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How to install Windows 7 on Coffee Lake PC (Z370 chipset MB - Asus Maximus X Hero)

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AMDeo

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Almost all of the drivers required to install Windows 7 on Z370 PC are available! (Only Coffee Lake IGPU does not have a Windows 7 compatible driver...)

You will need a dedicated graphics card because Windows 7 compatible driver for Coffee Lake IGPU is not available.

Windows 10 chipset and AHCI (SATA) drivers have native compatibility with Windows 7 and Z370. No need to modify any driver!

Follow these steps:

On a Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10 working PC:

Step 1. Open Asus Maximus X Hero page: https://www.asus.com/ROG-Republic-Of-Gamers/ROG-MAXIMUS-X-HERO/

Step 2.Click on "Support".

Step 3. Click on "Driver & Utility". This page will open: https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/ROG-MAXIMUS-X-HERO/HelpDesk_Download/

Step 4. Select OS "Windows 7 64bit" and download: Audio driver, LAN driver and "ASUS_EZInstaller_1.03.16". You will not find here any chipset and SATA drivers! Extract the zip files on a portable drive.

Step 5. Select OS "Windows 10 64bit" and download: Intel Chipset Driver (version 10.1.1.44 - 2017/08/30) and SATA drivers (version 15.8.1.1007 - 2017/09/27). Extract the zip files on a portable drive.

Step 6. Get a Windows 7 x64 SP1 kit (DVD, or Windows 7 bootable USB drive). I have already had a Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1 bootable USB drive which i used to install Windows 7 on my ex Haswell-Z87 configuration. I made this bootable USB drive using a very nice and well known application: Rufus!

Step 7. Add usb 3.0 and NVMe drivers to windows 7 install.
Launch "ASUS_EZInstaller_1.03.16_20171031" (right click on "EZ Installer.exe", "Run as admin."). "Please select..." the option that suits you best and follow the rest of the steps.
I selected: "Update the original Windows 7 OS in the USB storage device". I inserted my Windows 7 bootable USB drive and i checked "NVMe" box (just in case someday i will use a SSD NVMe drive for OS). At the end, the USB 3.0 and NVMe drivers were slipstreamed into Windows 7 on my USB drive.

On your Coffee Lake PC:

Step 8. Install Windows 7.
Insert your Windows 7 bootable media, turn on or reboot the PC and press F8 (for Asus motherboards) at the beginning of the boot sequence in order to select the booting device.
Install Windows 7. (See picture 01) 01Systeminfo.jpg 159k .jpg file

Step 9. Install chipset driver.
After Windows 7 installation, open the folder which contains files extracted from "Intel_Chipset_Win10_V101144_20170830_7.45.zip".
"Run as admin" "SetupChipset.exe". It will work and the Z370 chipset driver will be installed.
Although on Asus site it is listed as Windows 10 driver, Intel Chipset Driver (version 10.1.1.44 - 2017/08/30) is Windows 7 & 8 compatible, as you will see if you read the "Readme File Information" which will be displayed at the beginning of the installation process (See picture 02). 02_IntelChipsetDeviceSoftware.jpg 251k .jpg file
Open "Control Panel/System & Security/System/Device Manager/System devices" if you want to check that the chipset (Z370) driver was installed. (See picture 03) 03_Systemdevices.jpg 133k .jpg file
I chose not to install "Intel Management Engine Interface"! It can be downloaded from Asus Maximus X Hero support page (2 versions available), but i don't know if it can be installed...

Step 10. Manually Install AHCI (SATA) driver.
Open "Control Panel/System & Security/System/Device Manager". Expand "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers". Right click on "Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller" and select "Update Driver Software".
Select "Browse my computer for driver software" and browse for location where you extracted "RST_15.8.1.1007_20170913_WHQL.zip". Check "Include subfolders" box. (You can also try "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer/Have disk" method).
If you open with Notepad the "iaAHCIC.inf" file, you will see that "PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A282&CC_0106" (Intel 300 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller) is listed under Win7, despite the fact this driver is uploaded by Asus for Windows 10 only.
I chose not to install "Intel Rapid Storage Technology" software! I think it is possible to install it ("Run as admin." "SetupRST.exe") only after you manually install AHCI driver.

Step 11. Install network adapter, sound controller and dedicated graphics card Windows 7 compatible drivers. Done!
My "Device Manager" looks like picture 04. 04_DeviceManager.jpg 212k .jpg file

New Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) version 15.8.2.1009 WHQL available: http://www.station-drivers.com/inde...rs.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=352&func=fileinfo&id=3205&lang=fr
 

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#2 ·
These are excellent instructions. I would add that you need to click on "See All Downloads" under the "Chipset" heading on Asus's download page in order to see the 2017/08/20 Version 10.1.1.44 Intel Chipset Driver. That had me in a panic for a bit since it looked like the file was no longer available at first glance.
 
#3 ·
Hey hey, although I've been a lurker on this forum for years. For this post alone I've created an account to simply say thank you.

Although my motherboard differs from yours, the process was the same and the setup is stable and there was only one minor issue. Intel SpeedStep was disabled in BIOS by default, and that was a bit odd.

But yeah, I really wanted to say thanks for creating this guide, its been really helpful and I just wanted you to know its appreciated.
thumb.gif




( if the image isn't enlarged enough, you can follow this link and see it in full size; https://i.imgur.com/wehIqcL.png
 
#6 ·
I installed Windows 7 on an Asrock Z370 Taichi pretty easily. I just used the PS/2 emulation option in the USB configuration settings in the bios (Advanced mode to find it). It then installs as normal. I then installed the drivers provided by Asrock and turned off the PS/2 emulation. Just about as simple as any other Windows 7 install. Everything is working great. You will have to use the windows 7 CPU support unofficial patch to enable updates, available on Github https://github.com/zeffy/wufuc
 
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#7 ·
Vario, when you write, "then installed the drivers provided by Asrock", did you download the actual Windows 7 drivers for the 370 based motherboard that were available from Asrock before November? Or did you adapt AMDeo's instructions for the Asus and extract the needed drivers for Windows 7 from the Windows 10 drivers?
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by trag View Post

Vario, when you write, "then installed the drivers provided by Asrock", did you download the actual Windows 7 drivers for the 370 based motherboard that were available from Asrock before November? Or did you adapt AMDeo's instructions for the Asus and extract the needed drivers for Windows 7 from the Windows 10 drivers?
Click to expand...
Nope it was as easy as using PS/2 mode in the bios. Installing windows. Once windows is booted, put in Asrock Win 10 driver disk and installing all the drivers off the disk. Once the USB3.0 drivers are installed I went into bios and disabled PS/2 mode. It works flawlessly. It was much easier than making a custom Win 7 installer that had the drivers native. If you have a PS/2 emulation mode for your USB ports in your bios, try it. I don't know if that is an Asrock exclusive thing but it was very easy and I am glad it worked so well.
 
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#9 ·
Excellent. Thank you. I'm actually at the shopping stage for a Z370 based logic board, was about to buy one of the Asrock models that Newegg was running on sale during the holidays, but then went down the rabbit hole of compatibility and decided to wait until I was more certain I could get Win 7 running (or drop back to Z270).

AMDeo's post was the best thing I could find out of a lot of searching, on installing Win 7 on Z370 motherboards of any make. Because they are all based on the same chipset, the make shouldn't affect the basics a whole lot.

When I was doing all that searching, I also found the wufuc utility you linked to, IIRC mentioned in a Redit discussion. It was good of you to link to it here. Puts all the good info in one place. I should have done that.
 
#10 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by trag View Post

Excellent. Thank you. I'm actually at the shopping stage for a Z370 based logic board, was about to buy one of the Asrock models that Newegg was running on sale during the holidays, but then went down the rabbit hole of compatibility and decided to wait until I was more certain I could get Win 7 running (or drop back to Z270).

AMDeo's post was the best thing I could find out of a lot of searching, on installing Win 7 on Z370 motherboards of any make. Because they are all based on the same chipset, the make shouldn't affect the basics a whole lot.

When I was doing all that searching, I also found the wufuc utility you linked to, IIRC mentioned in a Redit discussion. It was good of you to link to it here. Puts all the good info in one place. I should have done that.
Click to expand...
I did not do it at all like the way AMDeo described but I had to put my results somewhere for others to find. Basically you select PS/2 emulation and then install windows just like you would on previous Intel machines. Put the Windows Install disk in (or USB ISO) and then run it. After you get to Windows, put the ASRock utility disk in and install the drivers, might want to do the USB 3 ones first. Then go to bios and disable PS/2 Emulation. As easy as that!
Win 7 Pro also activated fine with my Win 7 Pro System Builder key with phone activation.
I found the info here: http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=6674&title=z370-taichi-losing-keyboard-on-win7-boot
Here is proof below. It says trial version because AIDA is a trial version.


I recommend this board a lot. It is solid. You need to update the bios after you get it though. Otherwise it does not turbo or overclock right. Use a USB thumb stick to do so rather than the windows way, it is very simple.
 
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#13 ·
What is your motherboard, soap?
 
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#14 ·
asus maximus X hero. Got everything installed, all working great....still see this, not sure what drivers/network controller are missing?

This is what I see for USB drivers vs "error not installed":



but so far, no issues of any kind.
 
#18 ·
SATA looks like it installed right, didn't it?



*Update:

I reinstalled both, no change/difference. One of them appears to be the USB driver for my "Type C" USB port on the back. When I plug in a Type C, it doesn't allow a transfer.

1.17.18 Update!

Contacted ASUS, was given the following response when asking for those drivers:
Quote:
For legacy WIn7 (X64) drivers please go to these URLs for the download.

USB 3.1 Gen1 (Intel):
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/22824/USB-3-0-Driver-Intel-USB-3-0-eXtensible-Host-Controller-Driver-for-Intel-8-9-100-Series-and-Intel-C220-C610-Chipset-Family

USB 3.1 Gen2 (Asmedia):
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/misc/usb30/Asmedia_USB_Win7-81-10_V116331.zip

The Mounting and booting from a USB 3.0/3.1gen 2 is not supported by Microsoft (MSFT) for Windows 7.
The USB 3.0/3.1 gen 2 drivers will have to be installed after the OS is loaded.
Click to expand...
^ For future proofing in case these links disappear or move, adding another link here.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1HslvnK2oTD99Pe625oodXF06v1BhIdzO
 
#19 ·
So , did you finally managed to get rid of all exclamations in device manager ? I want to upgrade to an 8700k on my beloved windows 7 (tried win10 ... For more than one week ... Going back to win7 never felt so good) , and i was considering maxiumus hero x ...
How is gaming ? Is the system a beast or what ? I want 144 fps in pubg :D
fxsoap said:
SATA looks like it installed right, didn't it?




*Update:

I reinstalled both, no change/difference. One of them appears to be the USB driver for my "Type C" USB port on the back. When I plug in a Type C, it doesn't allow a transfer.

1.17.18 Update!

Contacted ASUS, was given the following response when asking for those drivers:
Quote:For legacy WIn7 (X64) drivers please go to these URLs for the download.

USB 3.1 Gen1 (Intel):
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/do...t-Controller-Driver-for-Intel-8-9-100-Series-and-Intel-C220-C610-Chipset-Family

USB 3.1 Gen2 (Asmedia):
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/misc/usb30/Asmedia_USB_Win7-81-10_V116331.zip

The Mounting and booting from a USB 3.0/3.1gen 2 is not supported by Microsoft (MSFT) for Windows 7.
The USB 3.0/3.1 gen 2 drivers will have to be installed after the OS is loaded.


^ For future proofing in case these links disappear or move, adding another link here.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1HslvnK2oTD99Pe625oodXF06v1BhIdzO
Click to expand...
 
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