Installing Windows 7 On Predator 17

I have a Predator 17 (G9-793-79V5) that, of course, came preloaded with Windows 10. I'm disappointed in that operating system, and I'm wondering if it's possible to install Windows 7 64-bit on it, instead? I don't care about any Acer apps, like Predator Sense, working, as I don't play games on it (I bought it because gaming rigs usually have the highest-end hardware, which is what I wanted). I'm only concerned with having/being able to get the correct drivers for my hardware, like my NVIDIA driver; Synaptics trackpad; Network card, etc, etc. I own a Windows 7 disc so that's not a problem.

Anyone know if this is even possible, and anything special I might need to do in getting it installed? I read some posts on this forum where others installed Windows 7 on their laptops, but none of them were my particular model. Thanks.

Dennis

Accepted answers

All comments

MaClane

Good night dmw_4814 !

Any driver can be installed even without initial support.
You can use various methods such as driver automation software (such as Driverbooster or Driverpack), you can identify the harwrae ID and search directly on Google, and even if you are knowledgeable in programming and hardware, rewrite existing drivers to suit your laptop .

As for the installation, the pdendrive to boot must be created with some software like Rufus, as support for UEFi in GPT mode.
ISO should be single-version (not able to contain other versions, especially x86) of Windows 7 x64 with SP1 included.
Bios must be in UEFi mode and SecureBoot disabled.
Only use a USB 2.0 port

xapim

@dmw_4814 yes its possible but bare in mind win7 doesnt swork properly on uefi/gpt only mbr (so no dual boot with 10 only dual boot with mbr OS) so it will be a bit tricky you have to change from uefi to legacy mode also setup a supervisor bios password and disable secure boot in order to boot from the usb drive that you have to compile/burn with rufus (that what i recommend) using an original windows 7 iso also @sri369 can share more on this one as he is running win 7 on his H300 and he has a thread explaining the steps on how to install it

@MaClane sorry to disagree with you just a bit but win7 doesnt support uefi/gpt very well on our predators (this is due to not supporting secure boot) only mbr works fine or gpt with secure boot off (tried myself no luck) as far as i know so not possible to install in in uefi mode without going through a bit of a headache first only windows 8 and above support uefi and secure boot properly i tried loads of win7 isos myself on rufus uefi/gpt and in all of them i get bsod when starting to install on uefi i just ended up by giving up as i wanted to dual boot win10 with 7 but i would have to format everything from scratch and also install win 10 on legacy mode but because everything always worked fine for me i dont bother anymore

(they all run and install fine on my other aspires tough)

PS: for a fresh drive shouldnt be an issue but a partitioned drive with other OS on it its a bit of a nightmare lol

MaClane

xapim disse:

@dmw_4814 yes its possible but bare in mind win7 doesnt swork properly on uefi/gpt only mbr (so no dual boot with 10 only dual boot with mbr OS) so it will be a bit tricky you have to change from uefi to legacy mode also setup a supervisor bios password and disable secure boot in order to boot from the usb drive that you have to compile/burn with rufus (that what i recommend) using an original windows 7 iso also @sri369 can share more on this one as he is running win 7 on his H300 and he has a thread explaining the steps on how to install it

@MaClane sorry to disagree with you but win7 doesnt support uefi/gpt very well on our predators (this is due to not supporting secure boot) only mbr works fine or gpt with secure boot off (tried myself no luck) as far as i know so not possible to install in in uefi mode without going through a bit of a headache first only windows 8 and above support uefi and secure boot properly i tried loads of win7 isos myself on rufus uefi/gpt and in all of them i get bsod when starting to install on uefi i just ended up by giving up as i wanted to dual boot win10 with 7 but i would have to format everything from scratch and also install win 10 on legacy mode but because everything always worked fine for me i dont bother anymore (they all run and install fine on my other aspires tough)

PS: for a fresh drive shouldnt be an issue but a partitioned drive with other OS on it its a bit of a nightmare lol

xapim disse:

@dmw_4814 yes its possible but bare in mind win7 doesnt swork properly on uefi/gpt only mbr (so no dual boot with 10 only dual boot with mbr OS) so it will be a bit tricky you have to change from uefi to legacy mode also setup a supervisor bios password and disable secure boot in order to boot from the usb drive that you have to compile/burn with rufus (that what i recommend) using an original windows 7 iso also @sri369 can share more on this one as he is running win 7 on his H300 and he has a thread explaining the steps on how to install it

@MaClane sorry to disagree with you but win7 doesnt support uefi/gpt very well on our predators only mbr works fine as far as i know so not possible to install in in uefi mode only windows 8 and above support uefi properly i tried loads of win7 isos myself on rufus and in all of them i get bsod when starting to install on uefi i just ended up by giving up as i wanted to dual boot win10 with 7 but i would have to format everything from scratch and also install win 10 on legacy mode but because everything always worked fine for me i dont bother anymore (they all run and install fine on my other aspires tough)

Wrong.

Windows 7 x64 with SP1 integrated and all upgrade patches have support for UEFi mode and GPT it is perfectly possible to install.

I have already oriented dozens of users and I even realized a Multi Boot with Windows 7 x64 Ultimate, Kubuntu 18.09, Kali Linux and Windows 10 in a Predator Helios.

xapim

@MaClane well i tried all sp1 images i found and have and couldnt install in in uefi even with secure boot disabled/enabled all possible combinations on my H300 as i said bsod all the times

i even burned it into a dvd and used my external dvdrw drive to try to install it an again bsod well maybe its just me unlucky

but its nice someone has it in dual boot with win10

so i apologise and withraw what i stated above i even got a 8gb pendrive on purpose because it seems that larger would cause issues on rufus as i have larger ones and none worked also

MaClane

In some cases, when some error persists, you can download all drivers and drivers for the Windows 7 laptop model and integrate them into ISO.

That way, during the installation, any problems related to this will already be corrected.

dmw_4814

LOL; all your responses have me MORE confused than I was before! It'll work; it won't work - which is it?! I guess my Windows 7 DVD won't work with an UEFI/GPT environment, as I need at least Windows 7 SP1?

How do you create a Windows 7 DVD or bootable thumb drive with SP1 integrated? I've never done that before. Also, I'm not particularly worried about finding drivers after I get Windows 7 installed; I can search them out. It's the actual Windows 7 install I'm worried about.

xapim

MaClane said:

In some cases, when some error persists, you can download all drivers and drivers for the Windows 7 laptop model and integrate them into ISO.
That way, during the installation, any problems related to this will already be corrected.

Probably that is my issue here i need to integrate the drivers needed into the iso itself in order to get it to install without bsods or try to find out an iso by someone who had already done it

@dmw_4814 yes it will work but if you have bsods like i had (this is why i just gave up on it) the only solution to get it to install its what @MaClane stated above there are drivers missing that need to be integrated into the iso itself before creating it into the usb drive on rufus you would need a software like nlite or vlite and find out what drivers you are missing ad what do you need in order to get it to install it here is an example:

https://www.intowindows.com/how-to-integrate-drivers-into-windows-7-installation-disc/

dmw_4814

xapim said:

MaClane said:

In some cases, when some error persists, you can download all drivers and drivers for the Windows 7 laptop model and integrate them into ISO.
That way, during the installation, any problems related to this will already be corrected.

Probably that is my issue here i need to integrate the drivers needed into the iso itself in order to get it to install without bsods or try to find out an iso by someone who had already done it

@dmw_4814 yes it will work but if you have bsods like i had (this is why i just gave up on it) the only solution to get it to install its what @MaClane stated above there are drivers missing that need to be integrated into the iso itself before creating it into the usb drive on rufus you would need a software like nlite or vlite and find out what drivers you are missing ad what do you need in order to get it to install it here is an example:

https://www.intowindows.com/how-to-integrate-drivers-into-windows-7-installation-disc/

Yeah, I actually just found step-by-step instructions on how to create a Windows 7 SP1 ISO with all updates through 1/31/19 integrated into it, using nlite. Thanks!

dmw_4814

I actually bought an Acer Nitro laptop (don't remember if it was a 5 or 7) a few years ago that came with Windows 10. I installed Windows 7 on it, and found drivers for everything except the sound card that was installed in it - they just didn't exist for it & Windows 7 (at least, I couldn't find any), so I had no sound. I eventually gave up; returned it, and bought an HP Envy 17t laptop, with Windows 7 preinstalled.

It was a shame, though, because I got EVERYTHING but that sound card on the Acer to work!

xapim

Sometimes windows 10/8 drivers would work on 7(x64) in compatibility mode and vice versa or even by disabling the signed drivers but again its a hit and miss if there arent official and supported ones

when ill have some free time to fiddle with it ill give it another shot

dmw_4814

My attempts to install Windows 7 on my Predator 17 was a disaster! Well, that might be a little overly dramatic, LOL - I'm unable to get through setup. The first time, I created a bootable USB thumbdrive with Windows 7 x64 SP1 w/all updates through 01/19 merged/slipstreamed into it - that got as far as the Windows 7 logo flashing/throbbing (or, whatever you'd call it), but never in at least an hour went any further. The second try was simply Windows 7 x64 SP1 - that went as far as installing files, then when it was supposed to reboot, it just froze. Also, my one SSD is an NvMe SSD, and Windows 7 setup couldn't install it on that drive, because it lacked NVMe drivers. I tried to install some, but no luck. I finally gave up and reinstalled Windows 10.

xapim

You have to get all updates and drivers that u need into the image and burn it into the usb drive with rufus UEFI/GPT mode i also tried and i ended up for giving up because i was getting bsods on setup thats because the images i used didnt had the drivers needed to install it but it can be done as i said u just have to figure out the drivers you need and thats it there's an old video here but there is also other ways to do it as u stated you already got all lates updates into the image now its just a case of getting the drivers u need and give it a shot with rufus

(old video just for demonstration) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gFAjCVleOk

step by step guide:

https://www.howtogeek.com/255540/the-last-windows-7-iso-youll-ever-need-how-to-slipstream-the-convenience-rollup/

Quick Links

Top Members

Weekly

Alejandro_AC 55

Jack22 40

Puraw 35

Slade 35

billsey 30

Swift Series Intel^® Evo™

Game Pass

Acer Corner

Gaming on Chromebook

Swift Series Intel® Evo™

Game Pass

Acer Corner

Gaming on Chromebook

Swift Series Intel^® Evo™