Failing to install Windows7 on Z390 mobo

[InterFC]

Hello everyone,

I have been trying to install Windows7 on my secondary SSD but I'm having issues.

Until 2 days ago, my motherboard was a Asus Prime z370-A and I had no problems installing and using Windows7 as second OS (my main OS is Windows10)

I then had to change motherboard because the z370 had issues and I bought a z390. Now i can not seem to be able to install Windows7 anymore.

If I try to install Win7 on my 2nd empty SSD (properly formatted using Diskgenius) from Win10 emulating a disk, I receive this error (it was always working before i changed mobo):

Screenshot by Lightshot

If i try installing Windows7 using a USB boot pendrive, the installer will not launch. The bios does detect the pendrive, but it will ignore it even though it's set as primary boot.

Do you have any idea how to fix this?

I understand the z390 does not support Win7, but the worst case scenario would be not having certain drivers. I should still be able to install Win7.

Thanks!!

 

[Megahertz07]

Welcome to the Forum.

Witch brand and model is your z390 MB? Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs.
Please don't use external links. Use the paper clip, browse to the file on your computer - upload.

How did you install Win 7 on the z370? Did you install from Win 10?
I'm not sure if you can install Win 7 on a Z390.

First rule to do a fresh install is to detach ALL other disks from the MB or you may end with the boot loader on one disk and Windows on another disk.

- New MBs, as a Z390, comes with the default to install Win 10. So you must set BIOS and disable Secure boot and fast boot.
- You can install as Legacy - MBR or EFI - GPT. On my computer I choose to install as EFI - GPT.
- How did you made the USB boot pendrive? Did you use Rufus?
- Did you added the Z390 SATA and USB3.x drivers to the installation disk?

 

[InterFC]

Hello.

Yes, I did install Win7 on the z370 from Win10 by emulating a disk with the iso mounted.

I'm trying to do the same thing on the z390 now but failing.

Here's the error i receive when i try to install it from Windows 10
https://www.sevenforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=408209&stc=1&d=1557604171

I tried disabling Fastboot and safe boot but it did not help.

 

[johnhoh]

The easiest way to transition a boot drive from a z370 board to a z390 board is change the disk controller driver to the generic "standard ahci 1.1 driver" while still using the z370 board, then just swap boards. Windows will boot on the new board but will not be able to use the usb ports natively, as you probably know already since it is also true of z370

If that ship has sailed and you have no choice but to do a fresh install you are correct, win7 should at least install on the board. Have you disabled secureboot in bios and also enabled CSM in bios?

 

[Megahertz07]

Please don't use external links. Use the paper clip, browse to the file on your computer - upload.

 

[InterFC]

The easiest way to transition a boot drive from a z370 board to a z390 board is change the disk controller driver to the generic "standard ahci 1.1 driver" while still using the z370 board, then just swap boards. Windows will boot on the new board but will not be able to use the usb ports natively, as you probably know already since it is also true of z370

If that ship has sailed and you have no choice but to do a fresh install you are correct, win7 should at least install on the board. Have you disabled secureboot in bios and also enabled CSM in bios?

Thank you a lot!

I enabled CSM and now the Windows installation starts up.

I'm going to need to get a PS2 mouse now so that i can start the installation and hopefully once Windows is installed i'll be able to install the USB3 drivers that i found.

 

[johnhoh]

I'm going to need to get a PS2 mouse now so that i can start the installation and hopefully once Windows is installed i'll be able to install the USB3 drivers that i found.

The section in the below link titled:
Windows 7 USB Driver Install 2.2: Set Drivers To Install at Boot

details how to get your usb drivers to install at boot without having to buy a ps/2 keyboard. Its a ryzen thread but the procedure still applies.

How To Get Ryzen Working on Windows 7 x64

--------------------------

Here is the best thread I've seen discussing getting a z370+coffee lake machine running fully with win7, except for the IGP which I assume you are not needing. Should also work for Z390.

How to install Windows 7 on Coffee Lake PC (Z370 chipset MB - Asus Maximus X Hero) - Overclock.net - An Overclocking Community

 

[InterFC]

Hello,

Thank you a lot for your help

I managed to find a old PS2 mouse so i connected it and it worked

But now when I try to go ahead with the installation, I receive this message:

https://www.sevenforums.com/attachm...mobo-da73411f-ed4e-4c5e-9921-ee1a64c4f5f4.jpg

Do you know which driver is it?

(I'm trying to install windows with a USB pendrive)

Thank you a lot

 

[InterFC]

I followed a guide to inject the USB driver into the pendrive, but i still get the same error :/

 

[johnhoh]

this is why I was saying its easiest to just swap out the hard drive and boot from it on the new motherboard, or clone it. Nevertheless...

You are trying to install win7 using a usb3 port but do not have a usb3 driver. Here is the fix:
(Solved) How to Fix "A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing" Error - Tech Support All

 

[johnhoh]

I followed a guide to inject the USB driver into the pendrive, but i still get the same error :/

Just saw your post. If the guide I just posted a couple minutes ago is what you already followed and it did not work, then I am assuming the issue is that the usb3 drivers you injected into the pen drive are not being recognized. Note that the only way to get usb3 ports working on a 370/390 board is to use the Win10 drivers designed for that board. The drivers will work on win7. BUT, in order to bypass the windows message of "your version is not compatible with this driver" you have to follow the instructions in the overclock.net link I posted yesterday, which discusses how to extract the drivers from the win10 driver zip file.

 

[InterFC]

Unfortunately i follow that guide but i still get the same problem.. any other ideas?

 

[InterFC]

Just saw your post. If the guide I just posted a couple minutes ago is what you already followed and it did not work, then I am assuming the issue is that the usb3 drivers you injected into the pen drive are not being recognized. Note that the only way to get usb3 ports working on a 370/390 board is to use the Win10 drivers designed for that board. The drivers will work on win7. BUT, in order to bypass the windows message of "your version is not compatible with this driver" you have to follow the instructions in the overclock.net link I posted yesterday, which discusses how to extract the drivers from the win10 driver zip file.

Sorry to bother you again

How to install Windows 7 on Coffee Lake PC (Z370 chipset MB - Asus Maximus X Hero) - Overclock.net - An Overclocking Community

from this link, which package do i need to download exactly? (u meantion the win10 driver zip file, not sure which one it is)

thank u a lot for ur help

 

[johnhoh]

Its no bother, but I don't think I can describe it any more clearly than the 11 steps listed in the very first post of the referenced link. You will be downloading from the asus website. The drivers are not specific to asus, they are intel drivers. As it says in the second post, you will need to click "show all drivers" to find the ones the thread starter talks about. The usb drivers are a part of the chipset driver, but I recommend you follow all the steps.

 

[InterFC]

So after researching i finally came to the conclusion that Windows 7 can not be installed in any possible way when using a z390

there are no drivers compatible.

the only way would be to use an external pci-e -> usb card but it's honestly too much work, im just gonna return my z390 and get a prime II z370 instead

Thank you for the help anyway!