Installed Win7 over Win10, No HP Drivers = Unable to turn on network card

[definitelynotyo]

So for obvious reasons I elecected to install Windows 7 (The laptop came from factory with Windows 10), meaning that, as expected, I had no HP drivers. The problem with this is that it accentuates the critical design flaw that HP laptops seem to need a driver in order to be able to press the key combination required to turn off and on the network card. Now, the trouble is that because I don't have any drivers, I'm unable to connect to the internet wirelessly or via ethernet connection, and my USB ports seem to be defunct, so I have no way to install any of the drivers (found at https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-15-f200-notebook-pc-touch/7630399/model/12681364...) necessary to operate the hardware elements of the laptop. 

My primary question is, is there any workaround to enable network functionality considering that I cannot use the network card toggle without drivers?

Not interested in factory resetting to Windows 10. I don't really want to suffer as result of trade agreements between HP and Microsoft to push the OS onto customers. 

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Here are the wireless, usb and ethernet drivers you need...

This package contains the driver installation package for the Realtek RTL8723BE/RTL8188EE wireless LAN Controller in the supported notebook models running a supported operating system.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp79501-80000/sp79676.exe

This package provides the driver for the Realtek Ethernet Controller in the supported notebook/laptop models and operating systems.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp78001-78500/sp78407.exe

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

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp74501-75000/sp74851.exe

[definitelynotyo]

I had success with the wireless drivers that you listed by loading them onto a DVD and installing from there, now the problem I am encoutnering is that my keyboard and touchpad no longer function within Windows (BIOS and UEFI System and Component Testing menus work fine), I've attempted to uninstall the keyboard drivers as well to see if restarting would rectify the issue but I'm not having any luck, and there are no keyboard drivers listed in the driver list for this particular laptop. Am I missing something?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

There aren't any separate keyboard drivers for any HP notebook ever made.

The KB drivers are generic windows drivers installed by Windows.

The W10 touchpad driver from the PC's support page should work, as it also contains the W7 driver files as well.

The only suggestion I can offer would be to install the Intel chipset drivers and restart the PC.

You want the 2nd file down on the left side of the page (auto install file).

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/20775/Intel-Chipset-Device-Software-INF-Update-Utility-?pr...

[definitelynotyo]

No success. I'm going to try reinstalling windows -- the keyboard/touchpad worked prior to installing the three drivers listed so we'll see what happens

[definitelynotyo]

The problem of my keyboard and touchpad becoming defunct seems to be arising when I update windows.

EDIT: I've identified the problem update as the Synaptics Mouse update via Windows Update. Simply uninstalling it seems to fix the issue.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Glad you got it to work.

If there are any other drivers you need, just let me know, and I'll see what I can do to assist.

Finding the right W7 32 bit graphics driver for that platform is difficult if not impossible, to say the least.