Need help installing W7 onto my new Skylake system

[Hugo smalls]

Wasn't sure what section for this, feel free to move to the appropriate sub forum.

Ok, I'm trying to install windows 7 x64 onto an ssd via a usb drive packaged with Gigabyte's USB drivers needed for the Intel 100 motherboards. Tools and procedure located here:

GIGABYTE Tech Daily: Having Trouble Installing Windows 7 By USB With Your GIGABYTE 100 Series Motherboard?

I am able to boot with the drive into the Windows install process, however, when I go to select my partitioned disk and hit next to begin copying files, I get a pop up that displays this error:

"Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks."

Now, I specifically partitioned the disk using Shift F10 and Diskpart because I do not want the 100 MB System Reserved partition for Bitlocker (or whatever) (http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ndows-7-a.html) And I have done this multiple times over the years re-installing Windows 7 (when installing from the dvd). But it's not working here.

If I go back into Diskpart and try to convert to GPT, I first have to wipe the drive with the 'clean' command, which results in an unallocated disk to install onto, which I don't want. So after typing convert gpt, I then type 'create part primary', and then 'format fs=ntfs quick', and finally, 'assign', then go back and refresh the disk in the prompt, the MBR error is no longer there. But when I hit Next to begin copying files, it gives me:

"Setup was unable to create a new partition or locate an existing system partition. See the Setup log files for more information "

Can somebody please help me out of this endless maze? I know Im likely forgetting something very simple. I don't even know if the Gigabyte usb drivers will work yet as I've still not even gotten into windows mode

The new motherboard i am using is a Gigabyte GA-Z170x- UD3 board (latest F6 BIOS) with 16GB ram.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Megahertz07]

I also have a Gigabyte Skylake MB.
I suppose you already added the USB 3 and SATA drivers into the installation disk.
I've created a tutorial to do so. Recommend you to read as the Gigabyte tool doesn't install the drivers into the Win PE (for maintenance) and to the installation.
Create a Windows 7 USB flash installation with new drives for new MB's

First of all, on BIOS you must set:
Secure boot = Other OS
CSM = UEFI

Boot your installation disk under UEFI (press F12 at POST beep and choose UEFI mode)
Win 7 64 UEFI mode has at least 3 partitions:
100M Fat 32 UEFI for the boot loader.
120 M raw for MSR
a large NTFS for C: and Windows
The way you are creating partitions with Diskpart will create Legacy MBR not GPT UEFI disk.
Let Windows create them for you. The 120 M raw for MSR will be created, but it's only 0.1% of the disk (or less).
Just go advanced, delete all partitions, create new (will create the 3) and install at the big one.
As you're installing on a SSD, use Kari tutorial (sysprep) to move \Users to the HDD.
User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation
I do have the Relocate.xml if you need.

 

[Hugo smalls]

I also have a Gigabyte Skylake MB.
I suppose you already added the USB 3 and SATA drivers into the installation disk.
I've created a tutorial to do so. Recommend you to read as the Gigabyte tool doesn't install the drivers into the Win PE (for maintenance) and to the installation.
Create a Windows 7 USB flash installation with new drives for new MB's

First of all, on BIOS you must set:
Secure boot = Other OS
CSM = UEFI

Boot your installation disk under UEFI (press F12 at POST beep and choose UEFI mode)
Win 7 64 UEFI mode has at least 3 partitions:
100M Fat 32 UEFI for the boot loader.
120 M raw for MSR
a large NTFS for C: and Windows
The way you are creating partitions with Diskpart will create Legacy MBR not GPT UEFI disk.
Let Windows create them for you. The 120 M raw for MSR will be created, but it's only 0.1% of the disk (or less).
Just go advanced, delete all partitions, create new (will create the 3) and install at the big one.
As you're installing on a SSD, use Kari tutorial (sysprep) to move \Users to the HDD.
User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation
I do have the Relocate.xml if you need.

I don't understand why this process that I've been using for the last 6-7 years no longer works, though. I made the USB drive with my SP1 Windows 7 Home Premium dvd, the Gigabyte usb files were added into existing directories, so the process should be the same, should it not?

I don't understand why before, when I formatted the drive in Diskpart exactly the same way, rebooted and launched the installer again, then selected my now partitioned disk (set as primary), it never gave me an error before about MBR or GPT. What is different now?

Edit: and just to be sure, I just now went and took out the USB drive, put my W7 disc in and successfully installed to a partitioned disk without issue using the process I mentioned. BIOS settings were exactly the same, boot order was cd-rom, then ssd.

Only problem now, as all Intel 100 chipset motherboard users know, is none of my usb ports in Windows are working.

 

[Megahertz07]

If you read my tutorial you going to find all the answers.
Create a Windows 7 USB flash installation with new drives for new MB's

 

[Hugo smalls]

If you read my tutorial you going to find all the answers.
Create a Windows 7 USB flash installation with new drives for new MB's

Ok, that's a huge process which I'm sure works, however my problem was never about prepping a flash install, as that kind of install denies me the ability to partition my ssd properly, so I had to install via dvd.

My problem NOW is simply figuring out how to get the Gigabyte Win7 usb 3.0 driver onto my computer that currently has no Internet capability and no working usb ports.

I do appreciate the tutorial, though. Looks like it would work for others.

 

[Megahertz07]

My tutorial adds the drivers to the install wizard, to the maintenance wizard and to the installation so when you finish install you will have USB available.
You can install it the way you want, but to have a EFI - GPT you must boot the installation as UEFI and create the UEFI - 100M Fat 32 partition.