would like to install win7 on my HP laptop preinstalled with win8

[grady]

I don't care for win8 that came with my HP  laptop and I have a win7 install cd and product key.
but I am unsure what drivers will need for my laptop. it's a relatively new HP Pavilion 15-e028us.
I successfully installed win7 last night but couldn't get an internet connection even with an Ethernet cable.

Thanks for any help

[patio]

I would visit the HP site...you basically need all the Win7 drivers that will be listed.

[grady]

I visited HP, they  ask for the computer model # and mine only offers win8. all the drivers they list are for win8. I tried installing some of the drivers but got the failure red X.

[Geek-9pm]

The OP may do better to just bit the bullet and go with Window2s 8 and learn to love it. But if he really has to hate it...

How to Make Windows 8 or 8.1 Look and Feel Like Windows 7

...you have a PC with Windows 8 or 8.1 but miss Windows 7, there’s no need to downgrade. Following a few simple steps, you can make Microsoft’s current operating system look and feel almost identical to its predecessor. Here’s how to bring back the Start menu and the attractive aero glass theme how to hide other Windows 8 elements like the Charms menu...

Didn't we go through this sort of thing ..
  - with Windows XP ? 

[grady]

thanks

[Geek-9pm]

... If  I ask HP they wont help and possibly void my remaining warranty

That is a valid point!
IMHO you will spend several days looking for a set-of drivers.
First thing is you search for "Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7" and see what you r find.
Second, thing is to get another Hard Drive. Do not wipe the drive in the  HP laptop. It may be that you  will have to sell the laptop.
And if you want more help from the experts , you must provide the model number of ate HP laptop. That  info sleds to the chip set. Then you have to find chip set drives  from any earlier  laptops made by HP that used  same  chip set.
Reference:
http://www.abc15.com/news/data-doctor/hate-windows-8-3-ways-to-downgrade-to-windows-7
Best I can do for you. 

[camerongray]

Your best bet really is just to get used to 8 - It's fine once you get your head around it.

As your laptop came with Windows 8 (Not Windows 8 Pro), you do not get the automatic downgrade rights to Windows 7, therefore you would need to purchase a full, retail copy (Not an OEM one) of Windows 7 which is both very expensive (Around $200) and very difficult to still find on sale now that Windows 8 is out.

[soybean]

Your best bet really is just to get used to 8 - It's fine once you get your head around it.

As your laptop came with Windows 8 (Not Windows 8 Pro), you do not get the automatic downgrade rights to Windows 7, therefore you would need to purchase a full, retail copy (Not an OEM one) of Windows 7 which is both very expensive (Around $200) and very difficult to still find on sale now that Windows 8 is out.

I couldn't agree more.

I'll bet your HP came with the same Setup Instructions and a small brochure on Windows 8.1 Basics that came with my HP laptop (Windows that I bought about a year ago.  Have you looked at that documentation?  And, many helpful videos on using Windows 8/8.1 can easily be found on youtube.com; one of them is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVEvbKg6JNI

[patio]

You missed the whole point here...the Manuf. DIDN'T write Win7 drivers for that PC...so no go.

BTW i removed the affiliate Spam link in your sig.

[strollin]

One possible solution is to use a USB dongle with your laptop to get back on-line.  You can get either a wired USB dongle (ethernet) or a wireless dongle.  Not the most elegant solution but it will get you back on-line.  If you know the chipset info of your laptop's built-in wireless or NIC then you could visit the mfr's website to see if they have Win 7 compatible drivers available.

Personally, I would stick with Win 8 because it really isn't that much different from Win 7.  If you put the same amount of time into learning to use Win 8 that you are spending trying to go back to Win 7 you would be much further ahead.

[patio]

If you know the chipset info of your laptop's built-in wireless or NIC then you could visit the mfr's website to see if they have Win 7 compatible drivers available.

One more time...the laptop has no Win7 drivers available.

[strollin]

One more time...the laptop has no Win7 drivers available.

One more time... visit the chipset mfr website to check for drivers, not the laptop mfr website.

For instance, if the laptop uses an Atheros chipset for wifi, go to the Atheros website to check for Win 7 drivers.

You can also search for drivers using the Vendor and Device id: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-find-unknown-device-drivers-by-their-vendor-device-id/

[patio]

In the case of a desktop i would say go for it...
But with Laptops the drivers are specific to that PC...not generic...
It's doing a dis-service to have him hunt and peck for drivers that may or may not work on his laptop.

[strollin]

I say let the OP decide how much effort to expend.  I already stated that I felt his time would be better spent learning the minor differences between Win 7 and Win 8.

[Geek-9pm]

This is getting old. There are no Windows 7 drivers for it.
So he have one of the following:
- Sell the laptop. (Or dispose of it.)
- Learn to love Windows 8.
- Pay somebody to build a shell around Windows 8 to make it look like  7. **
- Spend this year asking the same questions and getting the same answers.


EDIT. Yeah. There is a thing called classic shell. But it is a third-party thing and use it at your own risk. It is now on CNET mad  I refuse to give the link here.

[strollin]

From the HP forums: HOW-to-get-Windows-7-installed-on-HP-Pavilion 15-E028US

[Geek-9pm]

strollin,
Thanks for sharing that.
Very interesting reading.

[SuperDave]

I use Classic Shell on my Windows 8 and it works well.

[Geek-9pm]

Here is Classic Shell at work.


Looks like XP.

[soybean]

I think this is worth repeating:

Your best bet really is just to get used to 8 - It's fine once you get your head around it.

After you start a Windows 8/8.1 computer, getting to the Desktop, which is just like the Win 7 desktop, is just one click away from the Win 8 Start screen.