Solved How to install Windows 7 on a Surface Pro 1

[2W10]

If you have tried to install Windows 7 on a Surface Pro, or a UEFI-only device., you may have noticed it hangs on "Starting Windows" or gives error 0xc000000d, or you might have seen the following message:

The Surface Pro is a class 3 UEFI device, which means it has no Compatibility Support Module (CSM), which emulates the old BIOS environment. Windows 7 is not compatible with UEFI, which means without CSM, it wouldn't be able to function.
If you had to run Windows 7 on a Surface Pro, the only way would be to enable the Hyper-V feature of Windows 8 and run Windows 7 inside a virtual machine (VM). However, this would limit the resources available and the capabilities such as some of the touch/pen features.

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However, this article proves that it isn't impossible to achieve this. This tutorial shows you how to install Windows 7 on a Surface Pro. This tutorial is meant for the Surface Pro 1, but could work on any other UEFI-only device, which it should, but not guaranteed.
(Link removed for anti-piracy)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Boot the USB. This ISO uses a Windows 10 PE, but has a Windows 7 install.wim.
2. Open command prompt by pressing "Shift+F10"
3. Type in setup.exe /noreboot
4. Go through setup normally.
5. On the command prompt, type in "diskpart"
6. Type in the following commands:
sel dis 0
lis par
sel par 1 (where your boot partition is)
assign letter w
exit
7. Open up Notepad, and click "Open" or "Save As". Enable all files to be viewed. Go to W:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot and copy the BCD file and paste it onto the Windows 7 partition.
8. Go back to diskpart by typing "diskpart" in
9. Type in the following commands:
sel dis 0
sel vol w
form quick fs=fat32
exit
10. Go back to Notepad, and click "Open" or "Save As". Enable all files to be viewed. Go to the USB drive, then go to the FlashBootPro folder, then copy the "EFI" folder.
11.Go to W:\ and paste the EFI folder.
12. Go to the Windows 7 partition and cut "BCD".
13. Go to W:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot and paste "BCD" on the folder.
14. Reboot. Setup should continue normally.
NOTE: For some reason, Windows will NOT boot if any USB devices are connected. Any time you boot into 7, you MUST disconnect them, boot into 7, then connect them again. Wifi is integrated but doesn't work. You will need to purchase a separate USB wireless adapter.

MSFN REPOST: https://msfn.org/board/topic/184267...-surface-pro-1-or-any-other-uefi-only-device/

Proof of Windows 7 installed on Surface Pro 1: Windows 7 working on Surface Pro 1 natively - YouTube

 

[2plash6]

Thank you, I was getting this error on a modern desktop PC. I'll try this out.

 

[2W10]

Thank you, I was getting this error on a modern desktop PC. I'll try this out.

This ISO only works if you have a SATA drive. If it isn’t Ivy Bridge, the graphics drivers won’t work.

 

[2plash6]

This ISO only works if you have a SATA drive. If it isn’t Ivy Bridge, the graphics drivers won’t work.

I also have a SATA drive as well.
I have a 120gb SSD and two hard drives.

 

[2W10]

I also have a SATA drive as well.
I have a 120gb SSD and two hard drives.

Then it should work most likely.

 

[SIW2]

Those instructions could be automated with a batch file.

 

[Megahertz07]

Thank you, I was getting this error on a modern desktop PC. I'll try this out.

A Win 7 installation on a i9 9900k (2018) is much different than on a Ivy bridge (2012). You need to add some drivers (SATA, USB3.x and NVMe) to the Win 7 installation files.
Update your Win 7 installation media

 

[2W10]

A Win 7 installation on a i9 9900k (2018) is much different than on a Ivy bridge (2012). You need to add some drivers (SATA, USB3.x and NVMe) to the Win 7 installation files.
Update your Win 7 installation media

I was able to install Windows 7 on my HDD on my 10th gen Intel gaming laptop.

 

[2W10]

Those instructions could be automated with a batch file.

If anyone wants to modify the ISO to automate the installation, feel free to do it and send the updated ISO to me.

 

[regrettiupsetti]

Does this work on other UEFI Class 3 machines? I have tried countless methods with no luck, as my laptop is an HP-15ef1079nr with no CSM and an AMD Ryzen 3 processor. Thank you so much

​

However, this article proves that it isn't impossible to achieve this. This tutorial shows you how to install Windows 7 on a Surface Pro. This tutorial is meant for the Surface Pro 1, but could work on any other UEFI-only device, which it should, but not guaranteed.
ISO file link: https://archive.org/details/windows-7-surface-pro-1
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Boot the USB. This ISO uses a Windows 10 PE, but has a Windows 7 install.wim.
2. Open command prompt by pressing "Shift+F10"
3. Type in setup.exe /noreboot
4. Go through setup normally.
5. On the command prompt, type in "diskpart"
6. Type in the following commands:
sel dis 0
lis par
sel par 1 (where your boot partition is)
assign letter w
exit
7. Open up Notepad, and click "Open" or "Save As". Enable all files to be viewed. Go to W:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot and copy the BCD file and paste it onto the Windows 7 partition.
8. Go back to diskpart by typing "diskpart" in
9. Type in the following commands:
sel dis 0
sel vol w
form quick fs=fat32
exit
10. Go back to Notepad, and click "Open" or "Save As". Enable all files to be viewed. Go to the USB drive, then go to the FlashBootPro folder, then copy the "EFI" folder.
11.Go to W:\ and paste the EFI folder.
12. Go to the Windows 7 partition and cut "BCD".
13. Go to W:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot and paste "BCD" on the folder.
14. Reboot. Setup should continue normally.
NOTE: For some reason, Windows will NOT boot if any USB devices are connected. Any time you boot into 7, you MUST disconnect them, boot into 7, then connect them again. Wifi is integrated but doesn't work. You will need to purchase a separate USB wireless adapter.

MSFN REPOST: https://msfn.org/board/topic/184267...-surface-pro-1-or-any-other-uefi-only-device/

Proof of Windows 7 installed on Surface Pro 1: Windows 7 working on Surface Pro 1 natively - YouTube[/QUOTE]

 

[2W10]

Does this work on other UEFI Class 3 machines? I have tried countless methods with no luck, as my laptop is an HP-15ef1079nr with no CSM and an AMD Ryzen 3 processor. Thank you so much

In theory, yes it should work. You can use the ISO linked in the video, which uses the Windows 10 PE, and follow the same directions, but you will have to modify the ISO by making a new Windows 7 install.wim by taking the original one, and slipstreaming drivers into it. You will need to slipstream a USB 3.0 driver, which you can get here: USB 3/XHCI driver stack for Windows 7 | My Digital Life Forums, and a graphics driver, and slipstream a graphics driver, but it looks like there are no graphics drivers available for Windows 7. You will also need to use a NVME driver, which you can try the one made by SIW2: https://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/drivers/406047d1543245631-nvme-driver-nvme-win7x64.zip, or look at XP2ESD ([TOOL] XP2ESD - Create modern Windows XP installer v1.6.2 | My Digital Life Forums). In the folders, there are some NVME drivers and other helpful apps/drivers you can use to install Windows 7.

​

 

[regrettiupsetti]

Will I be able to slipstream network and touchpad drivers as well? I don't want to have to use an external USB network adapter.

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It freezes on boot animation. Does not restart.​

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Will I be able to slipstream network and touchpad drivers as well? I don't want to have to use an external USB network adapter.
I tried it, stuck on Starting Windows. When setup was done, it made it to the boot animation but it was stuck on setup is updating registry settings screen. Restarted to the Starting Windows and froze.

 

[2W10]

Will I be able to slipstream network and touchpad drivers as well? I don't want to have to use an external USB network adapter.

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It freezes on boot animation. Does not restart.​

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Will I be able to slipstream network and touchpad drivers as well? I don't want to have to use an external USB network adapter.
I tried it, stuck on Starting Windows. When setup was done, it made it to the boot animation but it was stuck on setup is updating registry settings screen. Restarted to the Starting Windows and froze.

I looked up your card (Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11ac) on drp.su. There are drivers for this card: Download Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11ac PCIe Adapter drivers for Windows 7 x64 | DriverPack. Did you use the FlashBootPro EFI files? The reason why it freezes could either be because the NVME drivers don't work, or because the UEFI files aren't working, or maybe because Secure Boot is off. You could try debugging to see what is causing the problem. If the UEFI files are the problem, boot a Windows 8/10 PE, and try entering these commands:
rem disable vga.sys 640x480 16 colors
ren C:\windows\system32\drivers\vga.sys *.off
set Services=HKLM\loaded_SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services
reg.exe load HKLM\loaded_SYSTEM C:\Windows\system32\config\system
reg.exe add "%Services%\Vga" /f /t REG_DWORD /v "Start" /d 4
reg.exe add "%Services%\VgaSave" /f /t REG_DWORD /v "Start" /d 4
reg.exe unload HKLM\loaded_SYSTEM

If that's not working, you can try the UefiSeven files, or you can try this method (though I haven't had success with either method):

   Tip

Windows 7 UEFI install without CSM | My Digital Life Forums

   Tip

. It also could be the case that it's not working because of the lack of graphics drivers. You can try installing the NTOSKRNL_Emu_Extender (NTOSKRNL Emu_Extender for Windows XP/2003 - Pinned Topics regarding Windows XP - MSFN, Problem with the newer version of Intel HD Graphics 4000 driver on Windows Vista Extended Kernel with NTOSKRNL Emu_Extender - Windows Vista - MSFN) and installing the graphics drivers, however, you have to use the tool on Windows 7. You will either have to use a VM, or a PC that successfully boots Windows 7.

 

[regrettiupsetti]

If the "Starting Windows" screen freezes, but doesn't restart, does that signal an NVME or UEFI issue? Because I have tried different ISOs and it restarts and shows that my system failed to boot.


What Windows 8/10 PE ISO do you recommend? I will be using Gandalf's Windows 8.1 PE.

 

[2W10]

If the "Starting Windows" screen freezes, but doesn't restart, does that signal an NVME or UEFI issue? Because I have tried different ISOs and it restarts and shows that my system failed to boot.

It could be either one of them. It would probably be UEFI, because if NVME was the issue, it would give you the 0x0000007B BSOD. Try the method I suggested above. If it still doesn't work, try UEFISeven.

What Windows 8/10 PE ISO do you recommend? I will be using Gandalf's Windows 8.1 PE.

Any Windows 8.1/10 PE. You can use the vanilla 8.1 and 10 setup.

 

[regrettiupsetti]

Apologies for asking too many questions, but will this work if dual-booted alongside Windows 10, since I thought that the method used to install this would only work if it's only Windows 7.


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[2W10]

I think it will. I will try this on my SP1 and see what happens.

 

[regrettiupsetti]

alright thanks

 

[2W10]

alright thanks

It should theoretically work. Follow the same steps but keep Windows 10 partition. If Windows 10 doesn't boot (which it didn't for me with the FlashBootPro files), you will need to install a graphics driver in Windows 7 (so it can boot w/o FlashBootPro) and rebuild the BCD.
..

 

[regrettiupsetti]

It should theoretically work. Follow the same steps but keep Windows 10 partition. If Windows 10 doesn't boot (which it didn't for me with the FlashBootPro files), you will need to install a graphics driver in Windows 7 (so it can boot w/o FlashBootPro) and rebuild the BCD.
..

My Windows 10 boots just fine. Windows 7 doesn't, however, and instead freezes slightly earlier in the animation with UEFISeven. Without it, it gets slightly further into the startup animation and still freezes. Safe Mode stops at disk.sys.

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My Windows 10 boots just fine. Windows 7 doesn't, however, and instead freezes slightly earlier in the animation with UEFISeven. Without it, it gets slightly further into the startup animation and still freezes. Safe Mode stops at disk.sys.

Also tried the debugging option, still doesn't work.