PC companies call it downgrading, but many users just call it being sensible. You buy a new computer, and instead of using the bleeding edge operating system it came with, you move to an operating system you trust. With ordinary Windows 8 on Hewlett-Packard (HP) consumer PC, or any other vendor’s retail PC, though, you’re stuck with Windows 8.
HP’s Windows 8 FAQ reads, “Downgrading is supported only for HP commercial desktop and notebook products.” That is to say systems that come with Windows 8 Pro. In any case, “HP does not recommend downgrading on any HP consumer desktop and notebook products. After October 26, 2012, HP consumer desktop and notebook products will ship only with Windows 8.”
Why? Because “Windows 7 will not be supported on these new platforms, and no drivers, apps, or Windows 7 content will be available through HP. If users choose to downgrade their HP consumer desktop or notebook system, HP will continue to support the hardware but if there is an issue where HP diagnostics are required OR it is determined that the loaded software or upgrade operating system is causing the issue, HP may suggest returning the system to the original Windows 8 OS that shipped with the computer.”
In short, if you downgrade anyway, HP is saying you’ll be your own. Good luck with that.