Guide: Installing Windows 7 on a Kaby Lake PC.

EvilHamster

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Hi everyone. This is a guide on how to install Windows 7 64-bit version with all its essential drivers on an Acer E5 575G 54T8 Laptop. This is a Kaby Lake based PC and I expect that many, if not all, of these steps can be applied to many other Kaby Lake based PC's.

NOTE: This is just a theoretical description, on how to do something in theory. I take absolutely no responsibility about ANYTHING. Do it all on your own risk. You will also need a new legal Windows 7 copy (DVD), with an activation key.

Recommendation: If your PC came with a pre-installed version of Windows 10, make a full system image backup. Seriously, it can not hurt to have it.

If the admins feel like this is not an appropriate post on this forum, I have no objections if they decide to delete it. I thought it was something that could be useful to some people, so I posted it.

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Note: Many of these things might work better in a different order, or way. There might be unnecessary steps.

Step 0: Download an ISO from Microsoft for Windows 7 (SP1 if possible) and burn it to a DVD.
Step 1: Download the Wifi driver at http://pcsupport.lenovo.com/gb/en/downloads/ds111818. (Yes, its Lenovo. Yes, it works for this model of Acer). [http://support.lenovo.com/gb/en/downloads/ds105865 - UNCHECKED! But might work too. Above link seems broken]. BURN IT TO A DVD*. You will not have USB drivers at the start when you have installed Windows 7.
Step 2: Insert the Win7 DVD in the Laptop and go to advanced start up in Windows 10. Go to the UEFI setup. Turn on Legacy mode. Install Windows 7.
Step 3: Install the Wifi drivers.
Step 4: Install updates for Windows 7, but you do not need (and likely do not want) to install the following updates:
KB2882822 - Update adds ITraceRelogger interface support
KB2952664 - Compatibility update for keeping Windows up-to-date in Windows 7. Adds telemetry
KB3021917 - Update to Windows 7 SP1 for performance improvements. Adds telemetry
KB3068708 - Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
KB3080149 - Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
KB3184143 - Remove software related to the Windows 10 free upgrade offer
KB3185330 - October 2016 Security & Quality Rollup
KB3188740 - November 2016 Security & Quality Rollup for .NET Framework 3.5.1
KB3192403 - October 2016 Preview Of Monthly Quality Rollup
KB3196686 - November 2016 .NET Framework Preview Of Monthly Quality Rollup
KB3197869 - November Preview Of Monthly Quality Rollup
KB3197868 - November 2016 Security & Quality Rollup
KB3205402 - December 2016 Security & Quality Rollup for .NET Framework 3.5.1 & 4.6.2
KB3207752 – December 2016 Security & Quality Rollup
INTEL SYSTEM - Absolutely no info. Dodgy update from Microsoft. May contain telemetry
INTEL USB - Absolutely no info. Dodgy update from Microsoft. May contain telemetry
(Source: http://www.overclock.net/t/1587577/windows-7-updates-list-descriptions-telemetry)
KB4012218
KB4012219
(Source: https://github.com/zeffy/kb4012218-19
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/installing-intels-kaby-lake-drivers-on-a-windows-7-laptop.18779373/#post-30778417
Step 5: Download the Zip version of Intels Kaby Lake GPU drivers: Go to https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26772/Graphics-Intel-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-15-45-?product=96551 and download the ZIP version.
Step 6: Extract it to a folder. Find the file igdlh64.inf under Graphic.
1) Modify the INF file, overwrite the windows 7 section with the code in the windows 10 section.
;=====================================================================
; Windows 7 Install - DT Only
;=====================================================================
[IntelGfx.NTamd64.6.1]
; SKL HW

***** REPLACE ********

;=====================================================================
; Windows Threshold Install - DT + Mobile
;=====================================================================
[IntelGfx.NTamd64.10.0]
; SKL HW

***** WITH THIS ********

2) Disable driver signatures, this can be done simply by rebooting and by hitting F8 when you are ready to install the driver.
(Source: https://communities.intel.com/message/446974#446974, https://communities.intel.com/message/446197#446197)
Step 7: Just click on setup in the extracted driver folder. It should now allow you to download normally.
Step 7: (alternative) Go to device manager, display adapters, standard VGA Graphics Adapter, update driver, browse my computer..., let me pick..., Have Disk, browse. Go the modified .inf file.
Step 8: Download the latest Nvidia drivers for the 950m GPU and install them normally.
Step 9: Go to https://www.acer.com/ac/en/MY/content/support-product/6737?b=1. Download the following drivers: SATA AHCI Driver (Kabylake), Audio Driver, Bluetooth Driver, Bluetooth Driver (NFA435), Card Reader Driver, Chipset Driver (Kabylake), Touchpad Driver, Touchpad Driver (there are two), Turbo Boost Driver (Kabylake). Install what you can. If some do not install, install the others first, than try them again. Maybe a few of them will not work, but most should.
Step 10: Download Windows 7* USB 3.0 Creator Utility https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25476/Windows-7-USB-3-0-Creator-Utility . The windows 7 version of course.
Step 11: Extract it and go to Device Manager, update driver, browse my computer..., let me pick..., pick Universal Serial Bus (at the bottom) Have Disk, browse. Under USB_Drivers/x64, choose iusb3xhc.inf. At this stage, a new unknown device might appear. Click on that, update driver, browse my computer..., let me pick..., pick USB, and Have Disk, browse. Choose the other .inf file, iusb3hub.inf. At this stage, USB will not work, and other unknown devices might appear. Ignore.
Step 12: Restart PC. It all should work.

ONCE AGAIN. I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING AND I GUARANTEE NOTHING!!!!

* If you don't want to use a second DVD, I think it should be fine if you just add it as an added file to the Windows 7 DVD. Alternatively you can always use a Linux Mint (or other distro) install DVD, which is basically a portable Linux Mint. Once you have installed Windows 7, you can start up Linux Mint and, instead of installing it, just add the Wifi driver to the hard drive, for example in the Windows 7 partition. You will be able to access it from Linux. Just drop it anywhere.

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Note that, this guide does not address the LAN drivers yet. As in, the ethernet cable will not work, but wifi does. I will give an update if I find the appropriate drivers. It was less of a priority for now, since internet can be easily accessed with the wifi, so I figured it gives a workable solution, enough to be posted.

Also, since the GPU and USB drivers are the most difficult, and ones that will likely be the only problems for general Kaby Lake based PC's installing Windows 7, I figured this guide was worth writing in this state.

Cheers.
 

EvilHamster

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Jun 9, 2012
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There are some people who do not want to move to Windows 10. Considering that Windows 7 remains the most popular OS, despite the free upgrade, I would say there are quite a few people who prefer Windows 7 over 10.