Solved Motherboard compatibility doubts

[ChiefTech]

Microsoft say that windows 7 is not compatible with skylake or new chipsets but some provide drivers...
Question is, will this motherboard: Support For X99A SLI Krait Edition | MSI Global | Motherboard - The world leader in motherboard design 64 running a Broadwell be compatible with windows 7? If not, will it work with a haswell?

 

[Megahertz07]

I do have a Skylake MB (Z170) and it is compatible with Win 7. You have to add USB3 and SATA drivers to the Win 7 installation disk.
For what I see on the MSI manual, the MB is compatible with Win 7
Support For X99A SLI Krait Edition | MSI Global | Motherboard - The world leader in motherboard design

 

[ChiefTech]

Thanks for the fast reply

so any skylake will work on windows 7? but i thought Microsoft said they would en support for new chipsets on anything thats not windows 10

 

[Megahertz07]

Read this article
- Microsoft says new processors will only work with Windows 10 - The Verge
- Why Windows 7 Won't Work On Intel's Current & Next Gen CPUs

 

[NoN]

so any skylake will work on windows 7? but i thought Microsoft said they would en support for new chipsets on anything thats not windows 10

Microsoft had to revert back on the Skylake processor (for a short time, though!)...looks next will not allow Windows 7.

Updates to Support Policy for Skylake Devices Running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 – Windows for IT Pros

 

[ChiefTech]

OK so Windows 7 will still work with older hardware, Right?

Okay but Windows 7 will still work with haswell and x99 chipset, right? And will do so forever as long as i have a windows installation disk, correct?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yes I have an x99 and 7 works perfectly
MS did throw this update out that caused some fuss though
After installing Microsoft Update KB3133977 for Windows 7, some users may encounter a "Secure Boot Violation" , which makes the system fail to boot into the operating system.

 

[NoN]

Okay but Windows 7 will still work with haswell and x99 chipset, right? And will do so forever as long as i have a windows installation disk, correct?

Hi,
Yes I have an x99 and 7 works perfectly
MS did throw this update out that caused some fuss though
After installing Microsoft Update KB3133977 for Windows 7, some users may encounter a "Secure Boot Violation" , which makes the system fail to boot into the operating system.

You're freaking out the OP!
Ok it's Halloween.....

more infos:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3133977

There's strong conditions for this to happen.

 

[ThrashZone]

Okay but Windows 7 will still work with haswell and x99 chipset, right? And will do so forever as long as i have a windows installation disk, correct?

Hi,
Yes I have an x99 and 7 works perfectly
MS did throw this update out that caused some fuss though
After installing Microsoft Update KB3133977 for Windows 7, some users may encounter a "Secure Boot Violation" , which makes the system fail to boot into the operating system.

You're freaking out the OP!

more infos:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3133977

:roflmao:

I believe MS was freaking out by issuing an update to 7 Home premium and Pro users can't even use = Bitlocker

 

[NoN]

yes! but the OP have Ultimate Ed!

 

[ChiefTech]

ive already disabled secure boot it should be fine

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I didn't have to do much of anything to install 7 on my x99 sabertooth and i7 5930k
It was a very friendly install process

The deal is installing os type as other os and not as windows uefi mode as the link describes
I believe I did install with windows uefi mode but it was an easy switch to other os afterwards
Plus I did not install that update being it was in the Optional section with other crapware I was not interested in installing either like win-10 upgrade.....

 

[BogdanH]

Hello everyone

As for "Windows7 support concern.." in OP.
To clear doubts first: It IS possible to install Windows7 on 100-series (Skylake CPU) motherboard! And Windows7 will work on it as long you wish. And if you keep Windows7 ISO file on safe place, you can reinstall Windows7 anytime later.
MS never said Windows7 doesn't work on Skylake system and MS never said Windows7 will stop working after end of support.

What makes Windows7 "unsupported" on Skylake system isn't because of CPU -it's because of 100-series motherboard. The thing is, 100-serries mobo's have "new" of USB hardware, which isn't recognized by Windows7 (no, not even USB2.0). And because Windows7 installation DVD doesn't contain drivers for this "new" hardware, we can't install Windows7 from USB -this is what makes Windows7 "unsupported"!
If you have SATA optical drive (DVD) and PS/2 ports for keyboard/mouse on your 100-series mobo, then you can install Windows7 without problem -after that, you can install driver for "new" USB. Keep in mind: even if keyboard/mouse is on USB2.0 port, it won't be recognized during Windows7 installation (which actually makes installation impossible). As said, Windows7 has no clue about "new" USB hardware.
The simplest (and 100% working) solution is, we modify Windows7 ISO file -that is, we "insert" required USB driver into Windows7 installation file. Then we burn (bootable) ISO file on DVD or transfer on USB stick. Now we can install Windows7 on 100-series motherboard as we always did (from optical drive or USB2.0/3.0 stick) -and USB keyboard/mouse will also be recognized, of course.
Modifying Windows7 ISO file isn't complicated and can be done with simple freeware tools. Detailed workflow would exceed this post, but one can easy find solution on web.
As this is Windows7 dedicated forum, I would expect it has "sticky" tutorial for "how to do that".
That's it

PS: I installed Win10 on my new Skylake PC at first (btw. Win10 has "new" USB drivers built-in), but after a week I decided to go back to Win7

 

[ChiefTech]

Man thank you very much all solved