Windows 10 clean install without losing HP recovery software

[varn1x]

My computer came originally with Windows 7. I did the free upgrade to Windows 10. Then I downgraded back to Windows 7.

Is there a way to do a Windows 10 clean install without losing the recovery partition and HP recovery software?
I really don't want to go through all this driver installation stuff every time I want to reinstall Windows.

Thank you!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

There isn't any way I know of, but you can upgrade back to W10 via W7 by clicking on the Update Now button at the link below.

Clean installing W10 will wipe out the recovery manager software.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

If you are asked to enter a product key during the W10 installation process, check the 'Skip' box and W10 will install and automatically activate once you are connected to the internet.

[varn1x]

Thanks a lot for your informative answer.

Will a clean install of Windows 10 come with the drivers or I will have to install them manually?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

You would have to install them manually, and as you know your notebook's model series is not supported by HP for W10, so there are no W10 drivers to use.

You would have to try the W8 drivers from your notebook's support page and hope they work for any device that needs a driver after W10 installs.

[varn1x]

Oh I see. But when I upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 through the upgrade button (not Windows 10 clean install), I had my drivers working. What could that be?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

That is because W10 uses most of the W7 drivers or automatically installs its own.

The only reason you would not want to clean install W10 would be if you want to go back to W7.

Otherwise if you clean install W10, most of the drivers will get installed.

You may have a couple you need to find, and if you decide to clean install W10 and need a couple of drivers, lete me know and I will be happy to try and help you out.

[varn1x]

Thanks a lot again!

The only thing that would make me want to go back to Windows 7 is performance issues.

When I upgraded to Windows 10 last time, it was super laggy and buggy. That's why I went back to Windows 7. I assumed it was laggy because it was installed over Windows 7.
I'm hoping that a clean install will be smooth on this machine.

Do you think it will be smooth, or it's too old to run Windows 10 smoothly?
It has Intel Core i7 2670QM @2.2 GHz and 6gb of ram.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

OK, I see a major issue as to why W10 doesn't work right on your model, for which there is no solution.

The problem is your notebook has the Intel/AMD switchable graphics adapters and there are no W10 drivers that support that setup.

http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=dv6-6b86ex+specs&d=4976107856856570&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=hh-54...

That is why the notebook doesn't work right.

I would leave it on W7 and get a new PC once W7 is no longer supported by Microsoft in a couple of years.

The switchable graphics driver is a custom driver that cannot be updated. 

In other words, you can't use the latest driver from Intel, and the latest driver from AMD and expect the graphics to work.

[varn1x]

I see. I will definitely keep it on Windows 7 then.

You've been a great help to me. Thank you so much! I hope you have a great day! 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

You have a great day too!