Windows 7 won't boot on Surface Pro 6

[2W10]

Hi,
I installed Windows 7 on a VM, disabled the boot screen with the command "bcdedit /set {current} bootux disabled", and I also disabled vga.sys. Then I imaged the VM onto the Surface with Macrium Reflect. However, when Windows tries to boot, it crashes without showing a BSOD. Then I get the error 'Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause." and it gives me an option to boot into Startup Repair or boot normally. When I choose "Launch startup repair (recommended)", it freezes at "Windows is loading files". Is there a way to get Windows 7 booting on my SP6?

 

[Megahertz07]

We need all the hardware specs of your Surface Pro 6.

New hardware requires drivers that are not on the Win 7 installation files. You have to add those drivers to the Win 7 installation files.

Win 7 has no support for touch screens. Why do you want to replace Win 19 with win 7?

 

[2W10]

SP6 Specs:
Surface Pro 6 - 256GB i5 8GB M1796

What drivers will I need to add? I can't slipstream them with NTLite because it costs money and I am broke.

And I am just experimenting to see if a legacy OS would run on the Surface's hardware. Using a virtual machine is not an option.

 

[Megahertz07]

The drivers depends on the CPU / Chipset you have.
What CPU is on it? What is M1796?

 

[2W10]

The CPU is intel i5-8250U and M1796 is Model 1796.

Here is a full list of the specs:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/surface-pro-6/8zcnc665slq5?activetab=pivot:techspecstab

 

[Megahertz07]

The i5-8250U is a Kaby Lake CPU. You have to add some drivers to Win 7 installation files, like USB3.x, SATA and MVMe.
If you don't add those drivers, once you boot from the Win 7 installation drive you won't have mouse, maybe keyboard, and you won't see the drive.

SIW2 made a script to add the drivers to the installation files.
Update your Win 7 installation media

 

[SIW2]

Depends if the surface 6 has csm support

 

[Megahertz07]

Depends if the surface 6 has csm support

Compatibility Support Module (CSM) is a component of the UEFI firmware that provides legacy BIOS compatibility by emulating a BIOS environment.

Open BIOS and see if there is an option to run "other" OS or an CSM option.

As it is a M$ hardware that came with Win 10, I would say that the chances to install Win 7 aren't big.

 

[2W10]

No there is no option for Legacy or CSM.

 

[SIW2]

A few enthusiasts claim to have workarounds to install without csm. Not sure it is worth the bother.

some stuff about it by poster w.keller on my digital life forum.

 

[2W10]

A few enthusiasts claim to have workarounds to install without csm. Not sure it is worth the bother.

some stuff about it by poster w.keller on my digital life forum.

I found someone who did this.

http://reboot.pro/topic/21108-install-windows-7-at-uefi-graphics-output-protocol-gop-hardware/

I used your Update Windows 7 media utility and I am pretty sure it integrated the drivers.

I then booted into the Windows 10 setup and deployed the Windows 7 image.
However, on the first boot, it crashes and does not give me an error or anything, anytime I turn on my surface, it crashes with no bsod.

 

[Megahertz07]

On BIOS, you must disable fast boot and secure boot.

 

[2W10]

I did. I fully disabled Secure Boot, also Trusted Platform Module, and Simultaneous Multithreading.

 

[SIW2]

Look at what I suggested. I haven't tried it myself.
windows-7-uefi-install-without-csm

 

[2W10]

I put the Windows 10 boot files on the Windows 7 boot partition. I am stuck at a black screen. I waited for about five minutes and still nothing.

Edit 1: 20 mins and still nothing.

 

[SIW2]

Did you install the correct graphics driver ? How do you know it is the correct driver?

 

[2W10]

Did you install the correct graphics driver ? How do you know it is the correct driver?

I did not install the graphics driver. I did find an unofficial driver for my graphics card on drp.su.

 

[SIW2]

If you have hd630 or similar on the cpu you could try this:

HERE

 

[2W10]

I tried doing what I previously did but also installed Intel® UHD Graphics 620 driver. When I finished, I got the same result, stuck on a black screen.