[SOLVED] Is it possible to install Windows 7 on a PC that came with Windows 11 pre-installed ?

[Ramesh161]

Hi,

I bought a Dell T-5820 workstation 3 years ago & have not used it at all.

Specs are :
Intel Xeon Processor W-2235 (6C 3.8GHz 4.6GHz Turbo HT 8.25MB 130W DDR4-2933)

Dual Nvidia T1000, 4GB graphics cards to run 8 monitors

2 x M.2 512GB PCIe NVMe SSDs

2 x 3.5" 4TB 7200rpm HDDs

16GB 2x8GB DDR4 2933MHz RDIMM ECC Memory

Windows 11 Pro for Workstations

I hate Win-11 & my old software would not work on it.
I am used to Win-7 on an old Dell T-7500 workstation which
is now giving problems.

So is it possible to install Win-7 on this machine ?

Dell says :

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-in/drivers/supportedos/precision-5820-workstation

Thank You.

 

[punkncat]

W7 has been out of support for some time. I haven't attempted to install it in several years but would be concerned as to whether it will be able to update drivers and so on. I cannot personally see your link due to my own settings (it is a redirect to a pop that gets blocked before going to the Dell page) but would check on there to see if they have any W7 drivers available still.
In addition it may be worthwhile to check to see if that CPU is supported.

Can you consider a Virtual Machine to do what you want with?

Regardless, I would take out the OS drive with W11P on it and try this on another drive with everything else disconnected if everything else checks out.

 

[Ramesh161]

That Dell link only says which OS are supported on my machine & Win-7 is on that list.

I am not techie & never tried Virtual M/C so that option is out for me.

But I am very grateful for your efforts.

 

[punkncat]

Well, brass tacks are that W11P is a $200 product of its own. I don't know what your incompatible programs/apps are and don't know if trying to run them in compatibility mode might work for you or not. Given the lack of support for 7, the nearing end of support for 10, I don't think I would go messing around in a way that might invalidate that W11P license.

It may be worthwhile to post some details about what programs you have compatibility issues with and see if there is a workaround or even a different program that will suffice.

 

[JayGau]

At some point you gonna have to move on. W7 is no longer supported and thus very vulnerable. I wouldn't put any W7 machines online. It's very dangerous for the computer itself as well as for any other devices on the same network.

If you have a program that is too old to work on W11 you should look for a replacement. Keeping using an old and unsupported OS to keep using an old and unsupported program should be added to the dictionary as an example of "unsafe".

 

[dingo07]

There's nothing wrong with W7 other than it's been phased out, IF you don't visit nefarious websites and download questionable software or questionable anything for that matter!
If all you do is turn on the computer and use software to do something productive, and you aren't visiting sketchy websites there's nothing to worry about.
Most likely W7 will work for your machine. The question is if there's drivers for all the motherboard bits that will provide stability to the system once on the desktop. Take out the W11 drive, install another and do a fresh install of W7, and report back!

 

[VizzieTheViz]

There's nothing wrong with W7 other than it's been phased out, IF you don't visit nefarious websites and download questionable software or questionable anything for that matter!
If all you do is turn on the computer and use software to do something productive, and you aren't visiting sketchy websites there's nothing to worry about.
Most likely W7 will work for your machine. The question is if there's drivers for all the motherboard bits that will provide stability to the system once on the desktop. Take out the W11 drive, install another and do a fresh install of W7, and report back!

Yeah no. If your pc is attached to the internet it’s under attack 24/7 regardless of the sites you visit.

If you absolutely must have win 7 or something even older run it in a VM and if your stuff works with win 11 just get used to it, it’s not that bad and you can set a lot of stuff to be more like win 10 and older (I’m not to fond of a lot of things in win11 either, but if you’re using a pc for work you pretty much owe it to your customers to run a safe and supported OS).

 

[dingo07]

Yeah no. If your pc is attached to the internet it’s under attack 24/7 regardless of the sites you visit...

This just isn't true!! Stop spreading unnecessary fear.

I can't recall in the news one person's computer was ever taken over from a hacker. Hackers steal Data. If you don't want your data stolen use 2FA with STRONG passwords.

Besides, your router is usually the first line of defense against intruders, not the OS.

 

[VizzieTheViz]

This just isn't true!! Stop spreading unnecessary fear.

I can't recall in the news one person's computer was ever taken over from a hacker. Hackers steal Data. If you don't want your data stolen use 2FA with STRONG passwords.

Besides, your router is usually the first line of defense against intruders, not the OS.

It is true though.

That your router usually stops most of it is no reason to assume you can run an out of support OS safely because the router stops most attacks and you think only shady websites are ever compromised.

It’s like not wearing a seatbelt because you’re usually not involved in an accident.

just silly.

 

[Ramesh161]

I am very grateful for everyone's inputs.
I have to have Win-7 for a little while because of work I am doing. Currently I am running Win-7 with on a separate Dell T-7500 workstations with all the updates till end with good AV & Router but that M/C is giving problems with power supply & low CPU speed.
You guys are right & it is not a good idea to ruin a brand new M/C by tinkering with it.
So I have decided to order a Refurbished Dell 7810 with Win-7 on it & I need help there. So I am going to start a new thread where you guys can help me with that. I will post a link to that thread when I post it.
I love this forum & very kind & helpful people like you & I am Thankful to all of you.