Solved Trying to install Windows 7 x64 on my Lenovo ThinkPad L460

[userandaname]

Hello everybody, I just was wondering how I should install Windows 7 x64 on my Lenovo ThinkPad L460.

I am trying to install it on a external HDD so that I don't destroy my Windows 10 x64 installation.

I also know about dual-booting however I don't feel like doing a dual-boot however if that is the only way to go then I might consider it.

The thing is though is that my system uses UEFI but it does have CSM.

The problem is that when I boot off of my Windows 7 installation with CSM enabled it BSODs and doesn't want to boot.

I have done some research and found out that this may be an ACPI related issue but now I am not sure where to go from here.

Any tips would be very appreciated.

Thank you very much.

 

[SIW2]

I am trying to install it on a external HDD

Thats why.

Simplest way:

Boot into win 10

Apply the win7 image to a spare partition on your internal hard disk.

Add a boot menu entry.

You could use winntsetup to do both of the above.
https://mega.nz/folder/zWIXgaqT#rdX_-WE7dH0iAcIt3qqUZQ


Lenovo has drivers for win7, you can integrate those after applying the image and before booting into win7 if you like.

 

[userandaname]

Question

Does this install Windows or does it install the drivers for Windows 7 to run properly?

I can install Windows using DISM just fine. I am just wondering to figure out where I have to go from here. Also are the NVMe drivers necessary? I am using an SSD as my normal boot drive

 

[SIW2]

Apply the image, add a boot menu entry, boot into win7 and it completes the installation. I always do this.

That will have the drivers that come included in the win7 installation media.

If you want extra drivers, you can integrate them into the wim, or integrate them after applying , or install them after booting into win7. You will probably want 3rd party video and net drivers

Lenovo has them here:
SCCM Package for Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit) - ThinkPad L460 - Lenovo Support GB

Those come as an .exe pack. edit: these are easy - The lenovo .exe is self extracting, run it and select a folder to extract the drivers to.

Then one way is to use dism++.
It will list windows installations in the top pane.
Click the win7 installation in the top pane to highlight it in blue.
Click Open Session.
Click Drivers in the left pane.
Click ADD.
Browse to the folder of drivers you extracted.

dism++ SCREENSHOTS

 

[userandaname]

Thank you, I will try that and I will let you know if it works!

 

[SIW2]

There are mass storage drivers in the lenovo pack, so integrate them with dism++ into the applied image before booting into win7

 

[userandaname]

I will keep that in mind!

 

[userandaname]

Error

Thank you, I will try that and I will let you know if it works!

I got an error:



It may still work but I haven't tested it.

 

[Megahertz07]

ThinkPad L460 is a Skylake computer, so it's Win 7 compatible.

Last week I have converted a Skylake Samsung laptop from Win 10 to Win 7.
For the updates use Single file with all updates - Simplix

I suggest you do a Disk image. Better be safe than sorry.

 

[userandaname]

Failure!

When I first tried this project I got the 0x0000007b BSOD and it happened again however this time it does try to boot for a little bit longer but it does BSOD.
I have CSM enabled.

Any more tips?

 

[SIW2]

You have done something wrong. Follow the instructions carefully.

Also check your bios settings

 

[SIW2]

Installing or Downgrading to Microsoft Windows 7 from a system designed for Windows 10 - ThinkPad - Lenovo Support GB

 

[userandaname]

Installing or Downgrading to Microsoft Windows 7 from a system designed for Windows 10 - ThinkPad - Lenovo Support GB

Yeah, when I first tried to do this project I found this website and this still doesn't work and gives me the exact same BSOD.

 

[SIW2]

What kind of disk are you installing onto. Is it a sata ssd
page 77
https://content.etilize.com/User-Manual/1051332080.pdf

 

[userandaname]

What kind of disk are you installing onto. Is it a sata ssd
page 77
https://content.etilize.com/User-Manual/1051332080.pdf

Sorry for taking so long to reply.

Windows 10 is on a SATA drive but my external hard drive is USB.

Now that I think about it, was that the problem?

 

[SIW2]

As explained in post2.

I am trying to install it on a external HDD

Thats why.

 

[userandaname]

Sorry for possibly wasting your time SIW2!

I just have 2 more questions for you but if you want me to set this as resolved then we can do that too. (Those questions are about this conversation by the way.)

What do you say?

 

[userandaname]

Bye!

I will now set this post as resolved.

Thank you for fixing my problem and goodbye!

If anyone has any more questions about this then you can reply.

 

[SIW2]

This is a forum. It is for asking questions.

 

[userandaname]

Okay but still sorry!

Thanks for the help!