will a windows 8 laptop run on windows 7

Pumbaa

New Member
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2
Hi all ,
i have had my new laptop since christmas and windows 8 has already got me to the point where i am fantasising about smashing it up and stabbing the entire windows 8 development team with the bits !!!!!
So a tad fraustrated lol . Its a HP pavilion g6 2244sa . if i uninstal windows 8 and instal windows 7 will it work properly and will i be able to get all the drivers and updates etc .
Cheers
Pumbaa
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    the new rubbish
Yes, it will.

But it be a little less destructive to ask what things can be done to improve usability. Such as, pinning the Documents library to the Start Screen, or grouping, or asking questions. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Thanks for the replys .
I am using classic shell , which has made windows 8 at least slightly bearable . To make it acceptable i would need to
get rid of the silly left hand pop up menu
stop the need to associate with my hotmail account as i only use that on my xbox (am a gmail fan).
get rid of the silly app screen (apps are just more gimicky rubbish for phones)
despite having 8mb of memory windows freezes and locks up way too much
task manager doesnt shut things down for more than 5 seconds before they boot up again
stop the built in apps from taking priority over the programs i choose like vlc and gmail notifier
and basicly strip out all the unnessecary bits to run a "normal" windows system not a gimicky app machine (i have an ipad for that , which is more stable and runs faster)
So what are the chances of doing all this and is it worth keeping or going to windows 7 pros and cons
cheers
Pumbaa
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    the new rubbish
Thanks for the replys .
I am using classic shell , which has made windows 8 at least slightly bearable . To make it acceptable i would need to
get rid of the silly left hand pop up menu
stop the need to associate with my hotmail account as i only use that on my xbox (am a gmail fan).
get rid of the silly app screen (apps are just more gimicky rubbish for phones)
despite having 8mb of memory windows freezes and locks up way too much
task manager doesnt shut things down for more than 5 seconds before they boot up again
stop the built in apps from taking priority over the programs i choose like vlc and gmail notifier
and basicly strip out all the unnessecary bits to run a "normal" windows system not a gimicky app machine (i have an ipad for that , which is more stable and runs faster)
So what are the chances of doing all this and is it worth keeping or going to windows 7 pros and cons
cheers
Pumbaa

OK! :D

By the left hand fly out, you mean the app switch bar or the right hand Charms bar? The Charms bar is something you will kind of need to use, but you can disable it through a third party app, and use power option tiles for shut down and such on the Start Screen.

You can use a local account versus a Microsoft account, you'll need to change that in PC Settings. Open the Charms bar, hit Settings, then hit Change PC Settings. Click on Users, then you'll see Switch to a local account.

The Start Screen, when used effectively, is MUCH better than the start menu.
Screenshot (33).png Screenshot (34).png
It doesn't by default, have the needed Desktop links that are needed. To put them there, open File Explorer, then right click on a folder, library, hard drive, program, or even Control Panel subsections and hit Pin to Start. It'll make new tile shortcuts, of which you can click and drag around to where you like. I prefer to have my Libraries on the left hand side as I have a tendency to click on the lower left corner to access a Library or Computer, so it's like how it was with the start menu except I have more of my Libraries and more Explorer locations accessible.

If you don't want the apps, right click on them from the Start Screen, then on the bottom hit Uninstall. Hit Uninstall in the popup box, that's it.

To change program defaults for Desktop software (I know, this is kind of annoying when you first use Windows 8), go to Start, and just type in default programs. Hit enter or click on the link, then you can change program defaults from the Control Panel section from Set your default programs. Then you can set VLC player as your default music and video player.

Overall, it takes about probably five minutes to pin Desktop items, uninstall the unneeded apps, and change defaults for programs. It'll take probably another five to organize your Start Screen. Check out this thread...
http://www.eightforums.com/customization/6732-post-your-start-screen-9.html#post171817
to see how people are using their Start Screens, and how to customize them. A real nice app to use to get your Start Screen like mine or whatever is Decor8. It has a 30 day trial and then it's needs spare change to keep it going. :)
Windows 8 is better than 7, as there are numerous under the hood changes that makes it even more slick. There are several things you can customize over 7, a plethora if you use Decor8. Security is better than 7 out of box. It's overall more efficient and more flexible as a UI and OS. There will be an update later this year that will probably make better use of the new metro styled apps. Speaking of such, one of which is VLC player that will be debuting in the Windows 8 form within a few months. It'll have the full Desktop feature set into a metro app form.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
I use StartIsBack as it allows the customisation I want to transform Widows 8 to a proper desktop OS.

It can disable Windows 8 edge menu effects and have a normal usable start menu. It can hide your real program's on the start screen so it only shows Modern Apps and it renames it from Start to Apps. You can then go ahead and uninstall all of those useless apps so it has next to nothing in there. You will boot straight to the desktop and almost never encounter the mobile phone interface. It then becomes a very good OS, stable and quick.

I certainly have not encountered lock ups.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8
Or, you can just go with your first instinct and put 7 back on the system. It will run 7 just fine, you of course will need a 7 key.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W7
I agree with the suggestion to try Start8 or "Classic Shell" or something like that before throwing in the towel.

But if you want to check compatibility with Windows 7, go to HP's site and look under the available drivers section. If it provides Windows 7 drivers and support for your hardware, then you should be good. If it's Widows 8 Pro, you should be entitled to a free "downgrade" to Widows 7 Pro.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 / Win 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo T510 / HP ProBook 4540S
    CPU
    Intel i5-510m / Intel i3-3110m
    Memory
    4GB / 8GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
get rid of the silly left hand pop up menu
Classic shell can disable those, left and right.

stop the need to associate with my hotmail account
use a local account

get rid of the silly app screen
in Classic shell settings

despite having 8mb of memory windows freezes and locks up way too much
That's a whole different story, and if no cure is found (try reinstalling 8 first), a very good reason to switch to 7. w8 is very stable here (not better, but as good as w7) on several different pc's, that's one of the things I like about it and makes it worth keeping. And it definitely feels a little snappier.

stop the built in apps from taking priority over the programs i choose
basicly strip out all the unnessecary bits
Set your favorite programs as default ('Use this application for all * files') and the (anemic) apps should stop interfering. I use VLC and never see any MS stuff in the music\video dept. You can uninstall any unused app from the pc.

Looking at the start screen pictures in post #5, it's a very good demonstration of why I avoid using such an interface (but, of course, it may be good for a tablet).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1, W7
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP \ Toshiba \ Lenovo \ Dell E7440
    Browser
    FF
Hi all ,
i have had my new laptop since christmas and windows 8 has already got me to the point where i am fantasising about smashing it up and stabbing the entire windows 8 development team with the bits !!!!!
So a tad fraustrated lol . Its a HP pavilion g6 2244sa . if i uninstal windows 8 and instal windows 7 will it work properly and will i be able to get all the drivers and updates etc .
Cheers
Pumbaa

Windows 8 FAQ: Can I downgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 7? - HP Support Forum - 1980149

First check for Windows 7 on the HP web site.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13326-downgrade-windows-8-windows-7-a.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
LOL.

I like his system specs - "o/s the new rubbish"

You are certainly not the only one to realise.

If you have W 8 PRO - you can upgrade to win 7 at no extra charge.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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