Solved Trying to install Windows 7 on 6th Gen Mobo

[Pedro147]

I have this 6th Gen MB Gigabyte GA-H110M-S2H mobo and am trying to install Windows 7. As you are no doubt aware there are no USB drivers in W7 to allow it to work with this board but Gigabyte has this Windows image tool which allows you to have the correct drivers and an ISO image of the Windows 7 installation disc on a flash drive and install from it. I start the process but after 1.5 hrs I get this "Failed to add drivers to an offline Windows image" message Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet I have tried numerous times but have had no success.I am just wondering if I can create an ISO image file first with other software and then use this tool to add the required drivers to the flash drive. I really do not want to go to W10 as I have this brand new full version of W7. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated Thanks.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
All you lack is a usb3 driver
Possibly use the asus media creator :/
Access Denied

 

[Pedro147]

Thanks ThrashZone but that article mentions the ASUS support DVD which I do not obviously have seeing as it is a Gigabyte mobo so how do I get around that please?

Is that where these USB 3 drivers are located. Also you say possibly use so do you have a good solid reason while this might possibly work. I appreciate your help but am at a bit of a loss as to how to implement your suggestions

 

[AddRAM]

Didn`t your board come with a driver & utilities dvd ?

All you need is a windows 7 dvd, the software does the rest, but more importantly, you`ll need a PC with a dvd drive to create the usb stick.

I never used the support dvd when I created my usb installer, just the install dvd and the Asus EZInstaller program, from Asus`s website. ( stupid me, it`s right on the support dvd )

You could probably even use an Iso file, it`s been awhile since I created mine, but it`s all in the instructions.

See if Gigabyte has a similar program. Look up the drivers and utilities for your board, if they have a program it will be there.

 

[Pedro147]

Thanks AddRAM and yes as I explained in my initial post I used Gigabytes Gigabyte's Windows image tool program to try and do that but got that error so that didn't work.

I will try and find this Asus EZInstaller program that you recommend but all the links that I have found are dead.

 

[AddRAM]

Try this.

Access Denied

 

[Pedro147]

Thanks a lot that's it

 

[Megahertz07]

If you have a USB keyboard and mouse you'll end with an installation without USB support.
If you have a PS2 keyboard you can navigate to install the USB 3 drivers from the Gigabyte CD.

You can add USB 3.0 support to the maintenance wizard.
Create a Windows 7 USB flash installation with new drives for new MB's

 

[Pedro147]

Thanks for your reply Megahertz07 and great job on all the research into this issue.

As my mobo has some USB 2 ports it seems that this issue will not affect me and I plan to burn a bootable disc image of the Windows installation files and install from that. If however I run into issues I will be grateful to have your work on hand Thanks again

 

[Megahertz07]

Pedro, once you have the modified ISO with the USB drives added, use Rufus to create a boot able USB disk. Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Detach ALL other HDD / SSD
Remember to set (on BIOS) Fast boot and Secure boot to disable (OS=other). Set CSM to enable

LAN PXE Boot Option ROM - Disabled
Storage Boot Option Control - UEFI only
Other PCI Device ROM Priority - - UEFI only

Boot your win 7 installation disk under UEFI, go to install - advanced - delete all partitions - create new.
It will create 3 partitions
UEFI - 100M - Fat32
MSR - 120M - RAW
large ntfs - Install on this one

 

[Pedro147]

Thanks again Megahertz07. I am really not familiar with the BIOS for the mobo but if I have issues with my approach I will certainly look at the info you have provided

 

[Pedro147]

Megahertz07 I made a bootable ISO image file of the Windows install disc but I am getting a "bootmgr is missing " error which I suppose means that there is something wrong with my ISO file or the conversion to bootable USB stick that I did in ImgBurn. I have full mouse and keyboard control and I looked at the BIOS settings you suggested but I cannot even find some of them and some of your instructions are above my understanding I am ashamed to admit. I have even tried an ISO that I downloaded from MS and tried to convert into a bootable drive with the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool but that was giving some missing bootloder error from memory although prior to that I did get a 'loading Windows files' message like you do on a successful install. I really never expected it to be this difficult it is very disheartening

 

[Papaya]

I have this 6th Gen MB Gigabyte GA-H110M-S2H mobo and am trying to install Windows 7. As you are no doubt aware there are no USB drivers in W7 to allow it to work with this board but Gigabyte has this Windows image tool which allows you to have the correct drivers and an ISO image of the Windows 7 installation disc on a flash drive and install from it. I start the process but after 1.5 hrs I get this "Failed to add drivers to an offline Windows image" message. I have tried numerous times but have had no success.

View attachment 396080

If the Gigabyte tool does not work, then use the ASUS EZ Installer.

You don't need a PC with a DVD drive to create the USB flash drive, when you use the ASUS EZ Installer.

How to mount a Windows 7 ISO image file to the virtual CD/DVD drive in Windows 7.

(You don't need this program if you have Windows 8/10)

WinCDEmu - the easiest way to mount an ISO. And more...

WinCDEmu - How to Mount ISO Files

View attachment 396081

Download the ASUS EZ Installer (click on the Utilities option).

ASUS

How to use the ASUS EZ Installer.

View attachment 396082

View attachment 396083

View attachment 396084

View attachment 396085

You do not need to change the boot order of drives in your UEFI BIOS settings. If you have changed the settings, then restore the default settings.

- Connect your Windows 7 USB flash drive.
- Restart the computer.
- Press the correct key (Asus F8, Gigabyte F12) to enter the boot menu.
- Select to boot from the Windows 7 USB flash drive.
edit:
-
For example, the Gigabyte GA-H110M-S2H motherboard.

Restore the Gigabyte UEFI BIOS to default settings (Load Optimized Defaults). After that, check the following setting (marked with red color) in the Gigabyte UEFI BIOS, if you want to install Windows 7.

Windows 8/10 Features
Allows you to select the operating system to be installed.
- Other OS (Default)
- Windows 8/10
- Windows 8/10 WHQL

CSM Support
Enables or disables UEFI CSM (Compatibility Support Module) to support a legacy PC boot process.
- Enabled - Enables UEFI CSM. (Default)
- Disabled - Disables UEFI CSM and supports UEFI BIOS boot process only.
This item is configurable only when Windows 8/10 Features is set to Windows 8/10 or Windows 8/10 WHQL.

LAN PXE Boot Option ROM
Allows you to select whether to enable the legacy option ROM for the LAN controller. (Default: Disabled)
This item is configurable only when CSM Support is set to Enabled.

Storage Boot Option Control
Allows you to select whether to enable the UEFI or legacy option ROM for the storage device controller.
- Disabled - Disables option ROM.
- UEFI Only - Enables UEFI option ROM only.
- Legacy Only - Enables legacy option ROM only. (Default)
This item is configurable only when CSM Support is set to Enabled.

Other PCI Device ROM Priority
Allows you to select whether to enable the UEFI or Legacy option ROM for the PCI device controller other than the LAN, storage device, and graphics controllers.
- Disabled - Disables option ROM.
- UEFI Only - Enables UEFI option ROM only. (Default)
- Legacy Only - Enables legacy option ROM only.
This item is configurable only when CSM Support is set to Enabled.

Network Stack
Disables or enables booting from the network to install a GPT format OS, such as installing the OS from the Windows Deployment Services server. (Default: Disabled)

Secure Boot
Enables or disables Secure Boot function.
- Enabled - Enables Secure Boot.
- Disabled - Disables Secure Boot.
This item is configurable only when Windows 8/10 Features is set to Windows 8/10 or Windows 8/10 WHQL.

Secure Boot Mode
Define the Secure Boot mode.
- Standard
- Custom
This item is configurable only when Windows 8/10 Features is set to Windows 8/10 or Windows 8/10 WHQL.

 

[Pedro147]

Thanks Papaya I have yet to try that tool but others have also suggested it. I have tried numerous methods with no success so far but I'll get it eventually

The problem as far as I can see is a bootsec error. This is what I get when I used the MS ISO image of the Windows 7 that I downloaded (after submitted my Product key) and using the MS Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool

Error - "Files copied successfully. However, we were unable to run bootsect to make the USB device bootable."

I am trying all these suggestions here first but yours is definitely next on the list if they don't work so thank you.

How do I restore the Gigabyte UEFI BIOS to default settings please?

I really appreciate the effort that you and the others here have put into explaining all this and would try your suggestion right away but I am half way though doing a full format of the USB stick as suggested here

 

[Megahertz07]

Pedro, read my post nº10
- Use Rufus to create the USB boot able disk

Use my method
You say you can't boot from your USB drive in UEFI. Does your installation has the efi/boot folder?
The efi/boot has to be added to the installation, it isn't provided by M$.

https://www.sevenforums.com/attachm...ows-7-installer-stuck-setup-starting-boot.zip

 

[Papaya]

How do I restore the Gigabyte UEFI BIOS to default settings please?

Load Optimized Defaults

Press <Enter> on this item and select Yes to load the optimal BIOS default settings. The BIOS defaults settings help the system to operate in optimum state. Always load the Optimized defaults after updating the BIOS or after clearing the CMOS values.

View attachment 396086

 

[Pedro147]

Pedro, read my post nº10
- Use Rufus to create the USB boot able disk

Use my method
You say you can't boot from your USB drive in UEFI. Does your installation has the efi/boot folder?
The efi/boot has to be added to the installation, it isn't provided by M$.

https://www.sevenforums.com/attachm...ows-7-installer-stuck-setup-starting-boot.zip

I am sorry to sound so clueless but I have tried to make a bootable ISO installation flash drive from a full licensed cop of Windows 7 Home Premium and now you suggest that I have to add this boot folder because MS does not provide it. I am missing something here aren't I

I have tried numerous methods of doing this including using Rufus, Imgburn and even the proper MS ISO and MS Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool and I am getting these errors as I have explained. Where and how do I add that file you attached in your last reply to an image or whatever. I do not mean to be rude or ungrateful but I an only a beginner to possibly low intermediate user and really need to shown exactly what to do. As for the Asus tool that some have suggested, when I downloaded it , found the application file all it did was open more files and folders but no install procedure or interface. Also there are two ASUS EZ Installer downloads. I have had no issues with the mouse or keyboard not working when plugged into USB 2 ports.

Can I just plug an optical drive into a SATA port or USB 2 and install the OS that way as I am having zero luck doing it this way. Thanks again for all your time all of you.

Megahertz07 thanks for the BIOS default info too.

 

[AddRAM]

He`s making it way harder for you then it actually is.

Just read the instructions, create the usb installer and boot from the usb stick.


"Can I just plug an optical drive into a SATA port or USB 2 and install the OS that way as I am having zero luck doing it this way."

Yes installing from a dvd is the easiest method, connect your dvd drive using a sata port (not usb) and plug your keyboard and mouse into the black usb 2.0 ports and you should not have any problems.

Exactly how I did it here.

 

[Pedro147]

Thanks AddRAM I just went and bought a 20 buck SATA optical drive so hopefully that should be the end of that.

I appreciate all and any help that people give me but everyone has their own idea and the trick is sorting the wheat from the chaff as we say over here. I will report back on my progress shortly and thank you have a great day.

 

[Megahertz07]

Pedro,
- Win 7 installation DVD doesn't have USB 3 drives.
- A Win 7 installation DVD doesn't have only the installation files you see. It has also the boot record (that you don't see).
- A Win 7 iso file is an image that is used to burn DVD's. It has the installation files and also has also the boot record.
- You can't extract the files from a iso image, add the USB 3 with the ASUS programs and then copy to a USB flash disk. It won't boot as it doesn't have the boot record.

The steps you have to follow is:
- Download a Win 7 installation iso file or create one from a Win 7 installation DVD.
- Use the Asus program to add the USB 3 drives to the Win 7 iso, (not to the extracted files from a iso file)
- Burn a DVD using the modified iso and / or use Rufus to transfer the files AND the boot record from the iso file to a USB flash disk.
- To make it boot able under UEFI, Rufus will also add the folder I attached.