Windows 7 & 8.1 (Intel 7th & 8th Gen)

[Nexis3120]

I have a question for all of you. I do not know if it is possible, but I have a laptop with a 7th Gen Processor. The issue that I am running into is that some of the software that I use on a daily basis requires Windows 7. I have been able to get it to work on Windows 8.1 as well. However, Windows 10 will not play nice with my software. What I was wondering is if there is anyway I can run Windows 7 Pro, or 8.1 Pro on a 7th Gen Processor without getting the constant Microsoft message stating that my OS does not support the hardware? I also cannot find a graphics driver that will work either. However, Intel's website states that the graphics driver is supported for Windows 7/8.1/10 which I found interesting. I really don't know if this is possible, but thought it was worth a shot asking.

[NumLock21]

So you have managed to install win7 on your 7th gen computer?

 

[orangecat]

I'm pretty sure it should work. I think it's just a warning I can't see why it wouldn't run an older OS.

[Crunchy Dragon]

Everything released after Skylake CPUs(6th Gen) has no native support for Windows 7.

[NumLock21]

8 minutes ago, Kilobytez95 said:

I'm pretty sure it should work. I think it's just a warning I can't see why it wouldn't run an older OS.

I tried to install Win7 on a 7th gen once and setup won't even let me install the OS. It stops when right before the setup screen. Is that the same place you got your error or you got a lot further and managed to install Win7 and nagging error is on your desktop?

Can try running Win7 on a virtual machine or your software to run as Win7 compatibility mode.

[orangecat]

1 minute ago, NumLock21 said:

I tried to install Win7 on a 7th gen once and setup won't even let me install the OS. It stops when right before the setup screen. Is that the same place you got your error or you got a lot further and managed to install Win7 and nagging error is on your desktop?

Can try running Win7 on a virtual machine.

VM might be your only option. I'm not aware of a way to get past this.

[NumLock21]

Just did a Win7 vm and it seems to work so far.

[porina]

20 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

Everything released after Skylake CPUs(6th Gen) has no native support for Windows 7.

Do correct if needed, but my understanding is Microsoft is the party to initially blame for a lack of support as they kicked it off. Intel may or may not have played along in not providing Win7 specific drivers for newer chipsets once MS made that decision, although AMD certainly didn't and still offer Ryzen drivers even if MS wont support it. It is possible to run 7th gen CPUs in 6th gen (100 series) chipsets, which certainly do have Win7 drivers.

 

20 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

I tried to install Win7 on a 7th gen once and setup won't even let me install the OS. It stops when right before the setup screen.

I haven't tried myself, but I've had no major problems "transplanting" Win7 installs between multiple systems with very different chipsets even between red and blue. The only occasional gotcha is lack of USB support so you can't actually control it... if network is up, can at least remote in.

 

46 minutes ago, Nexis3120 said:

The issue that I am running into is that some of the software that I use on a daily basis requires Windows 7.

The "run as" compatibility mode doesn't help at all?

 

46 minutes ago, Nexis3120 said:

I also cannot find a graphics driver that will work either. However, Intel's website states that the graphics driver is supported for Windows 7/8.1/10 which I found interesting.

Laptops are generally more awkward and you might have to get it from whoever makes your laptop, not Intel.

[Nexis3120]

I have successfully installed and activated Windows 7 on my 7th Gen laptop. Windows 7 actually runs much smoother than Windows 10 did on this laptop. I have even installed Windows updates successfully as well. Really the only issues that I am running into is the graphics driver, and the warning message from Microsoft stating my system is not supported. 

 

Microsoft is completely to blame for the lack of support for 7th Gen and newer processors. It is pretty obvious that Microsoft is forcing users to Windows 10. My opinion is that Microsoft has been upset that users have not jumped over from Windows 7 to Windows 10 liked they had hoped. There are many different articles out there stating that Windows 10 has overtaken Windows 7, but that is far from true. Latest articles from PC Magazine have showed that Windows 7 is still the prominent OS for Windows PCs. Also there are several articles stating that 6th Generation Processors are being bought up like crazy because of this as well. I have a good friend that works at Dell and he said that Dell has continued to offer their new PCs with the 6th Generation Processors since many customers still prefer Windows 7 over 10. 

[Ithanul]

If you want to shut up the nag, there is program called wufuc over on github that stops it and still allows updates to be applied.

[Delicieuxz]

An x86 CPU should run an x86 OS. Intel 7 and 8 gen should run Windows 7 just fine.

 

Here's the patch that gets rid of the artificial and lying 'hardware not supported' propaganda message: https://github.com/zeffy/wufuc

[SS CHIN]

Of Course Yes. 7th and 8th Gen Processor only have USB Driver issue.

For 7th Gen Intel Processor, Download and install this USB Driver, The rest will work fine in everything.
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/21129/USB-3-0-Driver-Intel-USB-3-0-eXtensible-Host-Controller-Driver-for-Intel-7-Series-C216-Chipset-Family

For 8th Gen Intel Processor, Download and install this USB Driver, The rest will work fine in everything.
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/22824/Intel-USB-3-0-eXtensible-Host-Controller-Driver-for-Intel-8-9-100-Series-and-Intel-C220-C610-Chipset-Family

[Delicieuxz]

A lot of people report the MSI Smart Tool as being an easy and reliable way to successfully add USB 3 and NVMe drivers to a Windows 7 installer.

 

MSI Smart Tool download: https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=261560.0

 

Guide: https://www.msi.com/files/pdf/SMART_TOOL_User_Guide_EN.pdf

[grss1982]

You could try a Windows 7 install with Windows Update off.  And make sure not to install the updates that would give you the nag warning. Risky, but worth a shot I guess.

 

There's also a patch to disable that nag update: https://github.com/zeffy/wufuc

 

From the site: "Disables the "Unsupported Hardware" message in Windows Update, and allows you to continue installing updates on Windows 7 and 8.1 systems with Intel Kaby Lake, AMD Ryzen, or other unsupported processors."

 

Read about it in the OC forums that I frequent: https://www.overclock.net/forum/132-windows/1690905-microsoft-blocks-win-7-8-1-updates-7th-gen-intel-amd-cpus-not-true.html