How to install Windows 7 on a Surface Pro 1

2W10 · 31 Dec 2022

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.

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 · 31 Dec 2022

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

2W10 · 31 Dec 2022

2plash6 said:

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 · 31 Dec 2022

2W10 said:

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 · 31 Dec 2022

2plash6 said:

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

Then it should work most likely.

SIW2 · 01 Jan 2023

Those instructions could be automated with a batch file.

Megahertz07 · 01 Jan 2023

2plash6 said:

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 · 01 Jan 2023

Megahertz07 said:

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 · 06 Jan 2023

SIW2 said:

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 · 09 Jan 2023

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]