24-b017c dual boot with Win7 possible?

[jkatman]

Is the b017c capable of running WIN7 pro in any way shape or form?

I really need to make this a dual boot system with WIN7 if so.  WIN10 is not being nice to some specific attorney software that I need to have working for a client. Win7 is the last OS this software is compatible with before an expensive software upgrade is required to be compatible with Win8 or higher (we're talking $1000-2000 range). 

I attempted to install WIN7 on this computer after partitioning drive space, and turning off several settings in the bios (that I had to trial and error btw), but WIN7 keeps hanging at the first screen after loading drivers (language selection screen). Something happens to where the USB ports shut off killing all connections to the mouse and keyboard. I've tried numerous changes within the bios settings and retrying the WIN7 installer (from an installer disc) but no dice.

Is there a certain combination of settings that need to be turned off in the bios to get win7 installer going properly or am I screwed? 

thanks for any help

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

In addition to enabling legacy mode and disabling secure boot in the BIOS (W7 is not compatible with secure boot), you need to run this tool from Intel because of the skylake chipset your PC has.

There is a readme file with the instructions for use on the link below as well.

You have to run it on the W10 OS (or W8.1).

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25476/Windows-7-USB-3-0-Creator-Utility

[jkatman]

excellent thank you!

Will give this a shot and report back. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

[jkatman]

Here's an update w/side story...

So, I created a bootable USB drive w/WIN7 as instructed, which went fine --- I will share in detail later for anyone else who's in the same shoes as myself in regards to creating a dual boot setup on a 24-b017c system and also the outcome of this dual boot setup as well (or just the procedure of getting WIN7 installed as a main OS).

I disabled secure boot, enabled legacy mode, and also had to make sure the boot options were set to boot from the USB drive first before continuing the WIN7 install.

Well, I am extatic that the mouse + keyboard are now alive when the WIN7 installer kicks on! Onto the next issues..

I get to the WIN7 drive selection screen and the drive I have prepared for WIN7 (which I did beforehand in WIN10) is NOT able to have WIN7 installed because '...the selected disk is of the GPT partition style' -- EXCELLENT. I google about this and find I can easily convert GPT to MBR via Shift+ F10 and running several commans via CMD (at the win7 installer screen). Thing is, when I tried this I don't see the prepared WIN7 drive as a selectable disk to convert in the drive list;  it only shows me the main C drive disk (disk 0 w/9xx gb size). So, as an idiot late night move, I went ahead and converted Disk 0 to MBR thinking it was safe move. It finishes, I carry on with the WIN7 installer and at the drive selection window there's only ONE friggin drive to install WIN7 on! OMG. I just realized I wiped out the whole f**king drive!!!!  -- dual boot windows goal just got 86'd. WIN10 gone. SMFH.

Luckily, I can finish installing WIN7 as this was the main goal anyways. I HATE WIN10 for all that its doing to me, hence my reason for installing WIN7 whilst to remain compatible with the WINXP attorney apps I/they need working. On aside note WIN10 rant, I can't believe how buggy this garbage OS is. I can't believe MS is forcing out WIN10 either in a sneakyish way. On top of that being an intrusive act, there's zero care if an older important program will become broken once WIN10 has 'upgraded' your system say to a blindly unknowing end user. 

Back on topic -- Win7 finished installing and I now need device drivers. Will WIN10 drivers suffice?

Thank you.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

What an adventure!

As you found out, you have to format the entire disk as one or the other (GPT or MBR).  You can't format one partition in GPT and the other in MBR.

I wonder if you had gone back and disabled legacy mode, if W7 would have let you install on the GPT partition--or if disabling legacy mode would also have enabled secure boot.

In any event, that is water under the bridge.

Drivers...Here are some that may work...

First install the Intel chipset driver and restart the PC.  The 2nd one down on the left is the auto install file.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/20775/Intel-Chipset-Device-Software-INF-Update-Utility-?pr...

See if this graphics driver works...3rd one down on the left is the auto install file.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26228/Intel-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-10-and-Windows-7-8...

Audio:  Accept the agreement.  Download and install the 2nd driver on the list.

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=24&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownT...

Ethernet:  Download, unzip and install the 2nd driver on the list.

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=13&PFid=5&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTy...

Card reader:  Download, unzip and install the 1st driver on the list.

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=15&PFid=25&Level=4&Conn=3&DownT...

Wireless:  2nd driver down on the left.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26242/Intel-PROSet-Wireless-Software-and-Drivers-for-Windo...

Bluetooth:  2nd one down on the left.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26311/Intel-Wireless-Bluetooth-Software-for-Windows-7-?pro...

[jkatman]

Paul.....Lovin your ultra quick help!!! THANK YOU. 

Regarding the switching off of legacy mode to see if the W7 installer would accept the installation on the GPT partition, it crossed my mind to try that upon what I read, but I mucked that up!  I am kind of curious about that though. Perhaps I can go back and start from scratch again as a GPT partition and do some testing after I get WIN7 up and running 100%.

I love doing trial and error tests tho its a headache, its rewarding once a formula is hopefully figured out!

...reporting back soon...

[jkatman]

Success on all of the drivers you linked me to Paul  - thaaaaaank you!

Only thing is the Bluetooth driver doesn't seem to do anything upon installation. But, upon the initial install of W7, W7 already seemed to recoginze a bluetooth device and had some default driver installed (bt icon in sys tray is active). Regardless of that, I'll be doing a windows update after I install the convenience rollup update for W7 SP1.

Its lookin good overall so far!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

In the device manager, you should be seeing an Intel bluetooth adapter.

If you see a generic bluetooth adapter, for some reason the driver didn't install.

The bluetooth will not work unless the Intel BT driver is installed.

If you only see a generic bluetooth adapter, go to the control panel>programs>remove programs and if the Intel bluetooth software is listed, uninstall it, restart the PC, and try this HP bluetooth driver for the Intel wireless card your PC has...

This package contains the driver installation package for the Intel Bluetooth in the supported notebook models running a supported operating systems.

NOTE: In order for this package to install correctly, the previous package must be removed before running this driver update.

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp77001-77500/sp77324.exe

Are there any other devices that need drivers?  I only gave you the major ones.

There may be some odd-ball things that still need drivers.

[jkatman]

thanks I'll try the BT driver!

here's the other devices left. I'd assume after running a windows update (which its super lagging on btw) it would catch these items and install the drivers, but if have direct links for them that would be great.

(nevermind the WD SES... thats just my external drive hooked up)