Can I get driver CD's for Windows 7 for my PCS laptop?

[smallmaj]

Hi,

Is it possible to get driver CD's for a PC Specialist piece of kit?

I am thinking about downgrading 8.1 to 7. The PC came with 8.1. I have a general Win 7 DVD already. I don't have driver CD's for Win 7.

Is it possible to get these? I am capable of installing the OS etc so I don't need to send it back.

Thanks
Jason

 

[steaky360]

Not sure, you'll get a better response getting in touch with PCS directly (rather than through the forum) - but I'd ask why you're wanting to downgrade and also to make sure you had a valid Windows 7 licence key

Failing that you can probably get all of the drivers from the Clevo website for windows 7 if PCS wont/cant supply them for you

 

[SpyderTracks]

Not sure, you'll get a better response getting in touch with PCS directly (rather than through the forum) - but I'd ask why you're wanting to downgrade and also to make sure you had a valid Windows 7 licence key

Failing that you can probably get all of the drivers from the Clevo website for windows 7 if PCS wont/cant supply them for you

Yeah, if you let us know the model, we can link to the clevo site for you to download them.

 

[ubuysa]

Why? Windows 10 will be available next year and although it has a start menu it's built on Windows 8/8.1. Once that comes out you'll be two releases old. Windows 8/8.1 has lots of features that make it a better OS than Windows 7, if it's just the horrible start screen and tiles you don;t like then invest $4.99 (US Dollars) in Start8 from http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/. Start8 gives you the Windows 7 style start menu back and with it you need never se the start screen or tiles again.

Downgrading to Windows 7 is a mistake long-term.

 

[Wozza63]

I must admit I think I agree with Ubuysa, Windows 8.1 has a lot of nice tweaks in the background that do make it a much better experience. Its just the user interface that puts people off. I dont really like the start screen either but I rarely used the start menu on Windows 7, instead I have all my most used programs pinned to the bottom taskbar so I very rarely ever need to access the start screen.

 

[SpyderTracks]

I'd personally agree with ubuysa and Wozza. It took a bit of adjusting but after not very long, I've found Windows 8.1 to be pretty much the same as windows 7, just a bit better. You can make it run how you like. Don't have to use the Metro interface at all if you don't want to. Plus DX12 won't be supported by Windows 7, so you'll be missing out there:

http://www.pcgamer.com/directx-12-will-not-be-supported-by-windows-7/

 

[Wozza63]

I imagine Microsoft will try not to make Windows 7 the next Windows XP with everyone slowing down innovation holding on to the old operating system even some 10 years after its release. Admittedly Vista was pretty damn bad but they could have updated to 7 a few years back.

 

[ubuysa]

I imagine Microsoft will try not to make Windows 7 the next Windows XP with everyone slowing down innovation holding on to the old operating system even some 10 years after its release. Admittedly Vista was pretty damn bad but they could have updated to 7 a few years back.

Microsoft will not let that happen again. Windows 7 will not have an 11 year life span, especially if Windows 10 sales are poor. Whatever they may have said about the Windows 7 life cycle, poor Windows 10 sales will result in a vastly reduced life for Windows 7 - except perhaps for corporate customers.

 

[dogbot]

Why should Microsoft worry, they get paid whether you buy W7 or W8.1. In any case, the vast majority of shop bought computers only come with 8.1 so in a few years most computers will have 8.1 anyway.

 

[Androcles]

Why should Microsoft worry, they get paid whether you buy W7 or W8.1.

Because it costs them a lot of money to maintain multiple versions of software, the less versions being updated and supported the bigger their profit margin is. it's not just about the initial sales, it's also about the cost od maintenance.

Although I agree with the guys that say 8.1 with Start8 or any of the other apps that do the same job is better than Win7 for various reasons, I've had 8/8.1 on a laptop for over a year now and even with Start8 I just don't like it, I have no idea why but it's always a chore when I use that laptop, the same spec and design laptop with Win7 that I use primarily is just less of a chore to use, I have no idea why, I can't put a finger on it but it just is.

 

[ubuysa]

Because it costs them a lot of money to maintain multiple versions of software, the less versions being updated and supported the bigger their profit margin is. it's not just about the initial sales, it's also about the cost od maintenance.

Although I agree with the guys that say 8.1 with Start8 or any of the other apps that do the same job is better than Win7 for various reasons, I've had 8/8.1 on a laptop for over a year now and even with Start8 I just don't like it, I have no idea why but it's always a chore when I use that laptop, the same spec and design laptop with Win7 that I use primarily is just less of a chore to use, I have no idea why, I can't put a finger on it but it just is.

We all have our own preferences of course, and we all get used to a particular way of working. But the fact is that staying with Windows 7 is not a sensible long-term option. Not only will Windows functionality/availability/reliability/networking etc. continue to evolve and improve (leaving you behind) but most third-party applications will evolve in the same direction. As an example, look at how many third-party applications are currently adopting the flat, tile-like, look and feel of Windows 8. Third-party application development will always be for the latest Windows platform so you may well find in time that some applications will not run on Windows 7. More importantly, hardware vendors will develop and enhance their drivers only for the latest one or two versions of Windows, so you will find (if you haven't already) that Windows 7 drivers are not available for specific hardware.

If you have Windows 7 installed now, then not upgrading until Microsoft have shaken the wrinkles out of Windows 8/8.1/10 is probably worthwhile (and certainly cost effective) but downgrading from Windows 8/8.1 (or 10 when it's released in 2015) is not sensible IMO.

 

[mdwh]

One way to look at it: if you preferred the start menu in say XP or 2000, would you still be trying to install that OS?

I didn't upgrade to XP on my desktop for years, because 2000 worked fine to me and I'd simply be turning off the UI changes in XP anyway. But when I got a laptop with XP on it, I didn't try to downgrade it to 2000, it was easier just to tweak what I didn't like.

MS change the start menu in almost every version - using one of the various utilities to change it if you don't like it is the better route rather than downgrading.