How to install windows 7 in my latest 6 generation hp notebook

[Shazzu]

Hi,

i need to downgrade my OS from windows 10 to windows 7 for some reasons. but i can't boot from usb as UEFI boot don't support windows 7.

i searched the bios settings, where secured boot is enabled but greyed out.

any help will be really appreciable.

Thanks

[Huffer]

You need to modify the Windows 7 install media to include a special driver. Intel and Microsoft have made it so that Windows 7 is not easy to install on Skylake and Kabylake systems:

https://www.logicsupply.com/explore/io-hub/installing-windows-7-on-a-skylake-pc/

[WAWood]

@Shazzu

Hello;

Allow me to welcome you to the HP forums!

I would actually advise AGAINST doing what you plan.

You didn't mention the model of the notebook, but if it really is one of the latest, that come with Win10 preinstalled, your forced downgrade is likely to lead to serious issues.

In new HP Win10 machines, the hardware is new and, as a result, there are no HP Win7 or Win8 drivers for that hardware.

If you force a downgrade to an older OS version, the problem you're up against is that Microsoft only supplies drivers with the most basic functionality, and what you really need for FULL functionality in laptops is the specialized drivers written for the specific hardware found in laptops. Without the HP drivers, one or more of the hardware components is not going to work properly. That can result in problems ranging from malfunctioning switchables graphics, to no WiFi, to no sound, and other such driver-related issues.

Also, understand that a new PC coming with Win10 preinstalled has no Win7 license rights. So, you will have to PURCHASE a Win7 license in order to activate your copy after installation -- and that's going to run around $100 USD minimum.

However ... if you are DETERMINED to downgrade, then BEFORE you do that, use a tool known as Macrium Reflect to take an image backup of your Win10 system. This way, if the downgrade doesn't work out well, you will then be able to restore your working version of Win10.

Macrium Reflect (MR) provides a FREE version that can be used to image and restore partitions or entire drives: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

What I recommend is the following:
1) Download and install Macrium Reflect (MR)
2) Run MR and choose the option: "Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows" to write a full backup to an external drive or USB stick
3) Use the option to create a boot USB stick or CD

My experience is that MR, when using the High Compression option, typically can compress the saved image file to about 50% of the USED space in the OS partition. This means if you have an 80GB OS partition, and 40GB is used, MR only needs about 20GB to store the image file.

I use this all the time and it typically takes less than 10 minutes to do the image backup and about the same time or less to do a restore.

[Shazzu]

thanks for your reply @WAWood
I'm desperate because some of my older version software don't run in windows 10.
product no is Z1D95PA#UUF

btw is there any way to install windows 7 without degrading the bios?

[Huffer]

That machine is not a 6th generation it is a 7th generation per these specs:

https://support.hp.com/ca-en/document/c05301880

That makes it even harder. Driver support will be a struggle at best. 

What do you mean by degrading the BIOS? If you mean secure/legacy boot yes Windows 7 can be installed on secure/legacy boot but only from a thumb drive and on a gpt partition. 

Not too much software will run on Windows 7 and not Windows 10. Perhaps the problem lies in support for the specific software you are trying to run.  

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