Solved UEFI Windows 7 Install on a Gigabyte z690 (help!!!)

[jacer4]

UEFI Windows 7 Install on a Gigabyte Z690 GAMING DDR4 (help!!!)

Hey everyone. Recently I have been trying to perform an install of Windows 7 on my Gigabyte z690 motherboard to my GPT partition scheme SSD, but I always get a BSOD error interrupting the 'starting windows' clover animation identical to this: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=ht...bp&s=874ef003ee9027eed3f15fb8cfdd8e8a28b94c77 . There seem to be many people on threads I have seen who get this exact error with the same motherboard, but i have no details on the people that have succeeded. Here is a list of some things i have tried:

• Enabled CSM/Legacy support in bios.
• UEFISeven.
• integrated KB5017361 patch into an iso file using dism++ (which gives uefi boot support natively to some people apparently).
• everything in this video How to install Windows 7 on modern hardware (Works on Z390 up to the latest Z690 chipset!) - YouTube
• installing windows 7 (sucessfully) using a modified modern installation environment (such as windows 10's) but the screen freezes at the same booting animation as the installer does when running the os
• modified acpi.sys files that are supposed to fix this error.
• modified boot64.efi files.
• updated bios

unfortunately these have had limited success. Any help, especially from those who have solved this issue with the same motherboard or different, would be much appreciated!!

 

[BlueBonnett]

Try migrating an existing installation. Clone the OS partition to the new PC and use a program like Paragon that can adjust the OS to new hardware. The most important part will be a functioning EFI partition, I was lucky to have been provided a disk image download for mine to work on my system, it may or may not work on yours but I can provide it if need be.

 

[jacer4]

Hi BlueBonnett. I can give the method you suggested a try but If you could send me the image file that worked for you, I could give that a go too. Thanks.

 

[SIW2]

I would be interested in having a look at that image to see what has been done to it.

 

[jacer4]

SIW2 sorry are you referring to the image that I have used or the user above? I will send you the one I am using in two days when I get access to my computer if that is what you are requesting.

 

[SIW2]

Yes, Blubonnet image.

jacer4

perhaps it is the bios version on whatever type of gigabyte z690 you have. Others with z690 have managed it

 

[BlueBonnett]

Hi BlueBonnett. I can give the method you suggested a try but If you could send me the image file that worked for you, I could give that a go too. Thanks.

https://www.dell.com/community/en/c...38dd?commentId=647f9064f4ccf8a8de1a90bc#M4576

- - - Updated - - -

I would be interested in having a look at that image to see what has been done to it.

Here you go, this is the first 250 MB of the drive containing the MS reserved partition and the EFI partition.

 

[jacer4]

Okay, so for most people using a 'Gigabyte Z690 UD DDR4' motherboard, this acpi.sys file should do the trick:
Upload files for free - acpioriwin7bit64DDB11h8hack.sys - ufile.io
it has worked for two people according to this forum:
Only 790 MB free Ram in Win7 SP1 on z690 board - Windows 7 - MSFN
here is a backup link already named:
acpi.sys - Google Drive
Howeeeverrr for some gosh damn reason this will not work on my 'Gigabyte Z690 GAMING DDR4' motherboard and I want to die. I believe it should work since my motherboard is not so different, and this exact modified acpi.sys file, I have found, is already included in several Windows 7 modified ISOs so it should be compatible with most other motherboards?? I'm probably just an idiot doing something wrong. I'll update this thread with a solution when I get it working (I get the same BSOD btw).

- - - Updated - - -

Aaand it turns out I was an idiot. LOL. Here's what worked for me.

- Installed the following ISO (uses windows 10 installation environment so it should work) (may require you to disable csm/legacy support during installation only): ]Internet Archive: Error
- On a different disk, I replaced the acpi.sys in the actual disk after the installation was complete, not in the base iso.
- Disabled 'Driver Signature Enforcement'
- It works.. for now. (you may have to replace it multiple times unfortunately)
(uhh this also seems to have broken my existing windows 10 install on a different drive... theres that too)