How do i install Win7 on a Preinstalled Win8 laptop?

[samiam820]

I am looking to install Win7 Ultimate on my ASUS system and have 2 drives. I need win7 for work and really dont like 8 anyway. 8 was preinstalled. As you can tell from the screenshot i have a Virtual Clone drive (H: ) of the win7 iso. The BIOS has UEFI. Basically wanting to dual boot. I have been looking at the 7 & 8 forums trying to find a thread with this kind of install and no luck. What is the correct way to do this?

 

[DustSailor]

Here is a great tutorial that can help you out for this: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13326-downgrade-windows-8-windows-7-a.html *edit* if you need to dual boot both 7 and 8, that may be a different story *SEE POST BELOW*

 

[DustSailor]

Sorry mate, here may be the correct tutorial: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2344-dual-boot-installation-windows-8-windows-7-vista.html

Why would you want to dual boot 7 and 8? Meh, forgive my curiosity. Hope this helps, and take care

 

[adamf]

If you've got 8.1 pro you could boot 7 from VHD http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2393-windows-8-vhd-create-boot-dual-boot.html

 

[genet]

If you only have the C: partition, you first need to shrink the C: partition in Disk Management -> LINK

Windows 7/8 setup: Installing using Legacy BIOS Boot Mode or UEFI Boot Mode.

Note: The following instructions will not work if your computer is not Windows 7 compatible, when you select UEFI Boot Mode (to boot from the UEFI: USB or UEFI: DVD) and try to install Windows 7 64-bit.

You must disable Secure Boot, because it is not compatible with Windows 7.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/17058-secure-boot-enable-disable-uefi.html

If using a 64-bit Windows 7 installation USB flash drive.
- Download and run the Rufus program.
- Connect your USB flash drive.
- Click on the browse icon and select your Windows 7 64-bit ISO image file.
- Under Partition scheme and target system type, select GPT partition scheme for UEFI Computer
- Under File system, select FAT32
- Click on Start button.

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Help Forums

- Connect your Windows 7 64-bit USB flash drive (or insert Windows 7 64-bit installation DVD).
- Restart the computer.
- Press the correct key to enter the boot menu (see this link for help).
- Select your USB/DVD from the boot menu.



Note: You must select UEFI: USB or UEFI: DVD if the USB/DVD device showing twice in the boot menu, one marked UEFI and one not marked UEFI (see screenshot below).



On the Where do you want to install Windows? screen you'll see a list of all the partitions on the computer.

Select the partition which you want to install Windows 7. Just make sure you do NOT select the partition where you have Windows 8 installed.



After Windows 7 installation you will choose which operating system you want to use (see screenshot below).

 

[theog]

I am looking to install Win7 Ultimate on my ASUS system and have 2 drives. I need win7 for work and really dont like 8 anyway. 8 was preinstalled.

YES & NO, down to your UEFI/BIOS firmware setting.

As this a OEM manufacturer's PC with Pre-installed Windows 8/8.1.

1) Downgrade to Windows 7.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13326-downgrade-windows-8-windows-7-a.html
Warning you must have the UEFI/BIOS firmware setting in Step Three set.

Make sure you read the NOTE at Step three.

2) If Using a USB Pen drive on a PC with a UEFI BIOS.
USB Pen drive need to be formatted to FAT32 as in
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html
Take note of Step 11 for Windows 7.
Also you will need to use a USB 2.0 port, as there are no USB 3.0 drivers in Windows 7.

As you have updated to Windows 8.1, you will need to make a partition for Windows 7 x64 after the 350mb Windows 8.1 Repair tool partition.

 

[samiam820]

I dont have 8.1 pro..its just standard. And like i said before, i need 7 for work while i still want to keep 8.1 on the other drive. What any of you are not seeing is that i have ANOTHER 1tb drive and THATS the drive i would like to install 7 on. So all your answers are a bit confusing. I do not need to touch 8.1. Also...How do i find out if my laptop is 7 compatible?

 

[theog]

What any of you are not seeing is that i have ANOTHER 1tb drive

Set the UEFI/BIOS firmware to suit Windows 7 x64, then install.

 

[DustSailor]

Go to your website for the laptop to find drivers for windows 7 to see compatibility (If they are available, they should be supported).

 

[samiam820]

What any of you are not seeing is that i have ANOTHER 1tb drive

Set the UEFI/BIOS firmware to suit Windows 7 x64, then install.

View attachment 39508

OK..I do a usb install?

 

[genet]

How do i find out if my laptop is 7 compatible?

How do I find out if my laptop is Windows 7 compatible, when I use UEFI Boot Mode option?

1. Make a backup of your Boot Configuration Data (BCD) file

- open an elevated command prompt and type: bcdedit /export c:\savedbcd

bcdedit /export c:\savedbcd

This will create a file c:\savedbcd which is your boot entry backup.
If you mess up, you can always undo changes by:

bcdedit /import c:\savedbcd

2. Disable Secure Boot
3. If you want use a USB flash drive -> Create a bootable UEFI USB flash drive
4. Install Windows 7 64-bit from DVD or USB

edit: Windows 7/8 setup: Installing using UEFI Boot Mode or Legacy BIOS Boot Mode.