wrote:

I'm seriously considering dumping Win 8 from a new computer
and installing either XP Pro or Win 7 very possibly the former--
and keep it on 'til the updates stop nest year and then, if I live
that long, upgrading to Win 7.
Yeah ---laugh all you want -- but, to my actual question:
My understand is that I install the OS then install the drivers
(right?). So, that's fine --if I have the drivers on a disk.
But, suppose I download the drivers ahead of installing the OS --
how then do I get them on the machine?

Before you do anything, check that drivers exist for the hardware, and
they run on XP or 7. Also, check that there is not some hardware
security that ties the system to 8, and makes installing another OS,
even a Windows one, problematical.

Personally, I'd wait until Windows 8.1 is the OS on the new machine,
then install a utility to get a "standard" desktop with a Start menu.
Less headaches than what you are intending to do.

Stef