Create a Windows 7 USB flash installation with new drives for new MB's

[Megahertz07]

Create a Windows 7 USB flash installation with new driver for new MB's

This tutorial is to help to install Windows 7 64 bits on new MB that has USB 3 and other devices that requires drivers that are not in Windows 7 installation disk.

Please read it first till the end before you begin to work.
At the end you'll find the PDF of this tutorial and a the Drivers7.zip folder with the commands on it.

I’d a hard time to install Windows 7 64 bits on my new Gigabyte Z170 MB because Windows 7 installation disk doesn’t have Intel USB 3 and new SATA (AHCI and / or RAID) drivers.
If you try to install Windows 7 without these drivers you will not have mouse (and keyboard, if it’s connected to USB port) and you will not see your disks.

Gigabyte provided a Windows USB Installation toll, which is intended to install USB 3 and NVMe disk drivers. It didn’t work as it should.
I guess, one reason was that my Windows 7 installation disk wasn’t SP1.
After downloading a Windows 7 SP1 installation disk from MS, it did install the USB 3 driver but did NOT my SATA (AHCI and / or RAID) drivers to the install wizard.

So I began to Google to find some other options.
I found on this site: [FONT=&quot]http://codeabitwiser.com/2014/03/how-to-install-windows-7-with-only-usb-3-0-ports/[/FONT] that gave me a line to follow (thanks to Travis Payton). It didn’t install other drivers, so I had to adapt it to my needs. You should read it and also this [FONT=&quot]https://www.msigeek.com/2635/unmount-and-clean-up-a-wim-image-using-deployment-image-servicing-and-management-dism[/FONT] .

Here is my tutorial. My MB is a GA Z170, so it worked for my MB. If you have AMD or another kind of Intel MB, you will have to adapt it to your needs. You will also need a computer with Windows installed.

Hope it help you to build a Windows 7 installation disk with USB 3, new SATA (AHCI and / or RAID) and any other drivers to install or maintain windows 7.

- First of all, update your new MB BIOS.
- Configure the BIOS and set Storage Boot and PCI device to UEFI and XHCI Hand off to enable.
- Disable Secure Boot. It may be as Operating System (OS) = Other and / or CSM = Enable
- Disable Fast Boot. Fast boot disable USB ports and other hardware till OS is booted. You can enable it after Windows is installed.


On the computer with Windows installed:

- If your Windows 7 installation disk isn’t SP1, download it on MS site:
Windows 7 iso download:
[FONT=&quot]https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7[/FONT]

https://www.heidoc.net/php/Windows ISO Downloader.exe

- From your MB manufacture site, download the latest chipset USB 3, SATA drivers (32 and 64 bits) and any other drivers you need (like MVMe disk driver). They must be multi file type (*.inf, *.cat, *.sys) and not a *.exe, *.msi or *.msu type.

Some explanations: On the Windows 7 installation disk there are two wim files on \sources: Boot.wim and Install.wim. We are going to work on these two files.

- Boot.wim has the wizard for maintenance and to install Windows. It has two “programs” and we are going to work on both:
Windows PE (index 1).
Windows Setup (index 2).

- Install.wim has the four Windows 7 brands and we are going to work on the one you want to install:
Windows 7 Homebasic (index 1)
Windows 7 Homepremium (index 2)
Windows 7 Professional (index 3)
Windows 7 Ultimate (index 4)

- Create a folder tree (any place you like) as below:




- Extract the Sata, USB 3 files and any other drivers (like MVMe disk driver) you have downloaded.

- Place the 32 and 64 bits Sata files as extracted (it can have folders and sub folders) on the Drives7\Boot\Sata folder.
- Place the 32 and 64 bits USB 3 files as extracted (it can have folders and sub folders) on the Drives7\Boot\USB3 folder.
- Place the 32 and 64 bits other files as extracted (it can have folders and sub folders) on the Drives7\Boot\other folder. If you don’t need any other drivers, leave it blank.




- Place the 64 bits Sata files as extracted (it can have folders and sub folders) on the Drives7\ Install \Sata folder.
- Place the 64 bits USB 3 files as extracted (it can have folders and sub folders) on the Drives7\ Install \USB3 folder.
- Place the 64 bits other files as extracted (it can have folders and sub folders) on the Drives7\ Install \other folder. If you don’t need any other drivers, leave it blank.




To work on boot.wim and Install.wim we are going to use C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism
If your computer is 32 bits, replace C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism with C:\Windows\System32\dism

Make this cmd files (make new text files, copy the text commands and rename as *.cmd)

- Clean.cmd:
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /cleanup-wim
pause

- Mount_info.cmd:
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /get-MountedWiminfo
pause

- Boot_info.cmd:
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:boot.wim
pause

- Boot_1.cmd:
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /mount-wim /wimfile:boot.wim /index:1 /mountdir:mount
pause
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /image:mount /add-driver:"usb3" /recurse
pause
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /image:mount /add-driver:"sata" /recurse
pause
Rem C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /image:mount /add-driver:"other" /recurse
pause
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:mount /commit
pause

- Boot_2.cmd:
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /mount-wim /wimfile:boot.wim /index:2 /mountdir:mount
pause
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /image:mount /add-driver:"usb3" /recurse
pause
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /image:mount /add-driver:"sata" /recurse
pause
Rem C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /image:mount /add-driver:"other" /recurse
pause
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:mount /commit
pause

Remark: If you do have other drivers, remove the Rem from Boot_1.cmd and Boot_2.cmd.

- install_info.cmd:
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:install.wim
pause

- Install_2.cmd: (Rem.: replace index number with the one related to your Windows (Basic=1, Homepremium=2, Professional=3 and Ultimate=4). If you want, you can create multi Install_X.cmd’s, one for each index and run one by one (see below how).

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /mount-wim /wimfile:install.wim /index:2 /mountdir:mount
pause
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /image:mount /add-driver:"usb3" /recurse
pause
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /image:mount /add-driver:"sata" /recurse
pause
Rem C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /image:mount /add-driver:"other" /recurse
pause
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:mount /commit
pause


Remark: If you want to make a Windows 7 installation disk for more than just one brand, for instance, Homepremium and Professional, create a Install_2.cmd and a Install_3.cmd as described above.
Remark: If you do have other drivers, remove the Rem from Install_X.cmd and Install_Y.cmd.

From \sources of your Windows 7 installation disk or iso file, copy Boot.wim to Drives7\Boot and Install.wim to Drives7\Install.

Place *.cmd as below:

Drives7\Boot:




Drives7\Install





Everything is now ready to work on boot.wim and install.wim.
If all the below steps are successful, run Clean.cmd and then Mount_Info.cmd. If Mount_Info still say you have a mounted images but there is nothing on the mount folder, simply shift+delete the mount folder and create a new one.

If any of the below steps gives an error, you will have to take a close look at your drivers and find a solution by your own. Anyway, run Clean.cmd and then Mount_Info.cmd. If Mount_Info still say you have a mounted images but there is nothing on the mount folder, simply shift+delete the mount folder and create a new one. You will have to start all over with a new copy of boot.wim and / or install.wim.

Go to Drives7\Boot.
Run Boot_info.cmd. You’ll see the two indexes.
Run Boot_1.cmd as administrator (right click).
Every step finishes with a pause so you can check if successful.
When all successful and done, run the Clean.cmd and then Mount_Info.cmd. Mount_Info should give you a No mounted images found. Congratulations: first step done
If all successful but still say you have a mounted images but there is nothing on the mount folder, simply shift+delete the mount folder and create a new one.

Run Boot_2.cmd as administrator (right click).
Every step finishes with a pause so you can check if successful.
When all successful and done, run the Clean.cmd and then Mount_Info.cmd. Mount_Info should give you a No mounted images found. Congratulations: second step done
If all successful but still say you have a mounted images but there is nothing on the mount folder, simply shift+delete the mount folder and create a new one.

If Run Boot_1.cmd and Run Boot_2.cmd were successful, congratulations, Boot.wim is ready.

Go to Drives7\Install.
Run Install_info.cmd. You’ll see the four indexes.
Run Install_X.cmd as administrator (right click).
Every step finishes with a pause so you can check if successful.
When all successful and done, run the Clean.cmd and then Mount_Info.cmd. Mount_Info should give you a No mounted images found. Congratulations: first step done
If all successful but still say you have a mounted images but there is nothing on the mount folder, simply shift+delete the mount folder and create a new one.

Remark: If you created another Run Install_Y.cmd, Run Install_Y.cmd as administrator (right click).
Every step finishes with a pause so you can check if successful.
When all successful and done, run the Clean.cmd and then Mount_Info.cmd. Mount_Info should give you a No mounted images found. Congratulations: second step done
If all successful but still say you have a mounted images but there is nothing on the mount folder, simply shift+delete the mount folder and create a new one.

If Run Install_X.cmd and Run Install_Y.cmd were successful, congratulations, Install.wim is ready.

Make a USB drive (4G minimum) bootable using Windows7-USB-DVD- Installer or Rufus with the Windows 7 installation disk or iso file.
When done, replace \sources\boot.wim and \sources\ Install.wim on the USB drive with the ones you created above.

If you want to have the same Windows 7 installation disk for multiple windows 7 brands, rename \sources\ei.cfg to \sources\ei.cfg.orig. When installing windows, it will ask witch brand you want to install. Of course, the related key must be used.

If everything successful, you are ready to install Windows 7 on your new MB.

The PDF of this tutorial
View attachment Windows 7 install.pdf

The Drives7 folder
View attachment Drives7.zip

Megahertz07

 

[chubalz]

After downloading a Windows 7 SP1 installation disk from MS, it did install the USB 3 driver but did NOT my SATA (AHCI and / or RAID) drivers to the install wizard.



Megahertz07

Hi sorry i did not read the full content if your post but you have wrong info.

The USB patcher has nothing to do with Sata it will only fix the usb so you can use usb port to install the OS. And Sata fully works without the USB patcher.

 

[Megahertz07]

Yes, USB patcher only loads the mouse drivers to installation (Windows Setup (index 2)) that allows to use the mouse for installation, and you will need to load the SATA drives. It doesn't install USB or SATA drives to Windows PE (index 1), used for maintenance, neither to the installed Windows, so after installation, you will have no USB support. The method showed at the post, loads, not only the USB drivers, but also SATA and any other needed, to all situations.

 

[SIW2]

I have made a dismGui, probably easier: View attachment Dism7x3x86.zip

 

[Megahertz07]

Great contribution SIW. As your program has so many fields, do you have a instruction guide on how to use it?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Some manufactures like asus have made it easier too
Option 2
[ Desktop PC/All-in-One] Windows 7 and USB 3.0 driver installation for Skylake(H110/H170/Z170/B150/Q150/Q170) and Braswell platform

 

[Megahertz07]

Hi,
Some manufactures like asus have made it easier too
Option 2
[ Desktop PC/All-in-One] Windows 7 and USB 3.0 driver installation for Skylake(H110/H170/Z170/B150/Q150/Q170) and Braswell platform

ThrashZone
All USB patches only loads the USB 3.0 drivers to installation (Windows Setup (index 2)) that allows to use the mouse for installation, and you will need to load the SATA drives.
Asus, Gigabyte and many MB manufactures has one. Even Intel has released its own. Download Windows 7* USB 3.0 Creator Utility

It doesn't install USB or SATA drives to Windows PE (index 1), used for maintenance, neither to the installed Windows, so after installation, you will have no USB support. The method showed at the post, loads, not only the USB drivers, but also SATA and any other needed, to all situations.

 

[anuj99]

I keep getting the error that says -
"Error: 2"
"The system cannot find the file specified"
"The DISM log file can be found at C:\windows\logs\DISM\dism.log"

What should I do?

 

[Megahertz07]

There are many commands on my tutorial. Under witch one you've got the error?
What does the dism.log say about the error?
Please read ALL the tutorial once again and make sure you understand each step.

Did you use the commands that are on the Drives7.zip (attached)?

 

[anuj99]

It happened for all of them except clean.

Yea im using the attached commands. I have edited the number for install_2 to install_4 since im using ultimate. I have to drives7 in my C:\ but it is still saying no file found.

 

[bradgfromboo]

Head up, I had to use the full path to the .wim file
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:C:\Users\Owner\Desktop\W7Setup\Drives7\Drives7\Boot\boot.wim
Pause

 

[Megahertz07]

Is the cmd file in the same folder as Boot.wim, in your case C:\Users\Owner\Desktop\W7Setup\Drives7\Drives7\Boot?
I see that you have W7Setup\Drives7\Drives7. Is the cmd file at W7Setup\Drives7 and Boot.wim at W7Setup\Drives7\Drives7\Boot?

Did you use the Drives7.zip attached?

 

[Megahertz07]

On the image
Left is Drives7\Boot
Right is Drives7\Install

 

[SIW2]

Good idea, but it is a bit complicated for the average user. Might be better to knock up a gui of some kind. Perhaps just browse capability would be enough.

( Winre.wim could do with the same treatment. )

 

[Firmament]

Hello, thank you for doing this. I am currently building a new system and going to use B250M motherboard with i5 7500 cpu. I have a Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit license and I don't want to use Windows 10. I saw that the Kabylake cpus (along with new motherboards) won't support W7, this USB 2/3 support is one of the problems I guess. I want to learn that do I have to install Windows 7 through USB or can I install from a DVD (which I used to format the pc over time) without doing these changes in the files? So are these all for to make new motherboard recognise the USB that contains Windows 7 files?

 

[Megahertz07]

You can try to install Win 7 using a DVD and navigating with the keyboard (If you have a PS2 Keyboard).
Remember to disable fast boot and secure boot and enable CSM on BIOS.
If you succeed, you'll end with an installation that has no mouse. Use the DVD disk that came with the MB to install the drivers.
But I read that you won't be able to install it on a Kaby lake Chipset / CPU. I read that you can only install Linux and Win 10. By the other hand, I've seen an article that they installed Win 7 on a Kaby lake laptop.

Let us know what you find out.

 

[Firmament]

Thank you for the reply. Actually I am using a USB keyboard but I have an old ps2 keyboard I can use it. Can I also use a PS2 mouse? Honestly I never did anything on Bios, hope I can do these steps properly, I will look more on internet about them.

When searching about Kaby Lake - Windows 7 issue, I came across a Kaby Lake CPU review in which they test it using Windows 7. Here is the link:

The Intel Core i7-7700K (91W) Review: The New Out-of-the-box Performance Champion

So I understand from that Windows 7 can be used on kaby lake processors without any important issue.

 

[Megahertz07]

Please edit your profile with ALL hardware specs.
You can try this tutorial that adds the drivers not only to the installation wizard but also to the maintenance and to the installation. You can also go to the MSI or Asus site and download their program to add the drivers only to the installation wizard.
I also read that you need to add the AHCI / SATA drivers.

 

[Mircea2020]

Hello everyone.
There is no driver in the archive. Can everybody upload a driver?

 

[Megahertz07]

Welcome to the Forum

This tutorial was created almost 4 years ago. It is still valid but the drivers have to be furnished by the user.

SIW2 has a more up to date tutorial. Have a look at Update your Win 7 installation media