HP Stream 7 and the Windows 10 April 2018 Update

I have had such good luck upgrading some of my collection of small form factor tablets that I decided to take on another one today. The HP Stream 7 was my next target for Windows 10 Version 1803.

Yesterday it was the NuVision TM800W610L (8 inch) and the TM101W610L Solo Draw (10 inch) tablets. They were both running Windows 10 Version 1709 from last fall and all the subsequent cumulative updates that are released. The Windows 10 April 2018 Update was pushed out to seekers so I went seeking it from Windows Update and started the install. It took about 2 1/2 hours but both tablets are happily, albeit slowly, running Windows 10 Version 1803. They are even supporting Timeline data being synched across my device ecosystem.

So today I decided to attempt an upgrade on one of my trouble maker tablets – the HP Stream 7. This one has been sitting unused for quite a while – ever since I was using it for test builds as a Windows Insider. In fact, the main reason it was not being used was because an installed build expired and I could not access the system.

I knew a clean install was necessary but it also wasn’t an urgent issue either. Well today, I dug out my wired USB mouse, keyboard, and created an installation flash drive using the Media Creation Tool that had the Windows 10 April 2018 Update on it. For the HP Stream 7 it had to be the 32 bit version of Windows. By default, the Media Creation Tool will match the architecture of the device the drive is being built on. In my case that was a 64 bit system. The HP Stream 7 requires 32 bit so just be sure to make that change before building out the install media.

While that was in progress I went to HP’s support website and downloaded the drivers for the HP Stream 7.

Now there are different models of the HP Stream 7, I have the 5709 one, so make sure you are on the support page for that version. Otherwise you could have some difficulties with the drivers matching the hardware.

Download all of the drivers from that page and save them in a folder called something like HP Stream 7 Drivers. Do not expand them – just save them in their downloaded executable file state.

Tip: HP uses cryptic numbers for their software downloads so as you grab each one of these rename it to match what driver it contains such as graphics, sensors, wireless, Bluetooth, etc.

By now your install drive that is being created by the Media Creation Tool should be ready. If not let it finish up and when it is done – leave the flash drive plugged in.

Copy the folder of drivers that you downloaded and renamed earlier to the flash drive with the installation files on it. You will use those later after the operating system is installed.

Now after you have completely charged the HP Stream 7 you will need that wired mouse, keyboard, USB flash drive with the Windows 10 install files on it, a small unpowered USB hub like they give out as swag at some trade shows, and a USB Type A to MicroUSB OTG cable.

Plug the OTG cable into the hub and plug that into the HP Stream 7. Next plug in the mouse, keyboard and USB drive into the small hub. Everything is now wired up and ready to begin.

On the HP Stream 7 (Model 5709) you access the boot menu by pressing and holding the Volume Down key and then the Power key. Hold them both until you see the screen come on and then let go. You will see the Startup Menu and the option you want to select is F9 Boot Drive Options. On the next screen you will see a couple of options and one of them should match your USB flash drive. The other two on my HP Stream 7 were listed as OS Boot Manager and Boot from UEFI File.

After that selection is made the system will begin the clean install process on the device. This process goes much like any other system you have ever clean installed Windows 10. Using the wired mouse and keyboard make your choices along the way and eventually your system will reboot and begin the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) to set the system up. Once you are all done then you will be at the Lock Screen and be able to log in with the credentials you provided during the OOBE.

Again – if you have ever reset or clean installed a Windows 10 device – this process is very familiar.

Once you are logged into the system it is time to install your drivers. Remember they are stored on the same USB flash drive that is already plugged in from installing Windows 10.

Since they are executables no need for separate extractions. Just select the file to begin the install process.

I installed the HP Stream 7 drivers in this order:

Touch
Audio
Graphics
Sensors

Wireless and Bluetooth were working with out of the box drivers in Windows 10 so I did not install them separately.

I also had a firmware and BIOS update which I then installed in that order.

At this point it is time to update Microsoft Store apps, install the ones you like to use, and set the system up for daily use. My recommendation is to consider this a consumption only system. I will say it was easy to use Near Share with this device to other machines running the Windows 10 April 2018 Update so that makes sharing easy.

Look – this little tablet is not a powerhouse. Just look at these specs:

Intel Atom CPU Z3735G (1.33GHz)
1 GB RAM
32 GB Storage

That is not going to run photo editing apps, etc. but it will do web browsing, social media, and similar low end activities.

So set your expectations appropriately and enjoy having a little handheld consumption device to use as a second screen on the couch when watching TV or sitting on the back porch!

Enjoy – now I am off to find my next small form factor tablet victim – errr – opportunity for an upgrade!