Solved Can't find a USB 3.0 driver for Win 7 installation

[AareO]

Hi

I'm trying to install Windows 7 Enterprise 32 bit on a new Lenovo P50. The thing is the P50 only have USB 3.0 ports. No USB 2.0 port or optic drive. Therefor, Windows have to be installed using a bootable USB.

As many others I have issues installing windows 7 using a USB 3.0 port due to the lack of USB 3.0 driver in WindowsPE and Windows 7. I think a have read all threads on the internet about this issue and spend hour trying to find a solution. No luck so fare :-(

I'm using Rufus to create the bootable USB and have a ISO image with only Windows 7 Enterprise 32 bit.

What I have tried so fare:

• Burn image to DVD and used a external DVD drive with USB. No luck drive shuts up when WinPE boots.
• Add USB 3.0 driver to the installation image using dism command. Drivers downloaded from:
  • Lenovo. They do not have any .inf driver for Windows 7 32 bit only a .exe. I have tried downloading the once for all other windows versions. No luck
  • Intel® USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver for Intel® 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family. No luck
  • Random full USB 3.0 driver package from internet. No luck
• The Win7USBpatcher.exe

It must be the lack of USB 3.0 driver. After WindowsPE has booted I have tried various USB devices but nothing is powering up.
Trying to install Windows 10 is no problem.

Next I'll try to install Windows 10 and from there install Windows 7 on a other partition and then delete Windows 10 but not the must smooth way to install windows. And yes, is has to be Windows 7 32 bit.

Any suggestion to what I can try or what I'm doing wrong??

Thanks!

 

[AddRAM]

Why would you think you could install 7 on another partition ? You`ll still have the same problem.

If Lenovo doesn`t have a program like Asus`s EZ Installer which integrates the usb 3.0 drivers into the installer, you may just be stuck with Windows 10, which is not all bad

Why does it have to be W7 Enterprise ?

Heck you could even try creating the usb installer with Asus`s EZ Installer, it just might work

 

[AareO]

Hi AddRAM

Well right now I'm just desperate and trying everything. My thought was starting the installation from Win 10 which have the USB 3.0 driver would not cause the problem.

I'm trying right this moment and so fare it seems to work

 

[AddRAM]

Well here`s another little trick, you start the Windows 7 install on another PC with a dvd drive or 2.0 ports, then when it reboots for the 1st time, you put the drive into the Lenovo and the install should continue, but don`t tell anyone I told you :roflmao:

The problem with your idea is, Windows 7 will not be able to use the C letter because it will already be used by W10, and you can`t change the letter or it will destroy windows.

But if you don`t mind having a dual boot, then carry on

 

[AareO]

Thanks for the suggestion. As I understand it when you say "put the drive into the Lenovo" you mean taking out the hard drive first and put it into an other computer which have USB 2.0. Then start the installation and at first reboot put it back and finalize the installation on the Lenovo? Just for my understanding

If that it's what you mean I have already try, well, I have opened the Lenovo but found out it has a M.2 SSD hard disk. I do not have an other computer with interface for M.2 SSD

 

[AareO]

After installing Win7 through Win10 I can conclude that the USB hub do not work in Win7 by default. Installing the Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver v.4.0.0.36 downloaded from Lenovo's website do the job and all USB port works. Well AddRAM have said I have ended up with a Win7 installation on the partition letter E :-(

So now I found a drive which I know works. How do I included that in my Win7 installation? I have tried using dism:

@setlocal enableextensions
@cd /d "%~dp0"

mkdir mount
dism /mount-wim /wimfile:.\boot.wim /index:2 /mountdir:.\mount
dism /image:.\mount /add-driver /driver:.\Drivers\WIN\USB3.0\Drivers\Win7\x86
dism /image:.\mount /add-driver /driver:.\Drivers\WIN\USB3.0\Drivers\HCSwitch\x86
dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:.\mount /commit
rmdir /s /q .\mount
pause
mkdir mount
dism /mount-wim /wimfile:.\boot.wim /index:1 /mountdir:.\mount
dism /image:.\mount /add-driver /driver:.\Drivers\WIN\USB3.0\Drivers\Win7\x86
dism /image:.\mount /add-driver /driver:.\Drivers\WIN\USB3.0\Drivers\HCSwitch\x86
dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:.\mount /commit
rmdir /s /q .\mount
pause
mkdir mount
dism /mount-wim /wimfile:.\install.wim /index:1 /mountdir:.\mount
dism /image:.\mount /add-driver /driver:.\Drivers\WIN\USB3.0\Drivers\Win7\x86
dism /image:.\mount /add-driver /driver:.\Drivers\WIN\USB3.0\Drivers\HCSwitch\x86
dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:.\mount /commit
rmdir /s /q .\mount
pause

 

[Megahertz07]

I've had the same problem and created a tutorial using dism, that is similar to what you've posted:
http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...sb-flash-installation-new-drives-new-mbs.html
I've found the C216 drivers here:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/do...Driver-for-Intel-7-Series-C216-Chipset-Family
Sata driver
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/20110/RST-and-AHCI-Driver-and-GUI

 

[AareO]

Hi Megahertz07, thanks for you reply. As you can see in my previous post that is exactly what I have tried. It just doesn't work.

 

[Megahertz07]

Did you see that I've posted the links to the C216 (USB 3.0) and for the SATA? With these drivers you can make a Win 7 installation flash drive with USB 3.0 and SATA drivers using dism.
Not all new Laptops are able to install Win 7 (a treat of this subject has been discussed here). But you can try.
Make the factory recovery disks so if something fails you able to recover to factory default (Win 10)
You must set on BIOS:
- SATA=AHCI
- OS = Other
- CSM (Compatible System Mode) = enable
- Storage Boot and PCI device to UEFI only
- Fast boot to disable.
If you don't have the options to
- OS = Other
- CSM (Compatible System Mode) = enable
You probably can't install win 7 on your laptop.

If you do have, boot the modified Win 7 64 with the USB 3.0 and SATA drivers on UEFI mode, go to install, custom, advanced, delete all partitions, create a new one (Win will create 3 partitions) and proceed.

 

[Megahertz07]

I had a look at the Lenovo P50 manual. https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/p50_ug_en.pdf?linkTrack=PSP:ProductInfo:UserGuide
It is compatible with Win7. Have a look at page 81/182

 

[AareO]

Hi Megahertz7. I assuming you are talking page 65 in the manual, page 81 in the PDF viewer.

I have tried following the manual and the guide on https://support.lenovo.com/dk/en/documents/ht103541 but nothing works.

In the manual it seems like a guide for when you want to install/update Windows and you already have Windows installed.

Follow the guide on Lenovo's website I do not find any updated files in C:\temp\mount\sourc

 

[Megahertz07]

I guess you cant find the Temp folder because you cleaned the disk, didn't you?
I've read all the post from the beginning.
You tried Win 10 and it worked. Did you try a retail version of Win 7 (HB, Pro, or Ultimate)?
With the modified win 7 installation disk, at what part it stuck?

 

[TrustMe]

How about if you first install Windows 10, create a new partition, then apply the Windows 7 image with DISM.

The cleaner solution would be to buy a M2 drive enclosure, manually create the system and Windows partitions, then apply the Windows 7 image.

 

[AareO]

Megahertz07, I really appreciate your help.

I'm using a virtual win10 running on a iMac to add the drivers to the installation and create the bootable USB. The Lenovo P50 I'm trying to install on the disk was blank to begin with.

Yes, I have been able to install Win10 with out problem, which I did just to try it out, but it has to be Win7 Enterprise 32 bit. The .ISO installation file I got from our License Management department and only contain Win7 Enterprise 32 bit. So call it a retail version or not I don't know.
Installing just as it is give the sammen issue

The BIOS has no problem detecting the bootable USB but when WinPE takes over and after pressing 'Install' is saying "A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing..." Maybe it's caused by something else but I have noticed that having a USB DVD drive plug in at the same time as running the installation it dies as soon the WinPE starts which to me indicated that it completely losing the communication with the USB Hub. I then assuming is due to missing USB 3.0 driver.
Installing Win7 from the same ISO file through the Win10 installation no USB 3.0 driver was installed either. I had to install that manually after the installation of Win was completed.

Furthermore, I have tried to browse the driver when the massage is shown and it does find them but will only list them when "Hide drivers that are not compatible..." is unchecked. Installing the driver.

The ReadMe file of the USB 3.0 driver I'm using state is it supporting Intel 7 series Chipset family: Windows 7 both 32-bit and 64 bit.

 

[Megahertz07]

I have never installed Win 7 Enterprise so I can't drive you thought.
Lets try another approach: Lets Install a retail version of Win 7 32 than, if it works, do an upgrade to Enterprise.
As your Win 7 Enterprise is 32 bits (why 32 bits?) you have to install it as legacy / MBR and you won't be able to use more than 3.2 G of memory, even if you have more.
You must set on BIOS:
- SATA=AHCI
- OS = Other
- CSM (Compatible System Mode) = enable
- Storage Boot and PCI device to Legacy only
- Fast boot to disable.
boot the modified Win 7 32 with the USB 3.0 and SATA drivers on Legacy mode, go to install, custom, advanced, delete all partitions, create a new one (Win will create 2 partitions) and proceed.

 

[Layback Bear]

Because you have a License Management Department, I presume you also have a I.T. department.

Have you confided with the I.T. Dept. to try and solve your problem?

 

[AareO]

I'm working in a quite big company and we do have a IT dept. for all administrativ corp computers. For systems owned, managed and only used by local departments it is the local IT departments responsibility and I am the local IT department in my department. Hope i makes sense. Ofcause, I could pay some consultance to come help me but I should be able to do it my self...AH!
Win 7 Enterprise 32-bit is the only one approved to be used in the company.

 

[AareO]

I have tried to go trough every thing one more time but with out luck. Furthermore I have discovered when browsing the driver, when the install tell the driver is missing, it saying "no new device could be found". To me this could indicate that I'm using the wrong driver. I just don't which one is the right.

Any suggestions?

By the way, Megahertz, I do not have a retail version.

 

[Megahertz07]

try this Intel software to modify the win 7 32 bits installation disk to add the drivers.
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25476/Windows-7-USB-3-0-Creator-Utility
I've found the C216 drivers here:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/66417/Intel-C216-Chipset
Sata driver
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/20110/RST-and-AHCI-Driver-and-GUI

You must set on BIOS:
- SATA=AHCI
- OS = Other
- CSM (Compatible System Mode) = enable
- Storage Boot and PCI device to Legacy only
- Fast boot to disable.
boot the modified Win 7 32 with the USB 3.0 and SATA drivers on Legacy mode, go to install, custom, advanced, delete all partitions, create a new one (Win will create 2 partitions) and proceed.