I have a new computer (Dell Inspiron) at work that I'm setting up that came with Windows 8.1 64 bit. To help maintain uniformity with all of our work computers, I wanted to install Windows 7 Ent 64bit over it. I was initially having some trouble with the install disc freezing and so went in and disabled secure boot and changed UEFI to Legacy. The installation gets to the first installation window (choose language, etc) but the mouse or keyboard aren't recognized so I can't get any further. I've tried swapping the mouse and keyboard with older types, but it doesn't seem to change anything.

Anybody have this issue and or have any ideas on what is going on?

9/23/2014 11:50:58 AM

Try changing UEFI to CSM

9/23/2014 11:57:49 AM

The two options are UEFI or Legacy, no CSM option.

Screen options:

9/23/2014 1:49:48 PM

When you say you've tried older types of mouse and keyboard, do you mean you've tried PS/2 mouse and keyboard? I figured their "drivers" were built into pretty much any BIOS if the older peripherals you used were also USB. Dunno though. MS and Dell really try to fuck people over who want to go back to Win 7.

Not to ask a dumb question, but you are booting from the Win 7 disc, not trying to install from within Win 8 right?

9/23/2014 2:20:28 PM

Both the keyboards and mice were USB, and switched them out just to rule that out as an option.

Yes, I am trying to boot from a CD of Win 7 (F12 prior to booting and then choosing to boot from the DVD drive). We have a volume licensing agreement at work so I downloaded another copy and even tried a different disc just to rule out a bad disc as an option, too.

9/23/2014 3:42:29 PM

I remember reading something about Windows 8 computers locking the user out of running a different OS on the computer without some form of key. I cannot remember the specifics, but you might be running into something like that.

My Dad had a Windows laptop die (hard-drive death), and we had a friend copy what files he could to a Disc. The Disc was bootable (or something like that), and his new laptop (Windows 8) wouldn't let him run it for this reason IIRC. Its touted as a "security" feature, though I'm pretty sure it was designed with other reasons in mind.

EDIT:
Oh, that's the UEFI stuff you mentioned. Sounds like you have that already figured out, though I still wonder if the "feature" is contributing to the problem.

[Edited on September 23, 2014 at 5:46 PM. Reason : ]

9/23/2014 5:44:21 PM

A couple of things to try.

When you get to the bios are you able to use the keyboard? If so there's a good chance you need to try a different USB port. There's something about Win7 and USB ports that is a little screwy. Usually you have to use one that is controlled by the motherboard. It's either the ones right above or below the Ethernet port. Check with the motherboard's manufacturer and see if they have something listed about it.

If the keyboard doesn't work there that means the drivers are gone and you'll need to reinstall them.


If you're using an ISO for Enterprise why not just add the Dell's drivers to it and reimage the machine and be done with it.



One more stupid little thing to try, have you tried just unplugging the keyboard and mouse a coupe of times when you get the that error message to see if Windows sees a "new" device and installs the drivers for it? I've seen that work before.

If I had to guess it's the wrong USB port. If it was me I'd just wipe the drive if you haven't done that and load in the new ISO.

Good luck with it.

9/23/2014 10:52:01 PM

Quote :

"My Dad had a Windows laptop die (hard-drive death), and we had a friend copy what files he could to a Disc. The Disc was bootable (or something like that), and his new laptop (Windows 8) wouldn't let him run it for this reason IIRC. Its touted as a "security" feature, though I'm pretty sure it was designed with other reasons in mind."

I'm not sure how that would even be possible without some really sinister BIOS running.

9/24/2014 10:05:23 AM

Still no luck on getting the Windows 7 installation to work. Anybody know of a computer repair place that might be able to provide advice on how to make it work?

9/29/2014 8:34:28 AM

update the bios, then set the machine to legacy and it should install. I bought an intel NUC recently and had to do this before win7 would install properly

9/29/2014 12:12:30 PM

windows 8.1 has wireless microwave charging


charge in microwave for 20 seconds and then re-attempt install with full battery.

9/29/2014 2:38:06 PM

If the install disc is "freezing" you have a bad disc. If you burned it from an ISO, then it's a bad burn (99%) chance.

I've had to do this many times, though not recently. If you have a good disc, it's as simple as rebooting the computer, booting from the disc, then during setup removing all hard drive partitions and installing to a completely blank drive.

If you had issues with DVD images, use a USB flash drive, and install the Win7 Enterprise ISO to it with http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

9/29/2014 3:09:22 PM

did you copy and paste that from the tech support script at work?

9/29/2014 4:07:25 PM

This would be my second disc that I've tried, but I'll download a fresh ISO and burn a new one. The ISOs come from Microsoft's Volume Licensing Center and so I think I have to use a specific ISO to work with our key.

I've done so many fresh installs with no problem, that I was wondering what new advancements in technology may be getting in the way. I'll try to rule out the ISO with trying a new disc or flash drive and report back.

Thanks for the suggestions.

9/30/2014 10:02:45 AM

^^Nope, but I've had it happen to me enough times that I just stopped doing DVD ISO installs completely. I just keep a couple of cheap flash drives around for OS installs. They are MUCH faster, reusable, and a hell of a lot more reliable.

Especially with DVD releases (Win7/8/8.1) I've had a half dozen "bad burns" that I spent the better part of a day trying to troubleshoot, only to find the disc was shitty.

9/30/2014 6:18:00 PM