Downgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 7 - NEED DRIVERS!

[Sowelu]

Hi, my dad bought the HP 17-ak001cy touch notebook (from QVC) and couldn't handle Windows 10, so I did a clean install of Windows 7 64bit. I found the correct wireless lan driver (Intel), and ran all of the Windows Updates, but there are several drivers missing (various USB and unnamed devices)...

Above all, I need a driver for the screen brightness and audio controls. I searched this model on HP's support site, but only the Windows 10 drivers are listed. Does anyone know if there is a similar model that I can try that will have comatibel Windows 7 drivers to download that will work? I am at a loss. 

If I cannot get drivers for this notebook, we'll have to return it as it is too slow to handle the bloated Windows 10 bundle that came with it, and it's overwhelming for him.

Thanks!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I can't find any info on that model on the support site.

Do you have a product number for it? 

The product number can be found on the same label as the serial number.

If it is an Intel model, you need this USB3 driver for it.  Download, unzip and run the setup application from the link below.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/22824/Intel-USB-3-0-eXtensible-Host-Controller-Driver-for-...

If it has a 7th generation core processor, those models can only run on W10 because Intel didn't develop any graphics drivers, except for W10.

[Sowelu]

Hi, thanks for the reply. Yeah, it seems to be an odd model number... then again, the font on the back on the notebook is so small and light in color, it's hard to make out. A google search gave this link - but the page heading is in a different language:

https://support.hp.com/th-en/document/c05811130

I am at work at the moment, and don't have it in front of me, but I am wondering if the number list there (1KV52UA) is the model numnber?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

Odd that HP put an Intel wifi card in an AMD notebook. 

In any event, I think we can get that model to work on W7.

Forget the Intel USB3 driver I posted.  That is only going to work on Intel platforms.

When you get to work on the PC...

First install the AMD chipset drivers and restart the PC.  You want the 1st file listed on the webpage.

That will install the smbus and USB controllers and many other motherboard drivers too.

http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/chipset?os=Windows%207%20-%2064

Graphics:  Download and install the 1st driver on the list, and restart the PC.

http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/apu?os=Windows%207%20-%2064

Audio:  Accept the agreement.  Download and install the 2nd driver on the list.

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=24&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownT...

Ethernet:  Download, unzip and run the setup application from the W7 driver at the link below.

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=13&PFid=5&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTy...

SD card reader:  Download, unzip and run the setup application from the 1st file listed at the link below.

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

Touchpad:

This package provides the driver that enables the ELAN Touchpad in supported notebook models that are running a supported operating system. The driver enables general touchpad functionality (for example double-tap and scroll) and provides a user interface.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp81001-81500/sp81395.exe

Fn Keys:

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 the supported computer models running a supported operating system.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp79001-79500/sp79450.exe

[Sowelu]

Wow, thank you so much for all the links. I really appreciate it! I will try them all when I get home from work tonight. I really hope they all work! 

[Sowelu]

And I hope that the 'HP System Event Utility' also includes the display brightness controls, because as it is now, there is no way to toggle the brightness of the display and I can't tell if it's midway, or at it's brightest level!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Until the correct graphics driver is installed, the brightness on any notebook is always stuck on maximum, and can't be changed, amongst other issues, such as no sleep function and no graphics acceleration.

[Sowelu]

Hi Paul, thank you so much for your help! 

I installed all the drivers that you listed, and they all worked - all devices are working and nothing is out of sorts in the Device Manager (and the brightness and volume buttons on the keyboard work now as  well).

So after a clean install of Windows 7 (without all of the bloatware), I think this setup can work for my dad. I even downloaded the latest (and last) version of Windows Live Essentials and imported his email over, so all is good.

I also saved an archive of all the drivers and software needed just in case a reload is needed in the future.  

So, thank you again! I really appreciate it! 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance!