Cannot get my Windows 7 boot usb to work on my desktop

[Kevin Andres]

Hey all,

I'm having an issue with my desktop. I'm trying to install Windows 7 alongside current installation of Ubuntu. My motherboard is a MSI z77a-g45 with an Intel i5-3570k.

Here's what I know. A month ago, I had windows 7 only on my machine. I upgraded to windows 10 (a pre-release version) with a usb stick, a week later I went to Ubuntu with a usb stick. I've been using Linux now for a month and honestly the only reason I even want Windows back is because I get sick of trying to run games through Wine\PlayOnLinux.

So here's what I've done\tried:
1) Made a USB bootstick with a Windows 7 ISO. I validated that it works because it works just fine on my laptop. Restarted the laptop with it sitting in the usb port and the windows installer popped right up.
2) Played with the BIOS boot order to get it to load up. I know I have it as priority, and the BIOS sees the USB stick.
3) I tried unplugging the main storage device (the one with Linux\Grub on it). When I did this, the machine when to a "insert the boot media and press any button" state. No ports detected the stick.

I'm at a loss. The same method which I've done several times to this computer to reinstall OS's is no longer working. I'm absolutely lost for what to do. If anyone has any ideas I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[Shaun o]

When you install windows 10 it has a boot protection option.
If you try to install an older os where 10 exists on the same drive or partition it will refuse you.
If you wish to install a prior OS to windows 10 the drive or partition must be wiped due to boot protection of windows 10 if active.
When you try to install another windows os Installation it is trying to update the boot record of the drive and boot information.
Windows 10 will deny this, if in protected mode.or boot protection security certificate mode.
An older os cannot supersede a newer Ms os. It will fail to install, on a drive or partition with a greater version of a windows OS.

It has to be install the old os first, then the new os as a multi boot option.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Kevin, why you chose to post your problem on the "Motherboards" forum is a mystery to me. I've moved it to a more appropriate one.

 

[Kevin Andres]

When you install windows 10 it has a boot protection option.
If you try to install an older os where 10 exists on the same drive or partition it will refuse you.
If you wish to install a prior OS to windows 10 the drive or partition must be wiped due to boot protection of windows 10 if active.
When you try to install another windows os Installation it is trying to update the boot record of the drive and boot information.
Windows 10 will deny this, if in protected mode.or boot protection security certificate mode.
An older os cannot supersede a newer Ms os. It will fail to install, on a drive or partition with a greater version of a windows OS.

It has to be install the old os first, then the new os as a multi boot option.

Is this still the case even though I wiped windows 10 off of my drive? Right now I am running ONLY Ubuntu.

One other thing I forgot to list, I completely removed the drive with the OS (I have 3 drives in my machine, 1x128GB, 1x250GB and 1x1TB) and this issue persisted. That's why I posted this in motherboards initially because I was feeling like this may be a hardware issue potentially.

 

[Kevin Andres]

Kevin, why you chose to post your problem on the "Motherboards" forum is a mystery to me. I've moved it to a more appropriate one.

I posted it to motherboards because I felt like it was generally applying to my motherboard. I know it's some issue pertaining to my hardware or BIOS. The poster who was marked, "best solution" was treating my answer as though the system was still detecting a Windows 10 installation, which would have been on the drive which I removed had it NOT been formatted to take Ubuntu.