Can't get past language on Win7 install with Asus Z690-E

I've seen people have been able to install win7 on this mobo but can't figure out the issue. I have a USB drive with the fully loaded Win7 64bit ultimate.

But when I'm on the first page I cannot get keyboard or mouse to work. Any suggestions?

New MBs like the Z690 require drivers (USB 3.x, SATA, NVMe etc) that are not on the Win 7 Installation drive. You have to add those drivers to the Win 7 Installation drive. The problem is that the drivers may not exist as Intel gen 8 and up were made for Win 10 and Win 11.

I don't think I understand your suggestion. The iso I am using is fully loaded already (nvme, usb 3.1 etc). Should all be there, but KB&M do nothing when windows 7 installation loads up. Put on USB with rufus 4.2 using MBR and CSM. Not sure if that part is correct or if I have setting in the mobo correct.

When I used your 7updater I'm not sure it even did anythng. But again I think the needed drivers are already in the iso I have.

sshd guy said:

I don't think I understand your suggestion. The iso I am using is fully loaded already (nvme, usb 3.1 etc). Should all be there, but KB&M do nothing when windows 7 installation loads up. Put on USB with rufus 4.2 using MBR and CSM. Not sure if that part is correct or if I have setting in the mobo correct.

If you don't have keyboard or mouse during installation is because Boot.wim has no USB 3.x drivers. You have to slipstream them into Boot.wim and install.wim. And then you use the 7updater.

Clearly the one I have which is suppose to have the proper drivers does not. I dont believe I have the skill to figure this out. Is anyone able to point me towards an iso that is already prepared?

sshd guy said:

Clearly the one I have which is suppose to have the proper drivers does not. I don't believe I have the skill to figure this out. Is anyone able to point me towards an iso that is already prepared?

I'm going to be sincere with you.
If you don't believe to have the skill to add the drivers to the Win 7 installation files using 7updater, give up on installing Win 7 on a Asus Z690-E. This is only a little issue on all the whole process.

It's really more of a time thing, I'm was looking for at least a very detailed step by step process but then thought I'm sure it's not worth the time if there are isos ready to go. I did end up trying a couple different ones from internet archive last night and it finally worked!!
I still have to do some work of getting rid of the yellow marks, and I was already given good resources for that above in the thread.

Good to know you did.
For the updates use Single file with all updates - Simplix

Had some issues getting everything going, realized it was best to start again, convert the Win7 drive to GPT before installing Win10. Everything went well. Then I tried to enable XMP on the mobo and it didn't like that. I guess there are issues with DDR5 and currently not worth enabling.

So I have everything back but my very nice blue dual boot screen that has additional options has been replaced with this crappy black screen version. Anyone have an idea to fix this without me starting over again?