How To Identify SSDs Compatible With HP Omen 17-W295nr

[jhughey]

My HDX 18T-CTO 1200 has a failing NVIDIA GPU, and I have purchased a new system described below.   I do not have time to waste  learning Windows 10 ... I need this new system NOW.

I am thinking of swapping the existing 64-bit Windows 10 SSD with a new SSD, then clean installing it with 64-bit Windows 7 Professional.   How can I determine what SSDs can be installed on this system?   I am looking at the Toshiba OCZ SSDs.

Here is the new system:

HP OMEN 17-w295nr 17.3" Intel Core i7 7th Gen 7700HQ (2.80 GHz) NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 16 GB Memory 256 GB SSD 1 TB HDD Windows 10 Home 64-Bit Gaming Laptop

Thanks!

Joe

[old_geekster · Accepted solution]

@jhughey, welcome back to the forum.

Here is the Maintenance and Service Guide for the laptop.  In Chapter 6, Page 42, it shows a list of the compatible M.2 SSD's.

Just for the record, HP does not recomend downgrading the OS in Win 10 computers.  This may cause some of the components not to work properly.

Please click the Thumbs up + button if I have helped you and click Accept as Solution if your problem is solved.

[jhughey]

Thank you so much! Especially the caveat about downgrading from W10.  I am just going to swap the W10 SSD ... store it carefully, leaving it in pristine condition.  If I need to 'upgrade' it and learn how to use W10, I will swap SSDs again.

I had downloaded the manual to add to my other HP manuals (This is our 4th HP PC since 2007), but I had not explored it enough to see this information.  Thanks again for your help!

Best wishes,

Joe

[old_geekster]

You are very welcome, @jhughey!  I am always glad to help.

[Photoray002]

@jhughey

If you install Win-7 on your Omen, would you mind telling us how it turns out?

Thanks.

[jhughey]

Hi Photoray002,

I certainly will. 

Essentially, I am going to see what a physical swap of my W7 O/S HDisk for the unused 1 TB HDisk in Bay 2.  I finally got into the BIOS (Power-on, Esc, F10, in rapid succession) and went through reading and writing down all its bells and whistles.  The only other change to go with it is to adjust the BIOS to have Legacy enabled ... apparently that is what you do if W7 is involved.

Thing is, I don't know whether to enable Legacy first, and then swap the disks, or to do the swap followed by enabling Legacy.  I have to research this more online.

Regarding the dual boot attempt, it has worked with my older HP, but both the disks were W7 on a W7 BIOS.

Currently, I have two Windows 7 O/S disks in my HDX 18T Laptop.  One of them is a OCZ SSD with W7 clean installed, and the other bay has the previous W7 O/S it replaced.  I did not want to clone it, since it had been migrated from Vista to W7.  When I restart, the Boot Manager offers me a choice as to which disk to boot from.

So, the plan is to try a simple swap with my OCZ Vector 180 SSD in bay 2.  If this works, I can get back to tutoring science & math at the busiest time of the year.   If it does not work, the OCZ SSD will go back into my old laptop.  I have ordered a new RD400 OCZ which can replace the Omen's W10 SSD.   Hopefully I can clean-install it with W7.   If not, the Omen goes back to its original configuration.

So far I have not seen a separate-disk  W7-W10 Dual-Boot setup on a native W10 HP yet.  If anyone knows of one, I would be profusely greatful for a link.  Comments and caveats are also welcome.

[jhughey]

Hello again, here is an update of my progress:

I  was able to successfully swap my 500GB OCZ SSD with W7 O/S from my old HDX18T with the 1 TB HD in Bay 2 of my new HP Omen.  Prior to this, I went to the Omen's BIOS and enabled Legacy Support and disabled Secure Boot.   The instructions to access the disks were adequate, but sure do need to clarify how the back cover is "lifted" when it has to be popped out of many points.

If I simply power on the Omen without doing anything, it boots right up into Windows 10 as if nothing has happened.  It seems to be functioning fine as before.  It recognizes the W7 SSD  as local disk E: along with all my files.    I am using the W10 system to post this message.  

If I hit Esc right after I power on the Omen, I get a menu which enables me to go into Boot Manager with F9.  From there I can successfully boot into W7 with the Omen's OCZ Disk and I have access to my login and its desktop.

From there it gets interesting.  A lot of device drivers are missing for Windows 7 to use with the Omen.  The W7 Device Manager has done what it can, but I still do not have many of the necessary drivers for network access, etc ... etc ... not even a mouse!  The W7 device manager offers a Legacy option, butit is not clear how to use it.   From W7 Omen I cannot access the internet or use my mail, but I do have access via this Omen's  W10 O/S.

In a nutshell, using Omen W10 I need to download W7-Omen drivers and put them in a conspicuous location on the Omen's W7 Disk, then boot into W7 to install them.   Hopefully it is that simple, and *they will install themselves* when I boot into W7.

I am going to search for drivers that make W7 compatible with the bells and whistles of the Omen 17-W295nr.  If anyone already knows these and any special steps, I would really appreciate your feedback!

Thanks!

Joe

[old_geekster]

Thank you for the update, @jhughey!

Remember my caveat?   This is why HP doesn't recommend downgrading from Win 10 to any other OS in a Win 10 computer.  Most members of the Forums and every day users don't have the knowledge that you do.  They would never figure out what to do.

As for the drivers, I suggest searching the Forums for the drivers that you need.  There is most likely a computer that will have the necessary driver for your components.  HP did make some Omen computers with Win 7.

Using the F9 to change the BOOT device works great with UEFI.  I have a Samsung EVO 840 that I use as a second SSD in my computers.  I put it in a USB enclosure and boot to it using F9 for one boot or F10 to change the boot disc permanently.  This allows me to keep personal data on it and not on my HP Spectre x360 that I use every day.

[Photoray002]

Is your Omen using the Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 card?

I would assume it is. If so, perhaps this one will work?

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27617/Intel-PROSet-Wireless-Software-and-Drivers-for-Windo...

Win 7 does not have native USB 3 drivers.

Im not sure it this will work, all you can do is try it...

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/65855/Intel-USB-3-0-eXtensible-Host-Controller-Driver

[jhughey]

Thank you old_geekster and Photoray002!

!   Fortunately, I did not touch (downgrade) the factory-installed SSD with its W10 O/S, so all I have to do is swap the 1 TB HD back in to return to its pristine condition.   All I have now is a dual-boot W10/W7 setup.

Right now I am really happy it has progressed this far.  Fortunately, I am learning W10 enough to communicate and browse, and it is really nicer than I imagined.  Moreover, with the older W7 disk, I can still function as a tutor for my students, without any disruption.

When I have more time, I will seek out the W7 device drivers for this Omen's new-fangled bells and whistles ... along with my old mouse!  Thanks to you Photoray002, I now have a W7 driver for its wireless. 

Will keep you both in the loop, as I make progress.

Best wishes,

Joe