Windows 8.1 from Windows 10

[darly864]

I have the HP Model # 15-bw017cl laptop I bought in January.  I've had to reset it a few times to factory a few times.  When I go to recover it mentions Windows 7, but only have 10 available when it comes to actually recovering the system.  I tried installing Windows 7 professional 64-bit and then found there we zero drivers available to load when I got it installed.  My question is,  I actually prefer Windows 8.1 and would like to load it instead, but don't want to go to the trouble of buying that version and not have it work on this laptop.  I absolutely do not want Windows 10 on it and try finding a new one without it.  My question is... can I install Windows 8.1 and have the drivers available to use on it?  Thanks in advance.

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@darly864

Sorry, but there are no "downgrade rights" to Win8x, and since this PC came with Win10 preinstalled, the HP OEM license that came with it will not work with Win8.x.

You have no choice other than to purchase your own license, and I would advise against doing that, as there do not appear to be HP Win8x drivers for this model PC.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @darly864

There are no W8.1 graphics drivers for the graphics your hardware has.

You might get lucky, and the W7 graphics drivers might work, but unless you are a high roller, I wouldn't chance it.

I think you can run W7 on there, and these would be the drivers you need, if you want to reinstall W7 pro...

Chipset:  Install and restart the PC.  You want the W10/W7 64 bit file (4th one down).

https://www.amd.com/en/support/chipsets/amd-9-series-chipsets/990fx

Graphics:  Select the W7 x64 file.  Install and restart the PC.

https://www.amd.com/en/support/apu/amd-series-processors/amd-a12-series-apu-for-laptops/7th-gen-a12-...

Audio:  Accept the agreement.  Download and install the 64 bit driver, and restart the PC.

https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/pc-audio-codecs-high-definition-audio-codecs-softw...

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

https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/network-interface-controllers-10-100-1000m-gigabit...

SD card reader:  Download, unzip and run the setup application from the 1st file on the webpage...

https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/card-reader-solutions-card-reader-controllers-soft...

Wifi: 

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28277/Intel-PROSet-Wireless-Software-and-Drivers-for-Windo...

Bluetooth:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28268/Intel-Wireless-Bluetooth-for-Windows-7-?product=9485...

Touchpad:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp81501-82000/sp81891.exe

[darly864]

That's what I was afraid of.  Thanks for confirmation though.  

[darly864]

Thank you for the links Paul.  I do have W7 Pro.  Might be worth it to me.

---

@Paul_Tikkanen wrote:

Hi, @darly864

There are no W8.1 graphics drivers for the graphics your hardware has.

You might get lucky, and the W7 graphics drivers might work, but unless you are a high roller, I wouldn't chance it.

I think you can run W7 on there, and these would be the drivers you need, if you want to reinstall W7 pro...

Chipset:  Install and restart the PC.  You want the W10/W7 64 bit file (4th one down).

https://www.amd.com/en/support/chipsets/amd-9-series-chipsets/990fx

Graphics:  Select the W7 x64 file.  Install and restart the PC.

https://www.amd.com/en/support/apu/amd-series-processors/amd-a12-series-apu-for-laptops/7th-gen-a12-...

Audio:  Accept the agreement.  Download and install the 64 bit driver, and restart the PC.

https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/pc-audio-codecs-high-definition-audio-codecs-softw...

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

https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/network-interface-controllers-10-100-1000m-gigabit...

SD card reader:  Download, unzip and run the setup application from the 1st file on the webpage...

https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/card-reader-solutions-card-reader-controllers-soft...

Wifi: 

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28277/Intel-PROSet-Wireless-Software-and-Drivers-for-Windo...

Bluetooth:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28268/Intel-Wireless-Bluetooth-for-Windows-7-?product=9485...

Touchpad:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp81501-82000/sp81891.exe

---

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @darly864

I was thinking...Another thing you can do would be to experiment with W8.1.

Download the ISO file from the link below and make a bootable DVD or USB installer.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO

Use this generic product key to enter...This is for W8.1 Standard.

334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

Or you can use this generic Pro key.

XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

Then you should have 30 days to play with it before windows needs to be activated.

I have zipped up and attached the Microsoft tool below to transfer the ISO file to a usb flash drive or DVD, so that it is bootable.

If you find that W8.1 works on your PC, using the W7 graphics driver, then you can buy a standard or pro key and change the generic product key to the one you purchased in the PC settings menu.

The only different drivers you would need than those I posted above, would be for the wifi and bluetooth.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28278/Intel-PROSet-Wireless-Software-and-Drivers-for-Windo...

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28279/Intel-Wireless-Bluetooth-for-Windows-8-1-?product=94...

And you will also need the wireless button driver for W8.1 if you have an unknown device with a hardware ID of ACPI\HPQ6001.

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp74001-74500/sp74484.exe