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    What is the difference between these OS options?

    Discussion in 'HP' started by slnotebook, Mar 9, 2016.

  1. slnotebook

    slnotebook Notebook Consultant

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    On the HP ZBook configuration page, it lets me choose from various Operating System options, including:

    * Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
    * Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (available through downgrade rights from Windows 8.1 Pro)

    What is the difference between these 2 options? The first option seems pretty clear - it's only Windows 7. Does the second option mean they will also include the media for Windows 8.1, so that I can upgrade back to 8.1 if I feel like it?

    When I selected the second option, there are a couple of sections further down on the page. One section is for "Recovery Media Driver", and it has 2 choices:
    * Windows 7 Driver DVD
    * Windows 8.1 Driver DVD

    Do these DVDs contain only drivers, or do they contain the entire operating system?

    The other section is for "OS Recovery CD", but it only lets me choose "Windows 7 Professional 64 SP1 OS Restore DVD US". Why wouldn't I be able to get a recovery CD for Windows 8.1 as well?
     
    slnotebook, Mar 9, 2016
    #1
  2. Jarhead

    Jarhead 恋の♡アカサタナ

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    It seems that the second option will have the notebook come pre-installed with 8.1, but will allow you to "downgrade" it to 7 if you wish.
     
    Jarhead, Mar 19, 2016
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  3. slnotebook

    slnotebook Notebook Consultant

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    I asked HP about this, and they said the second option will have Windows 7 installed, but Windows 8.1 will be on a recovery partition so you have the option to upgrade back to 8.1. The driver DVDs only contain the drivers, and they don't let you buy a Windows 8.1 recovery DVD because Microsoft doesn't make 8.1 or 10 available on DVD.
     
    slnotebook, Mar 19, 2016
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  4. SL2

    SL2 Notebook Deity

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    My 840 G2 with downgrade rights came with W7 installed. The recovery process gave me W7, and no other options were available.
    I got two DVD's for W8.1 and drivers.

    The way I see it based on my experience, you will get W8.1 DVD's automatically if you pick the second option, no need to make any further choices.
    If I'm wrong, you can just download Windows from my sig. I personally prefer starting out with a stock Windows installation, HP add software to their versions that I don't need.
     
    SL2, Mar 20, 2016
    #4