I want to downgrade win8 to win 7

I am using a HP H8-1414 desktop as a media server and truly cannot stand Win8. I have tried the 8.1 preview and still think its a huge downgrade in an OS.

My concern is that HP offers no driver for their Win8 machines. I have found that another model uses the same MB and that those drivers should work, but their is no Ethernet driver, just wireless.

Has anyone downgraded a HP desktop to Win and been successful?

I understand that I will need to switch to legacy bios and turn secure boot off. I did this on the Samsung laptop downgrade and all went well. Of course Samsung provides Win7 drivers for their Win8 machines.

1) Downgrade to Windows 7.
Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7
Warning you must have the uEFI/BIOS firmware setting in Step Three set.


2) If Using a USB Pendrive on a PC with a uEFI BIOS.
USB Pendrive need to be formated to FAT32 as in
UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows
Take note of Step 11 for Windows 7.
Also you will need to use a USB 2.0 port, as there are no USB 3.0 drivers in Windows 7.

I understand that I will need to switch to legacy bios and turn secure boot off. I did this on the Samsung laptop downgrade and all went well. Of course Samsung provides Windows 7 drivers for their Win8 machines.

You can install Windows 7 in UEFI mode on a Samsung.

I've not found any driver which cannot be found after a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 even on more modern hardware. Read the Special Note at end for HP's and stick with the steps closely to get and keep a perfect install. You already have the special steps which need to be done to install to UEFI, or you can Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7

If it isn't in the installer it should come in when you (first thing) do all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Update, after enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3).

If not then search google for the Win7 driver for the device make/model. If you need to trace it use Hardware Identification. If these fail post it up here and someone will help you find it.

Also you will need to use a USB 2.0 port, as there are no USB 3.0 drivers in Windows 7.


I disagree, My samsung laptop which came with win8 and now has win7 ult. usb 3 works fine

I think Theog is referring to the lack of USB 3.0 drivers in the Win7 installer until it gets an overdue SP2 to update the Driver Store.

This mainly causes problems during booted install where sometimes a USB 3.0 stick won't boot to install or function because it needs to draw its driver from the installer's huge Driver Store. Changing to a USB 2.0 port can resolve this.

Otherwise it may require waiting for the USB 3.0 driver until you run all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates immediately after install, making sure to enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3). If not then sometimes it needs to be imported from the OEM's Support Downloads webpage.

gotcha

Im going to dump this pc. The fact that HP refuses to support the best OS MS has ever produced is crazy. Win 8 is a failure and hopefully goes the way of Vista/ME.

Since I just use this PC as a media server, Im gonna try a WD media player.