Windows 7 x64 install in Aspire A515-46

tsakalosgeorgios

I want to install Windows 7 x64 in my laptop (Aspire 5 A515-46-R14K).
I don't want the installed Windows 10...
I would like instructions on how to install succefully the Windows 7 x64.
I have found some related Win7-working drivers. I created a USB stick for UEFI installation, disabled secure boot & TPM, I installed Win 7 x64 as normally would, it reaches 90%, then jumps to updates to install, but when it reboots, it stucks / blinks in Acer logo screen...
I assume that is has something to do with the GOP drivers integrated in the BIOS.
I have v1.05 in BIOS.

JackE

The BIOS must be changed from UEFI to legacy BIOS mode and the boot drive must be changed from GPT partition to MBR partition before trying to install Win7. Win7 will not boot from a GPT partition drive. In doing so, you will lose the Win10 installation and its factory OEM recovery partition.

The Win7 installation iso USB pendrive must be prepared using Rufus with MBR partition scheme and FAT32 format.

Some of the Win7 drivers will not function properly on the A515-46 because the hardware wasn't invented at the time the drivers were being developed.

tsakalosgeorgios

1) I don't care about losing Win10 (normal or recovery partitions... I didn't like them at all afterall), I don't care about Win7 not getting security updates. I just want Win7 !!!

2) I have found Win7-compatible drivers for every part of the laptop (...although Acer insists on pushing people on Win10!).

3) Acer's BIOS (from 1.02 to latest 1.05) for this laptop Aspire 5 A515-46-R14K DOESN'T support legacy mode... ONLY UEFI (Acer has disabled it!). At least Acer respect the people that want Win7 & put the ***** legacy mode in a new release of the BIOS!

4) I have tried several tools that boot through UEFI (eg Hiren CD etc... all WinPE 10 flavors... I even slipstreamed the Win7 Radeon graphics drivers in the Win7 USB)... One every case, it seems that there is something inside the bloody Acer BIOS that ***** the whole installation (even after the Win7 installation ends!)... It must have to do with the default VGA mode that Win7 starts (= not seeing the Radeon Vega gfx mode)...

For god's shake Acer, put the ***** "legacy" option in the BIOS!

JackE

Sorry, the legacy CSM overlay is apparently being phased out for all major consumer-oriented PC manufacturers.  While I'll agree that Win7 was arguably the last halfway decent Windows version, it won't run natively on the latest hardware. In my own situation, I initially dealt with it using VMWare since most of my apps and pieces of hardware ran just fine on 32-bit even going back to Win98SE & WinXP. Now, rather than work with the new Intel & AMD virtualization technologies, I've just moved on to Mint Cinnamon for everything. It can be easily set up to have essentially the same look, feel, function and most importantly stability of Win7. I no longer have to fear what mess the next major Win10 update will cause. And with the WINE overlay, I no longer have to rely on Windows for the few Windows-only apps that I still like to use.

Easwar

Hi @tsakalosgeorgios,

Plz check here

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/steps-to-follow-before-you-install-windows-7-sp1-and-windows-server-2008-r2-sp1-from-the-microsoft-download-center-d1045020-cb9a-68e4-9cd2-e162da931d04

tsakalosgeorgios

Easwar said:

Hi @tsakalosgeorgios,

Plz check here

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/steps-to-follow-before-you-install-windows-7-sp1-and-windows-server-2008-r2-sp1-from-the-microsoft-download-center-d1045020-cb9a-68e4-9cd2-e162da931d04

This is about installing W7 SP1 in an already installed W7 disk!
I' m trying to fresh install Win7 (SP1 ofcourse) in an Acer laptop (Aspire A515-46-R14K) with UEFI-only BIOS.

tsakalosgeorgios

JackE said:

Sorry, the legacy CSM overlay is apparently being phased out for all major consumer-oriented PC manufacturers.  While I'll agree that Win7 was arguably the last halfway decent Windows version, it won't run natively on the latest hardware. In my own situation, I initially dealt with it using VMWare since most of my apps and pieces of hardware ran just fine on 32-bit even going back to Win98SE & WinXP. Now, rather than work with the new Intel & AMD virtualization technologies, I've just moved on to Mint Cinnamon for everything. It can be easily set up to have essentially the same look, feel, function and most importantly stability of Win7. I no longer have to fear what mess the next major Win10 update will cause. And with the WINE overlay, I no longer have to rely on Windows for the few Windows-only apps that I still like to use.

I know. I admire the Linux solutions too & they have come a long way in user friendly GUIs.

The trouble is that many business oriented apps exclusively support Windows (and 7).

A great example is Acrobat Pro... it hasn't released any linux version on purpose! And the Linux-environment software for PDF management is not very compliant with the general PDF prototype (and trust me: I have tried a lot of linux software for that matter).

JackE

Yeah except for Acrobat, all my business app needs are satisfied with the Libre suite. I rarely need the full PDF file handling capability of Acrobat anyway like dealing with forms and get by with the last ca 2013 linux version. Of course, since I usually set up for dual boot I can fire up Win10 if I really have to as long as an update hasn't messed it up again. I think Adobe will eventually support Linux again.

tsakalosgeorgios

After some extensive searching, I've concluded that the main source of troubles is the BIOS provided by Acer.

I've found other manufacturers that offer the option in the BIOS (or even as UEFI native) & permit the fresh W7 installation.

Acer, for some reason, decided to exclude all users from attempting that (I suspect why)...

Acer even forgot to release in their support page essential tools that had to come with on some laptop models (eg for my Aspire A515-46, they forgot to have the "Quick Access" tool that needed, in order to distinct caps & num lock status - there is no keyboard led to check if on or off!!! I had to check the support of the other similar laptops in order to download & install it...)...

I might try to install similar laptops' BIOS in order to get the ***** legacy option working...

In short:

- Acer compromised with Micro$oft in some sort of deal to block through BIOS any attempt of installing OS older than W10.

- Their after-sale service is a joke! Software tools missing... drivers older than the ones you would find with a simple google search... noone responds to your service requests...

JackE

>>>I've found other manufacturers that offer the option in the BIOS (or even as UEFI native) & permit the fresh W7 installation. >>>

I haven't seen evidence for a native UEFI installation yet. Do you have a link? Anytime I've seen claims like this that Win7 was installed on a UEFI bootstrapper, it's always been with the UEFI's CSM overlay on an MBR partitioned boot drive. Up till about a year ago, almost all UEFI bootstrappers from every manufacturer included this overlay on their latest machine releases. As mentioned earlier, the trend nowadays with the latest machine releases is no CSM overlay. I distinguish between latest machine releases and new machines because every manufacturer is still selling new machines with 2-3 year old UEFI bootstrap designs with the CSM overlay.

tsakalosgeorgios

JackE said:

>>>I've found other manufacturers that offer the option in the BIOS (or even as UEFI native) & permit the fresh W7 installation. >>>

I haven't seen evidence for a native UEFI installation yet. Do you have a link? Anytime I've seen claims like this that Win7 was installed on a UEFI bootstrapper, it's always been with the UEFI's CSM overlay on an MBR partitioned boot drive. Up till about a year ago, almost all UEFI bootstrappers from every manufacturer included this overlay on their latest machine releases. As mentioned earlier, the trend nowadays with the latest machine releases is no CSM overlay. I distinguish between latest machine releases and new machines because every manufacturer is still selling new machines with 2-3 year old UEFI bootstrap designs with the CSM overlay.

The following method has worked out in many PCs, laptops & desktops (yet not in Acer, because of its stupid persistance in ***** BIOS):

https://www.win-raid.com/t4677f52-GUIDE-How-to-get-Win-clean-installed-onto-an-NVMe-SSD.html

NTLite - Integration of drivers into a Win7-8-10 image:

https://www.win-raid.com/t750f25-Guide-Integration-of-drivers-into-a-Win-image.html

ttttt

@tsakalosgeorgios

If you insist on using the Win 7 with your A515-46-R14K (I have the same laptop too), seemed like the only option left is to run the Win 7 as a guest and a Win 10 Pro as a host under VM environment. It was only recently, with the help of @JackE, I was able to run some very old 32-bit games and apps dated back to Win 3.1, Win 98 and even DOS 6.0 era with a modern PC. Though that wasn't the A515-46-R14K that I used, the concept should be the same.

The A515-46-R14K came with Win 10 "S" mode, most people switched it to Win 10 Home. You may need a new Win 10 Pro license for the VM. The Insydne BIOS with the A515-46 is just too basic and not much options for users.

***** Luck !

JackE

Have to agree with ttttt  on this. In the win-raid links provided, Fernando sorta obfuscates/skirts the UEFI mode & MBR requirement with his focus on getting NVME cards to work. I'm not sure if it's a language thing or not. I also have a hard time following what he's actually doing with NTLite. Judging by his last 2017 update, he's still working with CSM capable UEFI bootstrappers that just about every consumer PC manufacturer, including ACER, was offering at the time.