Win 7 install failure on preloaded Win 8.1 PC

[Wjrya1]

Im having some issues with two Windows 8.1 loaded all-in-one PCs (hp 20-2002a) being unable to boot from Windows 7 Pro installation media.

When I attempt to boot from a Win 7 DVD or USB the installation hangs at the beginning, just as the Windows logo bits are coming together. A red bar then appears at the top of the screen and the computer freezes.

I have updated the BIOS from the HP website.

In the BIOS I have disabled secure boot and disabled fast boot in the security menu. There is no legacy option in the security menu. In the boot options menu there are all the available UEFI boot options. Then there is 'legacy boot', which is greyed out and I am unable to enable it by pressing F5. It says I must disable secure boot, which I have already done. There does not appear to be any CSM settings available in the BIOS.

I have used an original Windows 7 Pro installation DVD with service pack 1 as well as the ISO image recently downloaded from virtual river or something like that.

I've tried creating a UEFI boot disk through RUFUS for GPT with fat32 format. I've tried manually creating the bootdisk through diskpart. I've used both the ISO image downloaded and the original windows DVD.

Have attempted to add in some of the windows 8 installation files to the EFI folder on the installation media, as advised by a forum post. This did alter the load up font and then the red bar did not appear at the top of the screen but the installation still stalled in the same spot.

I've updated all the drivers to current through the HP driver update and the graphics adapter through intel.

I've tried installing a blank GPT partitioned HDD in RAW format and starting from the uefi media. I've also tried with an MBR partition with NTFS format.

No luck on any of these attempts.


I've had a good look at the bios and compared to the HP website. Thereseems to be one major difference in my bios to the HP site guide. That is, there is no 'legacy support' option under the 'secure boot configuration' within the security menu. Under the storage menu the UEFI devices are listed. Below these in grey text is 'legacy devices', without any devices listed. Upon pressing F5 in this menu, to enable legacy devices, a red message box appears stating that I need to disable secure boot, which I have done. I get the same message after resetting to defaults, disabling secure boot, rebooting the system and entering the 4 digit code then re-entering the bios setup. I can press F5 to disable UEFI boot devices and when disabled they change to the same grey text as legacy devices when they're disabled.

Could it be possible the bios is faulty or locked so that Legacy mode cannot be enabled?

I need to sort this out as I require the computers to run windows 7 for my business and I've already purchased the operating systems.

I have spoken to HP customer support and they weren't any help.

I do not require any data on the drives and would like to scrap the Windows 8.1 installation.

As far as compatibility, there are win 7 drivers for this PC on the HP website.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[smorizio]

under bios updates make sure you have the newest bios. there also under drivers a intel securty software for built in hardware secure boot. try installing it with factory image and see if you can from inside windows turn off secure boot feature.

 

[Wjrya1]

Thanks Smorizio. I've updated the Bios, updated all the drivers, had a good look for an intel secure boot software update. Found and applied the win 8.1 desktop background secure boot notification fix but that is all I could find. Still no luck

 

[smorizio]

try this send an email to hp customer relations dept. also cc there eng div if you can. put in the email a simple question to them..did they on your laptop make a bios update that will not let user install windows 7. some of hp products will not do to there bios let you install windows 7. you may not get a good reply because they dont want people to do a class action lawsuit. there been product lawsuits when people have been not able to install 3 party os on hardware. there reply will set on what you may want to do next...if you hate windows 8 but 7 wont install for test of the unit try installing windows 10 beta that out and use classic shell beta to make it look like windows xp or 7.
if hp gives you the brush off....if the unit less then a year then i contact your cc company to do a charge back or have hp refund you the money and you send the unit back to them and buy a brand that let you install windows 7.

 

[hedwar2011]

HP, UEFI, and Secure Boot do not play well together....period.

Some of the settings work well and then some are complete trash.

Attempting a install of the Windows 10 dev preview is it looks to the same information as the Windows 8 install does. It almost sounds like you are in the midst of a catch 22 in regards to Secure Boot preventing access to the drive itself so that you can install to it but also because it won't let you set any other device (USB drive) to boot from. I will keep digging and see if I can run down some more information in regards to this particular issue.

You can find the drivers you are looking for below:
64-bit
Doesn't look like HP provides direct drivers for 32 bit installations.

 

[kpmbrink123]

A theory of sorts; I noticed that UEFI // Secure boot cannot be disabled as well. What I did notice was that HP has Consumer/small business BIOS variations on their website for the model I am working with. The version that is most recent however for the small business version is still older than what BIOS revision came with the computer originally. If you could reinstall an older small business bios on the machine and replace the consumer version 80.13 rev A, I think it would work. Mainly because business models still have legacy boot due to demand from business owners refusing to work with windows 7. oddly enough, HP also offers all drivers for windows 7 as well for model 19-2113w. What I think happened: HP thought for the consumer model, nobody would bother going through a downgrade; since its kind of a major job to downgrade the OS. therefore, they left legacy boot out of the more recent revisions. Ultimately, if you could figure out how to run an older BIOS variation (80.13 rev A) through the Diagnostic mode in the esc menu, i think you could enable legacy mode.