Win 7 install to UEFI / GPT

Hi
I have an Acer Aspire e1-522 with Windows 8.1 64 bit installed and runs fine under UEFI / GPT. I want to install Windows 7 running under UEFI / GPT, is this possible please? As I eventually want to dual boot 7 & 8 64 bit. I have attempted to install 7 x 64 bit various methods by (in no particular order)
completely cleaned / re-formatted / initialised GPT the hard drive, made 1 partition / 2 partitions (EFI / data)
mounting a 7 install iso and running from within Win8
extracting all files to a win8 folder and running setup
extracting all files to a USB and running
using WintoUSB
making a WinPE USB drive and booting and running setup from hard drive folder & and USB hard drive
I have used Rufus / NT 6 fast installer
I have tried a .vhd virtual disk
Everything I do Win7 starts to install & re-boots & does registry settings but always stops at the Windows coloured squared logos “Starting Windows”. If I can get it to install far enough to boot into safe mode it always stops at Classpnp.
I would really appreciate any ideas as to what is wrong or what is / is not possible
Thanks
SJ

Were all of the above failed Win 7 installation attempts made with the same ISO? Or from different DVDs and ISOs?

I'm just wondering if the media is part of the problem--corrupt or invalid for some reason. Can you try some other source--another download, another Win 7 DVD, whatever.

Sorry should have mentioned that they were different iso downloads including X17-24395 direct from MS

In order to install Win7 to UEFI GPT formatted hard drive you must write the flash stick using Option One in UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows, then boot it as a EFI flash stick from the BIOS Boot menu, follow these steps for UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums.

If you attempt to do this as a Dual Boot with Windows 8 then it requires some BIOS Settings adjustment. Windows 8 uses Secure Boot which must be turned off in BIOS setup, accessed by tapping the key given for that on the first boot screen. Usually Secure Boot setting is on the Security tab in BIOS but could be anywhere.

Now try using UEFI formatted flash stick booted as a UEFI device and installed to the partition you've shrunk for it from C.

If this fails, then there may need to be some level of CSM or Legacy BIOS enabled in order to even install Win7. Try changing those settings to Dual, CSM, or Legacy. If you have problems determining this, post back camera snaps of available settings choices for UEFI, CSM, Legacy BIOS, Secure Boot, BIOS Boot Priority and we'lll help you choose.

In some cases you'll not be able to install Win7 at all without wiping the drive of all partitions, installing Win7 and then reinstalling Windows 8. I've even tested new laptops by turning off Secure Boot (always required) then changing to CSM to install Win7 which will not allow Windows 8 to boot even though it stays on the drive and can be reactivated in BIOS by changing the CSM or Legacy settings.

The problem is that every BIOS is different and there isn't always much to find about yours. But it's still worth reading the Manual on the Acer Support Downloads webpage for your model, searching Google for anything about installing Windows 7 on your model number, as more models are having this information updated daily from forums like this one.

Thanks for this. I am not concerned with the dual boot at the moment that will be after I can get 7 working first!
I tried Rufus (& yumi) very early on and have also tried option 2 by manually processing brand new flash drives, but everything stops at the Windows logo screen. Could it be that some driver needs to be added to the installation iso? I wouldn’t have thought I should have to mess with the iso for such a straight forward setup.
I don’t want to boot in legacy mode I just want to use uefi / gpt although I have made legacy boot usb from Easy2boot but again that was legacy.
SJ

If you're absolutely sure the flash stick is properly formatted using only Option One in UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows then let's have a look at the BIOS settings which would be the next suspect.

Please enter BIOS setup, expand and take camera snaps of all BIOS settings related to UEFI, CSM, Legacy BIOS, Secure Boot and Boot Priority order. These are normally on the Advanced, Security and Boot tabs of the BIOS.

I have tried option 1 and option 2 with the same outcome over the last 4 weeks I have been trying this.
No photos at the is time but
Sata AHCI
Boot UEFI
Secure Boot Disabled
Boot order is adjustable whether I am trying to boot from USB flash drive / USB Hard drive or HDD as I am using this laptop now.

If the stick is correctly formatted and you have UEFI enabled then the stick should show up in the Boot Menu as UEFI device. CHoose that and report back what happens.

If it doesn't show up as UEFI device then we need to see the actual settings in BIOS setup for UEFI, CSM, LEgacy BIOS, Secure Boot and BIOS Boot Priority order, both the actual settings choices for those and the surrounding settings choices which may relate. Use phone camera, attach files using paper clip in reply box.

Some UEFI firmware will allow installing while an OS is still on the drive by merely turning off Secure Boot, others require some level of CSM or Legacy BIOS to ever install Win7 even in UEFI, others will not install at all until the drive has all partitions deleted and reformatted GPT for UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums.

Every BIOS is different, sometimes nothing works until the firmware is updated. Do you have a newer BIOS firmware for the board or PC?

The fastest way to resolve this is to have every available setting laid out in front of us, and the ones which are relevant expanded to see the choices.

I can boot a win7 iso from the USB flash drive and I can also do the same from a USB hard drive. I have done this to my laptop with win8 installed and again with the drive completely cleaned and formatted and with the drive unformatted and let the win7 installation partition the drive. The end result is the same win7 installs passing the point where it “updates registry settings” (or similar wording), reboots but stops at the “starting windows” logos.
Will work on photos.

Boot menu views as requested