Solved How to install Windows 7 on Skylake Dell XPS 8910

[tigpoppa]

1) I still don't know what 7 pro ISO you are using. Just post the file name, something like:

987TR_5JJH2A00_W7SP1PRO64_EM(DL).iso

The file for the Dell download is called G13K9_PW4KGA00_W7SP1PRO64_ROW
Hope this helps us get closer to figuring out why that ISO works and the Ultimate wont work, must be something in there to recognize the NVME.

Been searching everywhere for the right M.2 driver seems to be the only problem but it doesnt seem to be available anywhere for download.

 

[Megahertz07]

On the working Win 7 Pro that has the M.2 drivers and is installed on the M.2 disk, did you tried to do an Upgrade to Win 7 Ultimate?
You launch Win 7 ultimate setup from inside the running Win 7 Pro.

 

[tigpoppa]

On the working Win 7 Pro that has the M.2 drivers and is installed on the M.2 disk, did you tried to do an Upgrade to Win 7 Ultimate?
You launch Win 7 ultimate setup from inside the running Win 7 Pro.

The win7pro is activated, what is strange is the Windows Update is not working very well over 24 hours to check updates. Every update installed it says update failed and reverts them. Same with upgrading to windows 7 ultimate with a legit key. Maybe its because did not install on UEFI? Going to attempt to create UEFI USB today to install UEFI Win7pro.

Didnt work, no suprise this new dell bios is most likely why nothing worked before really with that ultimate and now same as pro. when loading it goes to a black screen with a windows boot manager error saying the installation is corrupt even though its the same installation that is on the SSD now just with the USB setup for UEFI. New bios have some strange options like firmware TPM, OS recovery threshhold, for uefi boot it has Windows boot manager selected.

Installing Windows 7 Ultimate from inside Win7pro.
*Got new error maybe this is useful.
It says "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. Windows needs the driver for device [NVM Express Controller]. Click Load driver and load the required device driver.
**Starting over today and going to see if can create a partition in win7 pro then copy the files from win7ult into that reboot and install. If it fails will reinstall the broken dell win7pro OS.

Microsoft: Win7_Ult_Sp1_English_x64.iso *Test*
https://software-download.microsoft...1477628407&h=d8f791348b40559914d5fa47677c8f4f

 

[tigpoppa]

Starting over with a new ISO "Win7_Ult_Sp1_English_x64.iso": https://software-download.microsoft...1477628407&h=d8f791348b40559914d5fa47677c8f4f

This ISO is half the size of the previous one I was using which makes it much easier to modify. The less junk in there the better to figure out how to make it work and this seems pretty bare bones.
Solved: USB 3.0
Unsolved: Adding NVME support

This link from dell: "Requirements to Install Windows 7 on M2 Drives in Non-Volatile Memory express (NVMe) Storage Environments"
Requirements to Install Windows 7 on M2 Drives in Non-Volatile Memory express (NVMe) Storage Environments | Dell US
Led me to: "Update to add native driver support in NVM Express in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2"
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2990941
There are 2 hotfixes listed on this page.
1. Using DISM I add them to boot/2 and install/4 as packages. (Is that correct?)
2. Upon clicking "Install Now" I get taken right away skipping I accept to the no media found screen.
3. Upon selecting the driver "stornvme.inf" it attempts to load driver then BSOD.(Is that the right driver version?)

Things I have tried:
1. Selecting the NVME drivers without the above hotfixes results in nothing being seen.
2. Injecting the packages then selecting the driver results in BSOD
3. Injecting the packages and driver results in BSOD
4. Copying the boot wim from the working win7pro then selecting or injecting driver results in BSOD which leads me to think I should only be modifying the install wim?

Special Notes:
* Please look at the first image. The first image shows the NVME drive to select a driver. What is going on there? How can it pull a driver for the drive from the drive but it doesnt show up to install?
*Using legit retail Ultimate key in Windows anytime upgrade from Windows 7 Pro doesnt work. This is confirmed by Microsoft who told me my key is legit but only works on a clean install.

Questions:
1. Which .wim is being used at the hard drive selection part? Do I need to add the previous hot fixes to both install and boot wims? Wondering if that is where the error is coming from? I suspect this is the install.wim if anyone can confirm?
2. I am unsure if those hotfixes are correct or I am using them correctly, based on above am I injecting them right?
3. I feel I am very close but either missing a hotfix or using the wrong driver indicated by the BSOD below.

 

[SIW2]

Does the DELL Pro version install onto that dive?

If so, find the list in the Dell Pro iso.

iso\sources\install.wim\3\dell\fist\preinstall_image.txt

and

iso\sources\boot.wim\2\dell\fist\preinstall_image.txt

also check what is in

iso\sources\boot.wim\2\$winpedriver$\

 

[tigpoppa]

Does the DELL Pro version install onto that dive?

Yes, the Dell Pro version installs on the drive. New ISO is direct from M$ with english only.

If so, find the list in the Dell Pro iso.

1. iso\sources\install.wim\3\dell\fist\preinstall_image.txt
2. iso\sources\boot.wim\2\dell\fist\preinstall_image.txt
3. iso\sources\boot.wim\2\$winpedriver$\

1. iso\sources\install.wim\3\dell\fist\preinstall_image.txt
http://www.sevenforums.com/attachme...dell-xps-8910-a-preinstall_image_install3.txt
2. iso\sources\boot.wim\2\dell\fist\preinstall_image.txt
http://www.sevenforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=393139&stc=1&d=1477623225
3. iso\sources\boot.wim\2\$winpedriver$\

Thanks for the reply, was worried you gave up and I would not blame you.
*Noticed install/3 lists the 2 hotfixes I applied right at the top before it is "ie110000mulw74", being that they are right next to the hotfixes is it possible this is some kind of driver thing? Google returns nothing on it.
*The only hotfix I see if I am correct on boot2 is the following hotfix related to something about using system recovery so not sure if that is needed? (this is an x86 file)
Access Denied
*oddly I see NO driver inf listed in there for NVME if that is normal?
*What if and I suspect there is No driver needed because they are in a hotfix for NVME support?
*This ISO has 4 images (home, homeprem, pro, ult) should we work with image 4 not 3? Not sure if that matters or not.
*I can also access the NVME drive in Windows 7 install using the shift f10 cmd prompt. is that usable in some way to install via cmd if that is possible?

 

[tigpoppa]

View attachment 392917

Browse to the wim.

Select a folder.

Type the number of the image you want to mount. IMG: ( Whichever is Professional - probably image 3).

Click MOUNT. ( Takes a minute to mount )

Type Ultimate, then click SET EDITION. A command window will show you the progress (may take 30 secs or so. )

Then click UNMOUNT-COM. ( Note, the name field doesn't change until you install, as the changes are pending).

**Update using Dell Win7Pro NVME**
Windows 7 Ultimate installs but crashes at reboot during install process.
Is there a way using DISM to remove all the packages/dirvers on the Pro Image and apply them to the Ultimate edition? It seems Dell did not update all the indexes to be the same looking at the dates.

1. Using the DISM mounted the install.wim.
2. Type Ultimate and hit Set edition a window opens and wait.
3. Hitting the button "UNMOUNT-COM" gives the error pictured below.
4. Renamed efi.cfg to efi.cfg.bak
5. Selected Windows 7 Ultimate to install from list pictured below.
6. Windows 7 completes install process and reboots.
7. On first reboot as the microsoft logo appears it rebooots instantly.
8. Takes me to a black screen with the "Safe Mode" "Start Windows Normally" screen
a. Trying to boot into safe mode it goes to load windows files and freezes same with other options.
b. Selecting to install Pro from the list says installing ultimate but then errors saying a component is missing please restart installation process.

 

[SIW2]

1) "Is there a way using DISM to remove all the packages/dirvers on the Pro Image and apply them to the Ultimate edition?"

Dism can REMOVE drivers and updates. It cannot EXPORT updates to be used elsewhere. It can EXPORT drivers to be used elsewhere. Note: The MS nvme support are updates ( .msu files).

2) "It seems Dell did not update all the indexes to be the same looking at the dates."

Correct, DELL will have only added updates and drivers to the Pro image. That is why it was worth trying to upgrade the Pro image to Ult.

3) I have already posted that there is a list of updates and drivers in the Pro image. You can get it with 7-zip. Then you can download them and integrate them into Ultimate image.

HERE

There is also a list of updates and drivers in DELL iso boot.wim image 2. You can get it with 7-zip.

NOTE: The setup media ( in the sources folder ) must be the same in both boot.wim\2\sources, AND Iso\sources.

 

[tigpoppa]

1)
Correct, DELL will have only added updates and drivers to the Pro image. That is why it was worth trying to upgrade the Pro image to Ult.

NOTE: The setup media ( in the sources folder ) must be the same in both boot.wim\2\sources, AND Iso\sources.

Changing the pro to ult did work and installed up until reboot with the missing component error. Did not modify the boot.wim though. Is that the step I missed that might be why it didnt work? Dont quite understand what you by the bootwim\2\source must be the same as the iso\source?

Didnt even modify boot wim at all, maybe if that is done it will work if I can somehow understand what I should do with it. Again thanks for your patient help, this battle hasnt been easy due to my lack of knowledge but have learned alot so not afraid to take on the challenge to keep trying.

Considering rebuilding with all those updates but having dism problems where some packages only install 99.7 with no error but it leaves the wim unable to unmount giving that error about partial unmounting. So trying to avoid that headache for now at least...

 

[SIW2]

Not sure why you are having a dism error.

There is a folder called "sources" in boot.wim image 2.

I already posted lots of pictures. HERE

After you have added the packages ( packages are upadtes, thay may be either .msu or .cab files) to boot.wim image 2. you then copy the contents of boot.wim image 2 "sources" folder into your usb stick installation media "sources" folder.

That will overwrite the old files in the installation media "sources" folder.

If you check the standard MS media, all the files in "sources" are version 17514.

If you check the Dell media, some of those have been updated to version 18015.

 

[SIW2]

Number 2. in your post 106 is an invalid attachment.


"*oddly I see NO driver inf listed in there for NVME if that is normal?"

Yes it is normal, the MS nvme driver is called stornvme.sys. It is included in those updates I posted.

Windows6.1-KB2990941-v3-x64.msu is the stornvme.sys driver

Windows6.1-KB3087873-v2-x64.msu is the storport.sys and iologging.

 

[tigpoppa]

There is a folder called "sources" in boot.wim image 2.

I already posted lots of pictures. HERE

After you have added the packages ( packages are upadtes, thay may be either .msu or .cab files) to boot.wim image 2. you then copy the contents of boot.wim image 2 "sources" folder into your usb stick installation media "sources" folder.

That will overwrite the old files in the installation media "sources" folder.

What worked so far to install Win7ult from the dell USB NVME iso was I switched Pro to Ultimate using your instructions. Then I chose pro to install but it gave the missing component error.

Did not add any updates or packages at all. Just set the edition of install.wim. Is there anything I need to change on boot.wim if done that way? Or are you saying that after I switch the edition to copy the files over?

 

[tigpoppa]

Number 2. in your post 106 is an invalid attachment.


"*oddly I see NO driver inf listed in there for NVME if that is normal?"

Yes it is normal, the MS nvme driver is called stornvme.sys. It is included in those updates I posted.

Windows6.1-KB2990941-v3-x64.msu is the stornvme.sys driver

Windows6.1-KB3087873-v2-x64.msu is the storport.sys and iologging.

Will test this on the clean MSUltimate then the Dell win7pro and post results

1. Using the win7ultimate from Microsoft ISO will add usb 3.0
2. Then will inject 2 packages: install/4 and boot/2 (.msu files)
3.There is a folder called "sources" in boot.wim image 2.

I already posted lots of pictures. HERE

After you have added the packages ( packages are upadtes, thay may be either .msu or .cab files) to boot.wim image 2. you then copy the contents of boot.wim image 2 "sources" folder into your usb stick installation media "sources" folder.

That will overwrite the old files in the installation media "sources" folder.

 

[SIW2]

Dell win7 pro already has them included.

 

[tigpoppa]

After you have added the packages ( packages are upadtes, thay may be either .msu or .cab files) to boot.wim image 2. you then copy the contents of boot.wim image 2 "sources" folder into your usb stick installation media "sources" folder.

Thanks for your and the communities help, appreciate your dedication to us. Seems the missing step was this one. Installed in UEFI now.

 

[SIW2]

Great.

 

[a short var]

Luckily I only need Win7 Pro for the 8910 I am installing on, can you post a direct link to the Dell ISO please?

The link that has been posted doesn't have an actual download link but rather products supported by the image. Going to one of the products support pages requests a service code? I don't have a service code currently with me but need the ISO to prepare for a support job.

Thanks.

 

[a short var]

I continued my hunt for a service code for one of the models listed on the support page. I found one on an auction listing!

To make it easier for other people later.

This service code: 4CT0J72 It's for a Latitude E7470

Get images from link below.
Dell Windows Recovery Image

 

[a short var]

The ISO currently being downloaded has a name of "WGC5Y_2FR1DA00_W7SP1PRO64_ENG.iso"

Hopefully it is indeed the one with USB3.1 and NVME. The NVME SSD I'll be installing it on will be the Lite-On and not Hynix one.

 

[a short var]

Looks like it is the NVME compatible one, just google the file name and you'll see.