Issues with Downgrading the OS from Win 10 to Win 7 on my new HP Envy 17-ae101nl (core i5)

[vbnetdeveloper]

Hi all!

I succesfully removed the old Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and connect a new Solid State Drive (SSD) on my brand new HP Envy 17-ae101nl ( https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-ENVY-17-ae100-Laptop-PC/16851067/model/20062442 ), shipping with Windows 10 preinstalled.

I was able to do a clean install of Windows 7 using drivers from another model ( HP ENVY Notebook - 17t-n100 CTO (ENERGY STAR) ) as suggested in this article: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/Remove-Windows-10-and-Install-W...

However, I encountered the following issues:

> My Notebook Keep Using Standard Graphics Adapter

According to Device Manager, my display adapter is Standard VGA Graphics Adapter.

It appears my computer is using the Standard VGA Graphics Adapter instead of my GeForce MX150.

I believe the cause of this to be Windows not recognizing the GPU ( as in Device Manager, it calls it Standard VGA Graphics Adapter and the monitor is simply: Generic PnP Display ).

I ran the NVIDIA software to detect which graphics driver I need to install and have downloaded it (filename is: 391.01-notebook-win8-win7-64bit-international-whql.exe).

When I try to install it, I receive a message  which says I need to install an Intel driver first, but I have already installed Intel driver from here: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/swdetails/hp-envy-17-n100-notebook-pc/8499288/model...

I have also installed NVIDIA High-Definition (HD) Graphics Driver from this link: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/swdetails/hp-envy-17-n100-notebook-pc/8499288/model...

I have already tried to use Windows Update and HP Support Assistant 8 to solve the issue to no avail. Both say there are no Intel/NVIDIA update available.

This problem, lead to another problem:

> Sleep Option Greyed Out

The sleep mode button isn't even highlighted, can't click it at all, it's only grey. So I can't let my computer sleep.

I have all the power down options available except Sleep.

Additionally, if I type powercfg -a in an elevated CMD window , the command prompt brings up this message ( repeated three times 😞

The VGAPNP.SYS display driver does not support standby. Please consult your hardware vendor for an updated display driver

On to the next issue:
 

> Can't Adjust Brightness

When I punch either my F2 or F3 buttons, nothing happens! The sun symbol doesn't pop up and the brightness doesn't adjust in either direction.

I also read that one solution was to go into your Control Panel > Power Options > Change Plan Settings, but for some reason I don't have a Brightness Adjustment slider there.

> Volume Symbol Issue

I can Increase/decrease the volume of speakers using F2 and F3, however no volume symbol pops up on the screen.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You can't run W7 on that platform.  W10 only.  The last platform you could run W7 on was those with the Intel skylake chipsets.

The reason you can't is because Intel only developed W10 graphics drivers, and you need both the Intel and Nvidia graphics drivers installed in order for the graphics to work properly.

Without both graphics drivers installed you will not:

Have graphics acceleration

Be able to put the PC in sleep mode

Be able to adjust the screen brightness

Be able to adjust the screen resolution

[vbnetdeveloper]

Hi, Paul!

Thank you for the quick reply and clear explanation.

I am disappointed, though; I believed only i7s were affected.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Unfortunately, It is like that for all Intel 7th generation & newer core processors and the Kaby lake and newer chipsets.