Installing Windows 7 on the pure UEFI systems without CSM

Discussion in 'Windows 7' started by PrimeExpert Software, Jan 2, 2020.

  1. Muffin Top

    Muffin Top MDL Junior Member

    Jun 12, 2025
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    Thanks, I'm likely to end up doing this. I just got side-tracked by trying to figure out if Dell/Intel's GPU driver would allow me to have video without CSM.

    I heard it boot into windows without CSM, but of course the VGA driver doesn't work without CSM.

    I go to Dell's website, and look at the drivers they offer for Win 7, yet I've been having a bit of difficulty getting their driver onboarded into my system. I'm hoping my difficulty with their driver stems from having installed the Win 7 install.esd via a Win 10 USB. This methodology temporarily caused my Ultimate image not to be recognized upon installation. Maybe gaining access to the rest of my system resources via fixing the branding issue might allow my system to use Dell's Win 7 driver?
     
  2. TK50P

    TK50P MDL Junior Member

    May 29, 2023
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    how did you got it worked? I also tried flashboot pro 3.3t, but no luck for me. I mean, i could boot with flashboot flashed USB, but GPU doesn't work. GPU is AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT btw.
     
  3. Muffin Top

    Muffin Top MDL Junior Member

    Jun 12, 2025
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    I believe flashboot pro does not support UEFI without CSM. Did not work for me, and he did not respond to my inquiry.


    As far as I understand it, your options are (1) UEFI7 or (2) find a graphics card with Win 7/8 drivers. I'm doing the latter, because I haven't learned keytools yet, which I'm assuming would be required to secure-boot UEFI7 (because it modifies the bootloader).
     
  4. EFL

    EFL MDL Novice

    Jun 28, 2025
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    What's your platform?
     
  5. Alexandros C. Couloumbis

    May 19, 2018
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    if you study carefully both relative threads, you will probably conclude differently

    finding (working) GPU drivers for contemporary hw is a whole different issue, and probably a more challenging one, than booting win7 under UEFI class 3

    all mentioned projects remain Work in Progress which is fueled mainly by the feedback and the enthusiasm of the community

    best of luck in your quest
     
  6. Muffin Top

    Muffin Top MDL Junior Member

    Jun 12, 2025
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    Optiplex 7050. It's user-friendly for taking your time about setting it up for secure-boot, because back then they still included CSM in the firmware GUI, so you can play around with it until you're ready to secure-boot.

    Flashboot pro has an impressive website. An obvious observation is that if it could secure-boot Win 7, then he would explain how to set it up (so you're not relying on my experience).

    I think the forum has concluded that it won't work to backport native Win 8 drivers to 7, so the only alternative to UEFI7 is a graphics card (i.e., third-party driver, since MS never made theirs backportable).
     
  7. Alexandros C. Couloumbis

    May 19, 2018
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    #527 Alexandros C. Couloumbis, Sep 7, 2025
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2025
    have a look here, although for RX5700XT you may be out of luck. it doesn't hurt to try though
     
  8. Alexandros C. Couloumbis

    May 19, 2018
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    ++
    talking about backports there is also this initiative (still a proof of concept so far)