Can not install Windows 7

[nvotosreborn]

Okay, so here's my story:

I bought a new copy of Windows 7 Ultimate for my new custom-built computer. Microsoft validated the key and sent me an email with a download link for the ISO. I downloaded the ISO and used wudt.codeplex.com (or whatever it is) to make a bootable USB with the Win7 DVD/USB Download Tool.

The USB WORKS ON OTHER MACHINES.

It won't work on mine. The error that I get is that dreaded "a cd/dvd drive device driver is missing" yada blah blah.

I've tried the "cancel out, move the USB stick and install again" thing. Doesn't work.

My case (Phanteks Enthoo Pro Full Tower Case) has 2 USB 2.0 and 2 USB 3.0 ports on the front. My keyboard and mouse work during bios and setup in both, and the usb boots from both.

This BIOS is a LOT more complicated than anything I've used before.
I had to jump through hoops to get the USB to boot in the first place.
I deleted my secure boot keys, etc..

My motherboard is Asus Z170-A.

Please, help me regain my sanity.

 

[Calvin7]

Intel Skylake has no support for USB based Windows 7 Installation.

Microsoft has removed support for the EHCI host controller (USB 2.0 spec) and kept only the xHCI host controller spec (also known as the universal USB 3.0 specification). While the USB 3.0 spec is backward compatible with most USB 2.0 and 1.0 functions, installing windows 7 via USB is not one of them.

The way around this issue is to slipstream USB 3.0 drivers into your Win 7 install media. MSI offers a utility for their motherboards. I couldn't tell you if it also works on non-MSI models.


MSI Z170 motherboards has a Utility
Title
Win7 Smart Tool
Application to easy install Windows 7.
Note
Video Tutorial: How to use Win7 Smart Tool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64TzNuHCf8A

 

[nvotosreborn]

Intel Skylake has no support for USB based Windows 7 Installation.

Microsoft has removed support for the EHCI host controller (USB 2.0 spec) and kept only the xHCI host controller spec (also known as the universal USB 3.0 specification). While the USB 3.0 spec is backward compatible with most USB 2.0 and 1.0 functions, installing windows 7 via USB is not one of them.

The way around this issue is to slipstream USB 3.0 drivers into your Win 7 install media. MSI offers a utility for their motherboards. I couldn't tell you if it also works on non-MSI models.


MSI Z170 motherboards has a Utility
Title
Win7 Smart Tool
Application to easy install Windows 7.
Note
Video Tutorial: How to use Win7 Smart Tool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64TzNuHCf8A

Okay, now we're getting somewhere, thank you for that.
My motherboard came with a installation DVD, which has the "100 chipset drivers" on it or something like that. It said you could implement the "AutoUnattend" folder and the "AutoUnattend.xml" file into the bootable USB, but I don't think I did it correctly, so I got the same problem.

Here's an idea:

If I burn the ISO to a DVD and install it that way, should I be okay? I don't have a sata ODD, but I have a USB external ODD that I could boot from instead.

Alternatively, would it work if I took the SSD out of the machine, plugged it into another machine, installed the OS, and put it back into my tower? I imagine that could create some problems, but I really don't know.