Is Win7 running on LGA1151 + Skylake Motherboards?

[pstein]

I am planning to buy a new computer with a LGA 1151 and Skylake processor.

Is Win7 running on such systems?

In other words: Are there Win 7 drivers available für the new Skylake chipsets?

Peter

 

[Boozad]

Yes it will be fine.

 

[Alling]

Yes it will be fine.

I wouldn't really say so. I just tried to install Windows 7 Ultimate on an MSI Z170I Gaming Pro AC with a 6600K. The only thing it does is complain about missing CD/DVD drivers as soon as I start the setup. AFAIK, this cannot be easily solved, since Intel has removed EHCI support in Skylake, effectively preventing installation of Windows 7. (It means that no USB devices will work during setup, including the bootable USB drive and the keyboard and mouse.)

It may still be possible to install from a DVD, but it seems that you must have an ODD, a PS/2 port and a PS/2 keyboard and mouse. So although it may not be impossible, it is certainly not easy, and most people don't own the required hardware.

 

[AddRAM]

That`s crazy

Only way to know for sure is to experiment, but just going off that info, why would someone buy Skylake with the intent of installing 7 knowing ahead of time it may not work.

But Windows 10 is just another OS, once you get used to the GUI, so no real big issue.

 

[Boozad]

I didn't know that, I stand corrected.

 

[Alling]

That`s crazy

Yes, it is.

A friend told me that he had installed Windows 7 on a Z170 computer from a USB drive without any problems though. So I don't know ... It certainly doesn't work for me, even if I enable Windows 7 Installation in the UEFI settings.

 

[Alling]

I didn't know that, I stand corrected.

Neither did I until I tried; I would never even have considered the possibility that Windows 7 would not run on Skylake.

One thing that did work was booting from an SSD with a Windows installation from another computer. Though, it was impossible to get any USB support at all.

 

[AddRAM]

Good thing none of us have to worry about it

@ Alling, the only time we`ve seen that error message was from the result of a bad installer, usually burned too fast (dvd anyway) what program did you use to create your usb installer and where did you get the iso files from ?

Windows 7 doesn`t see usb 3.0 and if the Skylake chipset has truly dropped usb 2.0 then there`s the problem.

I mean, are we saying there are no usb 2.0 ports on a Z170 board ?

 

[Alling]

Good thing none of us have to worry about it

@ Alling, the only time we`ve seen that error message was from the result of a bad installer, usually burned too fast (dvd anyway) what program did you use to create your usb installer and where did you get the iso files from ?

Windows 7 doesn`t see usb 3.0 and if the Skylake chipset has truly dropped usb 2.0 then there`s the problem.

I mean, are we saying there are no usb 2.0 ports on a Z170 board ?

No, Z170 has full USB 2.0 support (of course; removing it would pretty much make every Z170 motherboard useless for any purpose).

I don't remember what program I used, but the drive has worked perfectly fine on Haswell-E, Haswell, Ivy Bridge, and Sandy Bridge computers.

 

[AddRAM]

Then I don`t understand why W7 wouldn`t install on a Z170 board, even after reading that article, so......

I`m befuttled

I mean it`s not like any manufacturer makes a board for a certain OS, unless I`m missing something here. :huh:

 

[ThrashZone]

Plenty of other boards and cpu's around

 

[Alling]

Then I don`t understand why W7 wouldn`t install on a Z170 board, even after reading that article, so......

I`m befuttled

I mean it`s not like any manufacturer makes a board for a certain OS, unless I`m missing something here. :huh:

Because Z170, unlike its predecessors, does not support EHCI, only xHCI, and Windows 7 installation from a USB drive requires EHCI.

The problem begins with the fact that Windows 7 does not have the code to support master xHCI based installation via USB, with only installation over EHCI allowed.

 

[Alling]

Plenty of other boards and cpu's around

Why would he want to buy anything other than Skylake? And what would that be? The only reasonable alternative is Haswell-E, but it's significantly more expensive and completely overkill unless he needs the cores and/or the PCIe lanes.

 

[AddRAM]

"Because Z170, unlike its predecessors, does not support EHCI, only xHCI, and Windows 7 installation from a USB drive requires EHCI."

Yes, I read that, So then install from a dvd.

 

[ThrashZone]

I wasn't all that impressed :/
http://www.sevenforums.com/news/380912-skylake-gets-mixed-reviews.html

 

[AddRAM]

Seriously, is a 6700K any better then a 4790K ?

DDR4 suppport, what else ????

And I don`t care about it`s on board graphics, I personally would never use them.

 

[ThrashZone]

Mobile platform
I suppose it will fit in a surface

 

[AddRAM]

Anywho, maybe this will help the OP

https://www.google.com/webhp?source...h=1&ie=UTF-8#q=will+windows+7+run+on+skylake+

Bottom line is, they want you to install 10. ( Just ridiculus in my opinion but hey, they are in cahoots )

You want the latest hardware, install 10, you wanna install 7, Z87 and Z97 are fine.

The latest does not necassarily mean the greatest.

 

[ThrashZone]

Left out x99 and 5960x

 

[AddRAM]

My bad