Solved Can't install windows 7 (Windows cannot be installed to disk)

[Megapac]

Hello everyone I have an issue downgrading from windows 8 to windows 7

My laptop doesn't have dvd-rom so I'm installing from USB stick.
I put windows 7 files following this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

Then I went to UEFI and disabled boot secure. After I enter installation it doesn't let me choose disk where to install windows files. It says Windows cannot be installed to disk...

I have formatted partition 4 so I'm not able to boot windows 8 now...
Any suggestions?

 

[Kaktussoft]

All data on internal harddisk may be deleted?

 

[Kaktussoft]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html option ONE. So enter "command prompt". In command prompt:

diskpart
list  disk
exit

What drive number is your internal disk (look at the size in the output)?

 

[Megapac]

Disk 0 - 698 GB (HDD)
Disk 1 - 14 GB (USB Flash)

 

[Kaktussoft]

Hello everyone I have an issue downgrading from windows 8 to windows 7

My laptop doesn't have dvd-rom so I'm installing from USB stick.
I put windows 7 files following this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

Then I went to UEFI and disabled boot secure. After I enter installation it doesn't let me choose disk where to install windows files. It says Windows cannot be installed to disk...

I have formatted partition 4 so I'm not able to boot windows 8 now...
Any suggestions?

Partition 1-3: very small... not really important for win7 and data.
Partition 4: allready formatted... so no data anymore.
Partition 5: Recover stuff. I think for going to "factory install". Read manual and try "restore factory settings" . Works? If it doesn't work... no important data is on internal disk anymore, am I right?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Disk 0 - 698 GB (HDD)
Disk 1 - 14 GB (USB Flash)

If internal harddisk may be cleaned totally (ALL DATA is gone afterwards!):
Boot again to "command prompt" as explained before.

diskpart
select  disk  0
clean
convert  mbr
exit

Does that work?

 

[theog]

1) Downgrade to Windows 7.
Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7
Warning you must have the uEFI/BIOS firmware setting in Step Three set.


2) If Using a USB Pendrive on a PC with a uEFI BIOS.
USB Pendrive need to be formated to FAT32 as in
UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows
Take note of Step 11 for Windows 7.
Also you will need to use a USB 2.0 port, as there are no USB 3.0 drivers in Windows 7.

 

[Megapac]

Can't find where to restore factory settings.

And yes,no important data is on hdd.

 

[Megapac]

diskpart
select disk 0
clean
convert mbr
exit

Did this,now it says Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition.

 

[Kaktussoft]

diskpart
select disk 0
clean
convert mbr
exit

Did this,now it says Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition.

Did clean succeed succesfully?
did convert mbr succeed successfully?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Sure you boot from usb in non UEFI mode? in BIOS Secure boot is off? (maybe a reboot solves problem)

 

[Megapac]

Now I get only one disk to choose and no partitions - Disk 0 Unallocated Space

Secure boot disabled,CSM OS.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Now I get only one disk to choose and no partitions - Disk 0 Unallocated Space

Secure boot disabled,CSM OS.

diskpart
select disk 0
create  partition  primary
exit

All succesful? Try to install win7.
Post screenshot of error

 

[Kaktussoft]

Please answer #10

 

[gregrocker]

Disabling Secure Boot is not enough. You must take special steps to install if it remains in UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums .

If you've weighed the differences between UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS - YouTube and already decided to install to MBR disk with Legacy BIOS setting or Compatibility Support Mode set to Dual or Enabled, then follow these steps to Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7

 

[Megapac]

I just tried to boot with secure boot disabled and uefi & csm OS and it works!

regular bios - mbr.
UEFI bios - GPT.

My hard was formatted as gpt so I had to boot it with uefi and csm OS

Hope I don't get issues in further installation

 

[gregrocker]

Follow the steps in the tutorials I just linked above.

 

[theog]

What is the make & model of the NoteBook?

 

[Kaktussoft]

I just tried to boot with secure boot disabled and uefi & csm OS and it works!

regular bios - mbr.
UEFI bios - GPT.

My hard was formatted as gpt so I had to boot it with uefi and csm OS

Hope I don't get issues in further installation

You told before "Secure boot disabled,CSM OS.". I think you mean CSM is enabled??? If so...it should work.

Is it installing now?

 

[gregrocker]

On most mobos CSM is the same as Legacy BIOS.

So you would only enable CSM if you want to install in Legacy Mode to an MBR disk, not UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums