Reformatting a Laptop With Win10

[Richardc267]

Hey all. I've got this laptop that has Windows 10 on it, and I want to format it to put Windows 7 64bit OS on it. The laptop's model is an HP 17-g121WM. However, since it does not tell me when or what buttons to press to get into the BIOS, I'm not sure how I can do this. When the laptop starts booting up, it doesn't do the regular boot sequence a normal desktop PC does that shows what it's doing. Instead, it shows an HP screen with an icon under it in the form of a few dots circuling each other, then it starts up the Win10 loading screen before it comes to the login screen.

I'm not entirely sure what the system specs are. The only thing I'm unsure about is what GHz the CPU is other than it's a Quad Core ranging from 1.8GHz to 3.2GHz (according to website sources).

It has an AMD Radeon R6 Graphics with up to 4352 RAM on the GPU.
It also has 8 gigs of RAM.

I have a Windows 7 Home Premium DVD that I can install on this laptop. If there's no way I can put 7 on it...then I probably won't keep it, because I can't stand Windows 10 and I already hate this OS. It's basically just another Windows 8 to me. Any help is great. Thanks.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You don't have to format anything.

You need to boot from your installation DVD and follow the prompts. Formatting will be done automatically as needed by the Windows 7 installation process.

Some HP machines use F9 to enter the boot menu. Not sure about your particular machine. Choose your DVD drive from that menu.

You shouldn't have to enter the BIOS at all.

 

[Richardc267]

You don't have to format anything.

You need to boot from your installation DVD and follow the prompts. Formatting will be done automatically as needed by the Windows 7 installation process.

Some HP machines use F9 to enter the boot menu. Not sure about your particular machine. Choose your DVD drive from that menu.

You shouldn't have to enter the BIOS at all.

Problem is...it doesnt tell me what buttons to push to get into the boot menu. I've tried putting my Windows 7 disk into the drive, but it just ignores it and continues loading into Windows 10. I'm quite ignorant when it comes to Laptops. I'm a desktop user.

Edit: Okay, I tried what you said. It worked. I'm now in the BIOS. I'll come back to let you know what happens.

 

[Richardc267]

Okay, I did it. Windows 7 has now been installed on this machine. Now I need to download drivers for it from my desktop.

Edit: Search results don't come up with much. Anyone know of any good links for drivers for the HP 17-g121WM for Win 7 64bit? Obviously HP doesn't have them for Windows 7 on their website.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Okay, I did it. Windows 7 has now been installed on this machine. Now I need to download drivers for it from my desktop.

Edit: Search results don't come up with much. Anyone know of any good links for drivers for the HP 17-g121WM for Win 7 64bit? Obviously HP doesn't have them for Windows 7 on their website.

Why do you need more drivers? The Windows 7 installation disc installed a bunch of them.

What hardware does not work as expected?

Do you have any bangs in Device Manager?

You need to deal with Windows Update--which will likely offer you a bunch of stuff, including drivers. It's up to you to decide whether or not to accept them.

My general rule is don't update drivers as a routine matter. Update only if you are having issues of some type.

 

[Richardc267]

Okay, I did it. Windows 7 has now been installed on this machine. Now I need to download drivers for it from my desktop.

Edit: Search results don't come up with much. Anyone know of any good links for drivers for the HP 17-g121WM for Win 7 64bit? Obviously HP doesn't have them for Windows 7 on their website.

Why do you need more drivers? The Windows 7 installation disc installed a bunch of them.

What hardware does not work as expected?

Do you have any bangs in Device Manager?

You need to deal with Windows Update--which will likely offer you a bunch of stuff, including drivers. It's up to you to decide whether or not to accept them.

My general rule is don't update drivers as a routine matter. Update only if you are having issues of some type.

This HP laptop came with Windows 10, so the Windows 7 disk don't have the drivers, that's why. And HP Support page doesn't have the drivers available in Windows 7. Only 10.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You have a Windows 7 installation disk that has no drivers?

I've never heard of that.

What bangs do you have in Device Manager? What doesn't work?

 

[Richardc267]

You have a Windows 7 installation disk that has no drivers?

I've never heard of that.

What bangs do you have in Device Manager? What doesn't work?

Why would Windows 7 disks have drivers for a laptop that was made for Widows 10?

I need drivers for:
Ethernet Controller
Network Controller
PCI Device
PCI Device
PCI Encryption/Decryption Controller
SM Bus Controller
USB Controller
Unknown Device
Unknown Device
Unknown Device

As I said...HP Support (seeing as this is a HP laptop) has no drivers for it's hardware in Windows 7. I can ONLY select Windows 10 for this model of Laptop on their website, hence why I am looking for Windows 7 drivers.

 

[AddRAM]

Okay, I did it. Windows 7 has now been installed on this machine. Now I need to download drivers for it from my desktop.

Edit: Search results don't come up with much. Anyone know of any good links for drivers for the HP 17-g121WM for Win 7 64bit? Obviously HP doesn't have them for Windows 7 on their website.

Why do you need more drivers? The Windows 7 installation disc installed a bunch of them.

What hardware does not work as expected?

Do you have any bangs in Device Manager?

You need to deal with Windows Update--which will likely offer you a bunch of stuff, including drivers. It's up to you to decide whether or not to accept them.

My general rule is don't update drivers as a routine matter. Update only if you are having issues of some type.

This HP laptop came with Windows 10, so the Windows 7 disk don't have the drivers, that's why. And HP Support page doesn't have the drivers available in Windows 7. Only 10.

So you could be screwed. Why did you buy a Windows 10 PC only to install Windows 7 ?

HP sells plenty of Laptops with 7 downgrade rights, so they must have drivers, why don`t you call them, they would know and help you.

http://store.hp.com/us/en/ContentVi...inder&storeId=10151&langId=-1&catalogId=10051

There`s nothing wrong with Windows 10 after you get use to it, it`s just an operating system. Albeit not Windows 7

 

[Richardc267]

Why do you need more drivers? The Windows 7 installation disc installed a bunch of them.

What hardware does not work as expected?

Do you have any bangs in Device Manager?

You need to deal with Windows Update--which will likely offer you a bunch of stuff, including drivers. It's up to you to decide whether or not to accept them.

My general rule is don't update drivers as a routine matter. Update only if you are having issues of some type.

This HP laptop came with Windows 10, so the Windows 7 disk don't have the drivers, that's why. And HP Support page doesn't have the drivers available in Windows 7. Only 10.

So you could be screwed. Why did you buy a Windows 10 PC only to install Windows 7 ?

There`s nothing wrong with Windows 10 after you get use to it, it`s just an operating system.

Didn't buy it. Found it in the trash.

As for Windows 10...feels too much like Windows 8. Want nothing to do with it.

 

[derekimo]

You have a Windows 7 installation disk that has no drivers?

I've never heard of that.

What bangs do you have in Device Manager? What doesn't work?

Why would Windows 7 disks have drivers for a laptop that was made for Widows 10?

I need drivers for:
Ethernet Controller
Network Controller
PCI Device
PCI Device
PCI Encryption/Decryption Controller
SM Bus Controller
USB Controller
Unknown Device
Unknown Device
Unknown Device

As I said...HP Support (seeing as this is a HP laptop) has no drivers for it's hardware in Windows 7. I can ONLY select Windows 10 for this model of Laptop on their website, hence why I am looking for Windows 7 drivers.

We might be able to find something using the hardware ID's, can you run this on that laptop and transfer the file to a working computer to upload here,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/374583-system-information-file-create-windows.html#Part1

 

[AddRAM]

The ethernet port is either an Intel or Realtek one, so download one from realtek for windows 7 and one from intel for windows 7, if that works you can start to run windows update, but it might be an uphill battle.

As I mentioned contact HP as it may have had windows 7 downgrade rights, but they may not help you at all because you did not buy it, but who knows

 

[derekimo]

Just unpacking this graphics driver,



HP Software and Driver Downloads for HP Printers, Laptops, Desktops and More | HP® Customer Support

I see a few W764 folders in the drivers folder, you need to get the chipset going then the network.

Unpack that driver with 7-zip and point these two,

SM Bus Controller
USB Controller

(You can try the two PCI devices too just to see if it finds something.)

To the unpacked Drivers folder inside the packages folder,



Using this method,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/97061-driver-install-device-manager.html

 

[Richardc267]

sorry it took so long to respond. I've managed to have a little bit of success. Video drivers & sound card are installed. But a few just didn't want to install. I was at a local area yesterday (not at my house) and I was trying to run WU and it just sat there searching for 2 hours. Might be because I haven't registered the key yet, no idea. But I'm at home now and maybe this time I won't be waiting so long.

Here's the list of stuff that still doesn't have drivers yet:

Ethernet Controller
PCI Device
PCI Encryptiom
Unknown Device
Unknown Device
Unknown Device

Edit: Almost forgot that file.

 

[derekimo]

OK, the ethernet is Reatek, you can try this,

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads...d=5&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

This is the card reader,

PCI Device	PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5229&SUBSYS_80B0103C&REV_01\4&16246919&0&0012	The drivers for this device are not installed.

Which should be covered in this driver,

Drivers & Software - HP Support Center.

This is the Drive Guard,

Not Available	ACPI\HPQ6007\3&11583659&0	The drivers for this device are not installed.

Which you can get under software solutions here,

HP Software and Driver Downloads for HP Printers, Laptops, Desktops and More | HP® Customer Support

I checked it and there is a W7 folder in it.

This is the TPM,

Not Available	ACPI\MSFT0101\1	The drivers for this device are not installed.

This should fix that,

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2920188

For this one can you try the method I posted above about pointing to the drivers folder of the unpacked graphics driver, it should be in the AMDPSP folder, there are W7 drivers in there,

PCI Encryption/Decryption Controller	PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1578&SUBSYS_80B0103C&REV_00\3&11583659&0&40	The drivers for this device are not installed.

This one I'm getting mixed results as either Synaptics touchpad or wireless button so lets leave that for a minute,

Not Available	ACPI\SMB0001\3&11583659&0	The drivers for this device are not installed.

 

[AddRAM]

sorry it took so long to respond. I've managed to have a little bit of success. Video drivers & sound card are installed. But a few just didn't want to install. I was at a local area yesterday (not at my house) and I was trying to run WU and it just sat there searching for 2 hours. Might be because I haven't registered the key yet, no idea. But I'm at home now and maybe this time I won't be waiting so long.

Here's the list of stuff that still doesn't have drivers yet:

Ethernet Controller
PCI Device
PCI Encryptiom
Unknown Device
Unknown Device
Unknown Device

Edit: Almost forgot that file.

Windows 7 could take a day to search for updates and download them, it`s an issue that`s been going on for months, just let it run overnight and all will be well in the morning, do not let the PC go to sleep of course.

 

[Richardc267]

sorry it took so long to respond. I've managed to have a little bit of success. Video drivers & sound card are installed. But a few just didn't want to install. I was at a local area yesterday (not at my house) and I was trying to run WU and it just sat there searching for 2 hours. Might be because I haven't registered the key yet, no idea. But I'm at home now and maybe this time I won't be waiting so long.

Here's the list of stuff that still doesn't have drivers yet:

Ethernet Controller
PCI Device
PCI Encryptiom
Unknown Device
Unknown Device
Unknown Device

Edit: Almost forgot that file.

Windows 7 could take a day to search for updates and download them, it`s an issue that`s been going on for months, just let it run overnight and all will be well in the morning, do not let the PC go to sleep of course.

Well, today I turned off sleep mode & i am going to let WU go the whole day and see how it goes. Sorry for the slow responses. I managed to install the LAN card drivers, but no wireless drivers yet. I am stuck using wireless (dont really have access to hard wiring it) for now. I will tell you in a few hours how it goes (and I promise I will give everyone rep for whoever helped me when I am done)

 

[Richardc267]

sorry it took so long to respond. I've managed to have a little bit of success. Video drivers & sound card are installed. But a few just didn't want to install. I was at a local area yesterday (not at my house) and I was trying to run WU and it just sat there searching for 2 hours. Might be because I haven't registered the key yet, no idea. But I'm at home now and maybe this time I won't be waiting so long.

Here's the list of stuff that still doesn't have drivers yet:

Ethernet Controller
PCI Device
PCI Encryptiom
Unknown Device
Unknown Device
Unknown Device

Edit: Almost forgot that file.

Windows 7 could take a day to search for updates and download them, it`s an issue that`s been going on for months, just let it run overnight and all will be well in the morning, do not let the PC go to sleep of course.

Well, today I turned off sleep mode & i am going to let WU go the whole day and see how it goes. Sorry for the slow responses. I managed to install the LAN card drivers, but no wireless drivers yet. I am stuck using wireless (dont really have access to hard wiring it) for now. I will tell you in a few hours how it goes (and I promise I will give everyone rep for whoever helped me when I am done)

Well its been 6 fookin' hours and it's STILL searching! >_> FFS.

 

[AddRAM]

well, you are using wireless

 

[Megahertz07]

Normally when I want to upgrade a laptop (that has special hardware) I copy Windows folder to a USB drive and, after installing the OS, with device manager I search for the drive on it. Now it's too late for this solution.
Don't give up!!!
You fist have to have your LAN (or wireless) working.
My suggestion is to open Device Manager and find your cable LAN network adapter. If it's not working, go to Properties and on Details tab look for Manufacture and Hardware ID. On Hardware ID, copy (on paper or to a USB flash drive) the longest string and on another computer Google it. Find the appropriate drive, download it to a USB flash drive and try to install it on your laptop. Once you have access to the internet try to find the remaining drives by right click on the faulty ones and do a Update Driver Software.
Some of them you will have to go to Properties and on Details tab look for Manufacture and Hardware ID. On Hardware ID, copy the longest string and Google it. Find the appropriate drive, download to it and try to install it.
You can also try Windows Update to see if it finds the right drive, but normally it doesn't.