Problems After Downgrading To Windows 7 In Acer Aspire V5-122P

Key problem to a downgrade is drivers. Acer only supports drivers for the Aspire V5 122P in Windows 8 64 bit. Although their is a legacy setting in Bios to allow Windows 7 to install. I think the other problem is doing a clean install which means erasing all the other partitions on that drive. First thing would be is do is make a copy of the restore partition onto a DVD or USB drive. Then switch bios to legacy mode, then try and install Windows 7. You may have to go to the respective hardware maker for drivers as Acer will not help you on this model. Although you could try and randomly search for Windows 7 drivers on other similar Acer products with same hardware. I personally decided it was not worth voiding warranty since I just bought my V5 122P. Even though I hate Windows 8 too. I hope 8.1 update will at least allow me to ignore the bad parts .

Main thing is trying to backup Windows 8 before making any changes like installing another OS. Since the V5 has no optical drive you have to either use a external one to make a disc backup or buy a 16Gb or higher capacity USB flash drive and create a backup with that. What either the discs or USB drive will do is make a copy of the hidden partition that is used to restore Windows 8 and all of the apps that came with the PC. The end result is you can then wipe the drive clean and install whatever as long as you set bios to legacy boot mode. I think this forum addressed some of the issues installing Windows 7. I can say myself I was able to get everything working but the brightness controls which seem to have bugs with the AMD drivers. Which I have to say is probably the only thing creating problems. I used the Windows 8 drivers for WiFi, a generic SD card drive, Bluetooth I used generic and the rest installed generics with Windows 7. Hardest was finding chipset drivers for AMD which are on the AMD site. Good luck!

I found hitting the Fn key and using right and left arrows until screen comes on. Its the biggest issue I found besides the Bluetooth not working. Tried several AMD drivers and you can actually go into the Catalyst menu for desktop settings and change brightness without issue? So I am not sure blaming the AMD drivers is the problem. I suspect its more a proprietary Acer thing with the motherboard. I finally gave up and went back to Windows 8 but will try one of the third party apps that is supposed to add a Start button and menu and the option to turn off Tiles. Classic Shell, Start8 and a couple others sound interesting. It is difficult to imagine we now have PC's that are OS specific.