Downgrade a new HP laptop from windows 10 to Windows 8 - Possible?

What's going to matter most is if there are drivers available for Windows 8x that are suited to your notebook PC. What model is your HP notebook?

I admit I'm also one of those who would prefer enduring stomach flu over coming within ten feet of Windows 10. HOWEVER, it's only from a features and cosmetics perspective that I dislike the OS. Truth is, Windows 10 is exceedingly stable. So I'm surprised that you had as much issues with it as you did; especially given that Windows 10 was preloaded.

Remember you will need to purchase an 8 or 8.1 license before installing the media, because you need to enter a key and you must activate Windows.

BuffyKItty said:

Good morning,
I was not sure where to post this thread, so if I've broken any rules, please forgive.
We purchased an HP laptop about a month ago and it came preinstalled with Windows 10 - not the Pro version, I guess it is Home version.
We HATE Windows 10!
We tried but between hubby and I, we have a list of things that either don't like or don't work on new laptop.
Is it possible to downgrade to Windows 8?
I do have Windows 8.1 or 8 OS and key that has never been installed on a computer to use.
Heck, I even have a Vista ultimate and key that I would rather use over Windows 10.
Anyhow, yesterday I did a factory reinstall on the new laptop to set it back to factory settings. Have done nothing else to it this time around, no internet connections, updates, nothing.
I did put the Windows 8 install in and it brings me to a screen where you have 2 options, regular and then the advanced.
I was told that you had to use advanced install method but the screen wants to know where to install Windows and I think there were 4 different partitions.. 2 of them being reserved by either Windows or OEM, so I am pretty sure that I understand them to be the recovery partitions?
Before I reset it, I ran the Belarc report and believe that does included product keys for windows and what type of hardware is on the laptop and have also created the recovery discs for Windows 10.
Now comes the part where this amateur becomes afraid.
I know I need to research drivers.
I know the new install won't have a lot of the HP preloaded stuff BUT that is good, right? Less bloatware, I believe it is called.
IF it works the laptop will only have the software and stuff that we want.
Can anyone tell me in really simple terms what my next steps should be and how to proceed.
If it doesn't work, I will be able to go back to Windows 10 with the recovery discs that I made, correct?
Kind of afraid to do this but at this point it is really sad to think that a new laptop is setting there on the coffee table and neither one of us wants to use it. I gave up trying to install software that we did want on it, both of us hated Edge and discovered that we couldn't even sign in to our bank account with it and so on.
I've never met an operating system that I disliked this much and have been using computers for work and home since 1986.
Please help, if someone can? It would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks in advance!!

First - I would try and just clean install windows 10 - all the bloat will be gone and it will work fine.

Edge is irrelevant - you do not have to use it.

If you have to go back to 8.1, it will work fine - it's driver support is far better than windows 7 - I doubt you would have any issues.

What I would do is this.

a) make system image backup of current pc.

b) clean install windows 10 by creating a usb installation stick, booting from it, selecting custom install, deleting all partitions.

Windows 10


c) then if unhappy, either install 8.1 in same way, or install as a dual boot option to test it works ok.

BuffyKItty said:

Wow!
I didn't think I'd get replies back so soon! Awesome!
So, after reading replies, I have a question.
Since we just did a factory reset on the new laptop and have done nothing to it, would I need to make a system image?
Everything we do computer-wise has originally been done on our other HP envy and all files are backed up on several different external drives.
I had not gone through the process of setting up the files on new laptop.

Additionally:

I can get the model number of the laptop and post in a bit.

I do have Windows 8 and product key to install. Had purchased not all that long ago so it is a legitimate product.
I also have a Vista premium and key too, not that I was thinking of going back that far as an OS, at least not on the new laptop but hey, I guess this girl is ready for almost anything? :)

I am not even sure how to do a clean install of Windows 10 on the new laptop. It came preloaded with it.

Now, given, there a few things that came preloaded that I would keep.

McAfee and all of the Microsoft Office 2016 stuff could be tossed out the window for all I care. I do have virus and office software of my own.

I think it also came with Avast preloaded. have actually never used it, have heard of it. not sure if I spelled it right :) I think it is a trial version? Since I did not open it or start to use it, not sure.

There are also others that we didn't even explore because we just got too fed up with the thing.

Any other system information that anyone would need to answer/assist, please let me know and I will get it posted. Thanks again!!!

An image backup is not essential as you have recovery drives and your data is backed up.

Do not go back to vista - you will get driver issues.

I gave you the link to do a clean install of windows 10. I would persevere before giving up - it really is easier to use than windows 8.

By definition, you cannot keep software and do clean install. You would have to buy expensive tools to do this. YOu would have to download and reinstall as appropriate,

Forget avast - defender is fine these days. I would install malwarebytes free as a backup tool.

BuffyKItty said:

Driver research - I have found win 8.1 64 bit for the intel Pentium.
That's good news!

Do I have to find driver for the hard drive?

I know, my questions may sound stupid to those of you who are so much more intelligent in this than I am.

If so, how do I find out exactly what I need to search for?

If you want to install windows 8 - just create a usb installation stick using this official ms link.

Windows 8

You will not need to worry about drivers unless really unlucky,

I'm curious to know your list that you don't like or doesn't work on 10 . You really haven't said what your problems are with 10 except not being able to log into your bank accounts with Edge which has nothing to do with the operating system, use a different browsers like Firefox, Chrome or even IE 11 which is also installed on Windows 10 . I could be wrong but I believe your problem with 10 is all the software HP loads on your system and I believe your processor is 1.6 GHz which probably can't handle to many open programs running . If this is the case I would do a factory reset and afterwards make a total back up image of your system. Once that is done I would uninstall lots of the HP crap software, ones that you will never use .