get all the quirks worked out before you overwrite Win 8.

[nitins60]

DaDude, on 09 January 2013 - 15:27, said:

+1

+1