Downgrade to Win 7 Ult from G20AJ (BSOD 0x000000A5)

[ShadowArmadyl]

I recently bought an ASUS G20AJ pre-built computer that comes with Windows 10 pre-installed.

Mostly out of preference and some work programs that are only compatible with 7, I am trying
to do a clean installation with a Windows 7 Ultimate retail CD that I bought years back.

When configuring BIOS to install properly, I get a BSOD upon trying to boot from CD or booting
from Windows 7 Setup. ASUS has not provided proper support for Windows 7.
The Upgrade Advisor reported nothing wrong or incompatible, except that I was not elgible
for an upgrade and had to do a clean install.

BSOD info:
STOP: 0x000000A5 (0x00000002, 0x8626C008, 0x8ECE7008, 0x86259780)
"The BIOS in this system is not fully ACPI compliant.
Please contact your system vendor for an updated BIOS."

I tried enabling legacy USB support, disabling secure boot, disabling fast boot, and enabling
the "other" option provided in my UEFI BIOS instead of the Windows UEFI setting.

 

[AddRAM]

Have you converted the hard drive from GPT to MBR yet using Diskpart ?

Can you even get that far or does it just bluescreen right away ?

Can you even see the words " Press any key to boot from DVD" ????

 

[ShadowArmadyl]

Have you converted the hard drive from GPT to MBR yet using Diskpart ?

Can you even get that far or does it just bluescreen right away ?

Can you even see the words " Press any key to boot from DVD" ????

I see "press any key to boot from CD".
After pressing it, it will go to the Starting Windows screen and then pause when the boot animation is half-way done.
It then takes me directly to the BSOD.

 

[AddRAM]

No idea why it`s doing that.

I would suggest creating a usb installer, but it will most likely do the same thing.


"ASUS has not provided proper support for Windows 7."

What exactly do you mean by this statement ? Have you contacted Asus about this issue ? Asked them why you can`t install 7 ?

Not sure about the board, but your cpu is fine for 7, and my Z170 runs 7 no problem.

 

[ShadowArmadyl]

No idea why it`s doing that.

I would suggest creating a usb installer, but it will most likely do the same thing.

I used Grub4Dos to make a boot USB, did the same thing.

Even tried with PLOP Boot Manager, did nothing as well.

 

[ShadowArmadyl]

No idea why it`s doing that.

I would suggest creating a usb installer, but it will most likely do the same thing.


"ASUS has not provided proper support for Windows 7."

What exactly do you mean by this statement ? Have you contacted Asus about this issue ? Asked them why you can`t install 7 ?

Not sure about the board, but your cpu is fine for 7, and my Z170 runs 7 no problem.

I didn't contact them myself, but ASUS, according to members of the ROG forum, won't provide
any support when trying to install another operating system.

The usual 10-forcing scheme from Microsoft, anyways.

 

[ShadowArmadyl]

No idea why it`s doing that.

I would suggest creating a usb installer, but it will most likely do the same thing.


"ASUS has not provided proper support for Windows 7."

What exactly do you mean by this statement ? Have you contacted Asus about this issue ? Asked them why you can`t install 7 ?

Not sure about the board, but your cpu is fine for 7, and my Z170 runs 7 no problem.

I fixed the BSOD by disabling CSM in my BIOS. It gets to the Starting Windows screen again, but it
freezes at the exact same time it used to. Instead of getting a blue screen, my computer restarts with
CSM enabled in the BIOS again.

I don't know how to keep CSM disabled?