Want to put Windows 7 on a preinstalled Windows 10 Laptop

[Rswarren27]

So I've created my bootable Windows 7 64 bit USB and have all of the drivers downloaded and on the same USB. (They're currently in the .Exe format that they come downloaded as) However upon trying to install I'm getting a prompt that I'm missing drivers and I can't find anything by browinsg through the USB from there. Any suggestions on how to complete this process?

[mdklassen]

From: http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/swdetails/HP-15-ay000-Notebook-PC-series/10862300/mo...

Installation instructions:

1. Download the file by clicking the Download or Obtain Software button and saving the file to a folder on your hard drive (make a note of the folder where the downloaded file is saved).

2. Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions.

I think that what you need to do is to double-click that '.exe' file, to run it (on any computer).

The first thing that it will do is to ask "into what folder should I unpack the componentn files?" (not the exact wording!).

Select a folder (or, even better, allow it to create a new folder), and to do the "unpack".

Then, STOP there, and do NOT click "Install".

Instead, copy that whole folder (and its contents) onto the "bootable" memory-stick.

After booting from that memory-stick, navigate to the folder that you copied, and Windows should find what it needs in that folder.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @Rswarren27:

You have to run this tool to put the required USB3 drivers into the W7 installation drive.

There is a readme file on the link for how to use the tool.

Download the applicable file for the Windows version you plan to run the tool on.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25476/Windows-7-USB-3-0-Creator-Utility

[Rswarren27]

My laptop has a USB 2.0 port. I've gotten it to boot into the windows 7 installation already using that port. Would I still need the 3.0 drivers for the install?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

If you are getting the message during the beginning of the W7 install script that a 'required CD/DVD driver is missing,' then yes you do.

Here is the problem...

The Intel skylake chipset has no native USB2 support until after you install the chipset drivers, and you can' t do that until you install W7.

The W7 installation media does not have the required USB3 driver support to work from a USB3 port, so you are caught between a rock and a hard place.

[Rswarren27]

7 is now up and running! Last issue... I've gone through and downloaded and installed all of the drivers I could find, however I still am missing a Universal Serial Bus driver.

I also have a device listed as simply PCI device that's driverless.

Its location is PCI Slot 4.

Hardware IDs:
PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_522A&SUBSYS_820B103C&REV01
PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_522A&CC_FF0000

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Here is the USB3 driver you need...

This package contains the Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver for supported notebook models running a supported operating system.

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp77001-77500/sp77082.exe

The PCI dev is the Realtek card reader in need of a driver.

If the one from the notebook's support page I posted for you didn't work (under the storage drivers section), then use the one directly from Realtek.

Download, unzip and run the setup application from the 1st file at the link below...

http://www.realtek.com.tw/Downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=15&PFid=25&Level=4&Conn=3&DownT...

[Rswarren27]

I now have a completely errorless machine! Paul your help has been incredible. I don't know if it's possible to get the function volume/screen birghtness buttons to work on Windows 7, but if not it's sill not an issue. The intel graphics driver set already lets me adjust screen brightness from the System Tray.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

That is great news, and glad to have been of assistance.

See if the System Event Utility allows you to use the Fn Keys for those purposes.

This package contains the HP System Event Utility, which enables special function keys on supported notebook models to be programmed. For example, HP System Event Utility enables users to press the Fn+ESC keys to view system information. This package is provided for supported models running a supported operating system.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp76001-76500/sp76383.exe

[Rswarren27]

There were two different applications in the package, HPSetup and HPSystemEventUtility which was a Windows Installer. I ran both. but don't see any changes. Also ran the C++ installer included to ensure I had that. Any other ideas? Might just be a trade off for running 7.

Got it working! We're in the clear. Thanks again Paul