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

Windows 10 sucks · Feb 13, 2018

DesertSweeper said:
Has anyone managed to get IntelGPU drivers working on Z370 with i7-8700K? I have tried the hack of igdllh64.ini to fool it but no go. It looks like Microsoft paid Intel to end this workaround and force more users to the Windows 10 MadWare.

Same experience here... I am unable to install the Intel GPU using this method. I get the error:

The folder you specified doesn't contain a compatible software driver for you device. If the folder contains a driver, make sure it is designed to work with Windows for x64-based systems.

Any help would be most appreciated

DesertSweeper · Feb 16, 2018

You can get past that problem by "injecting" the windows 7 sections into the file igdlh64.inf from an older version. I get it to install cleanly without any errors but after restart - "driver failed to load" in Dev Manager with yellow exclamation mark. The irritating thing is that the graphics for Coffee Lake and Kaby Lake are identical. Intel and Microsoft have done something to end the workaround.

ThrashZone · Feb 16, 2018

Hi,
Okay on board graphic's won't work but have you tried with a real gpu ?

chrcoluk · Feb 22, 2018

Doesnt work for me.

The chipset drivers sits halfway, I left for 6 hours and was no error generated or completed. Poor coding to just sit there waiting for something with no timeout.

Windows 8.1 coffee lake.

Solution, I had to install the asmedia usb 3.1 drivers first, in addition running the executable for them didnt work, I had to do it manually via device manager, after that the chipset drivers installed.

MatthewMB · Mar 8, 2018

Success!

I have 30yrs experience in this stuff, but still had trouble.

- I had an ASUS Z270-A motherboard that was working great. I used that mobo, CPU, RAM to build a customer PC so I could upgrade.
I put a new M.2 Samsung 960 EVO in it, and put his original drive from an older build as SATA-3, with boot to the new M.2. Well, that worked, booting to his HDD. I installed some drivers. But, I could not see the M.2 so as to be able to run the SamSung Migrate. Well, I needed to install the driver from Samsung which fixed a PCI Device with a driver fail. Then all went well.

- I installed a new ASUS Z370-A motherboard, I7 8600K CPU and RAM into my old system, with my old M.2 Pro. It booted right up! But, after running the Win10 chipset driver file against my Win7 build, I still showed "series 200" drivers under the devices/System. I tried several things. Finally, I did a right-click and uninstall on all the 7? devices showing Series 200. No reboot, until all done. Then, I ran the chipset driver install again.
Then, I finally rebooted. Now, I showed one Series 300 "LPC". Now, I ran the chipset program yet again. This installed some more stuff. I rebooted, and it looks even better. So, I ran it again. I think I'm done!

(Before all that, I went one at a time and ran the setup.exe for each driver and software on the CDROM. Not the one "asus-setup", but just the setup.)

Now, I'm ready to roll along for another year, happily using Win7 instead of the Win10 crap and once again have the fastest computer made. Without paying for it!

Been doing that for 30 years. New one every year.

vg5138 · Apr 20, 2018

USB3 on ASUS Z370-A Prime in Win7 Not Supported

Had to revive this thread for the benefit of anyone , like me, looking to run Win7 64bit pro on the ASUS Z370-A Prime mobo.
I don't want the Win10 crapware on my PC.

Followed all the steps here in OP post for my mobo i.e. downloaded drivers from ASUS.
It fails when adding the Intel USB3 driver (the Asmedia driver installs ok). So, I tried installing using Windows AIK and the DISM command line interface instead of EZ Installer - same error.

The DISM log says (at the end) 'No matching active hardware found' so the packages could not be installed.
I've spent over a week trying to resolve this, even imaged my up-to-date running win7 build and tried to add in that using DISM -same error.
..Opened a ticket with ASUS and the pathetic response I got was that there was no official support for OS other than Win10!
So, my question to ASUS is why the f*** have you got the Win7 64bit OS listed on the drivers support page for this mobo with drivers for this OS available for download?

It is because of the success of other people adding these drivers and the existence of the drivers for download on the mobo manufacturers website that I bought this board!

I have been conned pure and simple and I am disgusted with Intel, and ASUS.

NB Worth mentioning here is that the ASUS EZ Installer referred to in the OP is no longer available on that ASUS webpage.

UPDATE: SOLVED - see my post below.

Spieler4 · Apr 20, 2018

Got win 7 working on Asus Maximus X Apex
With the Chipset Drivers Z270 driver and Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver from youtube video

LAN driver from official asus apex x win 7 dl page

vg5138 · Apr 20, 2018

Z370-A Prime USB3 Working! Win 7 64bit i5-8600K

UPDATE: For anyone who has the same problem. I managed to install the drivers by getting modified drivers from Win-Raid.com - see the post entitled "USB Drivers Original and Modified".

I now have a fully working system - no fresh install needed.

Two fingers up to Intel and Asus!!!!

chrcoluk · Apr 22, 2018

Just some more info I feel I should add.

My install was migrated from my old PC, usually I dont just do things like that but I really wasnt motivated to setup windows from scratch again, so basically I backed up an image incase it went all pear shaped and I could at least restore my setup on my older hardware, and moved the ssd into the new system.

I manually removed the old hardware devices from device manager (in safe mode) prior to any of the work in installing new drivers, but even doing this I am aware it may have affected how things went for me hence my experience been different to others.

Since my previous update tho which is now a couple of months ago, using the PC has been a dream, no BSODs or other issues, no performance issues, no unexplained problems, it is working great. So a migrated install and as a bonus on hardware Microsoft doesnt support.

LoLomgbbq · May 13, 2018

Just upgraded to i7 8700k and Asus Strix-E z730.

Can this also work with Windows 8.1? 10 is driving me nuts.

Nowin10formeplz · Jun 11, 2018

About to upgrade to a Rog Strix z370 & the i7 8700k. I am just going to include my ssd from previous build w/ win 7 ult already on it. I have downloaded the drivers, ez install etc from this guide. Can I just boot up my new system w/ old ssd/win 7 & then install the new drivers? I downloaded these today in preparation for the new computer so I have not actually tried to install any of it. This win install is on a amd 8350, will that create issues and force me into a fresh install? I am not versed at all in these things so any direction would be welcome.

Mivas · Jun 14, 2018

Intel HD Graphics Drivers partial compatibility with 8th gen.

Hi guys! I have a new DELL Inspiron laptop with intel i7 8550U. I managed to install win7ultimate successfully on the m2 SSD and the device manager is clean.

However, it seems I got stuck with the uhd graphics 620 driver... I created a hybrid, but I dont have deep knowledge to do it perfectly.
So, I don't get 100% functionality with the modified driver I created. Video playback is not possible with Windows Media Player, only audio files. Video settings on Intel Graphics Control Panel don't change anything (everything else in this software works though), Windows performance test gets stops when testing the video and I am not sure about hardware acceleration functionality.

What works; The device manager is clear. Full Aero and windows 7 effects (glass, transparency, 3d windows selection etc). Full brightness control. All possible Resolutions. Video playback is fully functional on GOM player, Media Player Classic (and also probably on VLC). 4K Videos played smoothly with GOM Player. Videos in browsers also play smoothly. And all basic tasks that I performed went smoothly. However, I haven't tried "heavy" software or games yet. So, I got a lot of functionality but not 100% so far.

To my knowledge, there is no single reference in internet about Intel's driver for graphics for 8th gen, so I was happy to get even this partial functionality. As I wrote earlier I don't have experience with informatics and still I managed to get some functionality, so I am very optimistic that someone experienced will be able to get 100% functionality. To help with this, I will write here what I did, so that you can start with something.

1. Download the last Win7 compatible driver from Intel for HD Graphics. It is the version win64_15.45.19.4678
2. Download a newer version which is win10 only that contains the driver for your processor. In my case, Intel Core i7 8550U with DEV_5917. I downloaded the latest driver.
3. Make copies/backup of both folders and save elsewhere before starting editing.
4. Unzip both. From the unzipped ones, go to the new driver folder, then Graphics, then copy all components and paste in the Graphics folder of the old (15.45.19.4678) version. Note; So far in my case It didn't play a role if I replaced the same names of the old files with the new ones or skipped them to keep the old ones. Exception; do NOT replace the igdlh64 file.
5. Find the DEV number of the processor. Device Manager (from Control panel or search), right click on generic VGA Adapter, properties, details, ID.
6. Open the igdlh64 file (with a notepad) from the new version (Graphics folder) find the DEV number under windows 10 and copy the whole line.
7. Paste it under the Windows 7 section in the igdlh64 file of the old driver and correct the ikbl win10 with iskl win7 (known trick for 7th gen).
8. Copy all lines that include the 4-digit number from the igdlh64 file from the new driver and paste in the respective sections of the igdlh64 of old driver.
9. Install the modified old driver (win64_15.45.19.4678) and reboot.
10. After reboot. Copy the igdumdim32.dll file from the Graphics folder of the new version and paste it to the System C:\Windows\System32\Unknown and the C:\Windows\SysWOW64 replace the existing files
11. Do the same with the igdumdim64.dll and paste to System C:\Windows\System32\Unknown folder. In my case the driver creates an unknown folder. To be sure about the destination folder, just type it in search.
12. With these steps you gain the partial functionality I mentioned.

I think the key in getting 100% functionality is to view/edit these two dll files that cause the issue. Or further editing of the igdlh64 file. Perhaps someone with experience might be able to reach 100%?

Any suggestions?

Mivas · Jun 15, 2018

Nowin10formeplz said:
About to upgrade to a Rog Strix z370 & the i7 8700k. I am just going to include my ssd from previous build w/ win 7 ult already on it. I have downloaded the drivers, ez install etc from this guide. Can I just boot up my new system w/ old ssd/win 7 & then install the new drivers? I downloaded these today in preparation for the new computer so I have not actually tried to install any of it. This win install is on a amd 8350, will that create issues and force me into a fresh install? I am not versed at all in these things so any direction would be welcome.

Hi. Well I don't know about the particular systems, but I tried the same with the SSD from my previous laptop in my new laptop. The OS wasn't even detected... So, it might not be possible in your case either. Perhaps you could clone your SSD to your new SSD, or make a recovery image from the old SSD, then install windows to the new and recover with the image you have. I am not experienced either, but these are some ideas that you can start with.

ThrashZone · Jun 15, 2018

Hi,
Yeah that's what I've read mostly 10 drivers will work all one needs to do is copy and paste the 10 section to the blank 7 section of the driver.
Freaking ninja work :kungfu:

geronimo · Jun 20, 2018

I'm building 8600k on ASRock Z370 Pro4+sammy 250gb SSD. I really hope I'll be able to achieve this cos I hate w10 malware.
should I pay attention to something especially?
I already got a whole list of drivers from various (safe) sources so I hope I got everything I need.

Did you guys test this in games? any problems connected to this combination on "unsupported" OS?

what about getting an image (clean win7 installed) with clonezilla on my older ASRock Z270 ext4+7600k+sammy 250gb SSD and restore that on this Z370 system. would you think it would boot and than I just install the drivers.

thx.

Sholva81 · Jul 14, 2018

Thanks for the info guys cause I was looking to have a dual boot system with win 7 and win 10 as some of the older games on steam aren't optimised for win 10 so having the option to be able to use the drivers disc even if it's windows 10 is handy.

geronimo · Jul 23, 2018

just to update.
I installed win7 on the mentioned system. no problems. only thing is you need to slipstream sata driver in win7 installation disk and you need to use SATA DVD/RW drive to boot/install.
I have no idea how you would do it on a laptop that doesn't have sata drive and use external USB devices cos USB doesn't work until you install win and USB driver.
I guess you could maybe slipstream USB driver also in win7 disk but I didn't bother with this.
Also I didn't even try to install iGPU under win cos I don't really care about that one so I can't confirm if it is possible or not because as I remember I read that that one is a PIA.
regards.

edit: also I still didn't get that stupid note from windows update that I can't update any more cos I have newer system/CPU. I don't know if they removed that completely on coffy (on kaby lake I got that message and used wufuc to resolve) or it's the usage of Windows Update MiniTool for updates from day 1.

turina3 · Aug 11, 2018

Hi, I'm thinking about getting an i7 8700 and an Asus z370 motherboard, but I do not want to install windows 10, I want to install windows 7 pro 64 bits.

If I understood correctly, what I should do is go to Asus web, model of the mb, select Windows 7 64-bit drivers and then download the LAN and Audio drivers and later, select Windows 10 64-bit drivers, and then download the chipset and sata drivers .

I have a ps2 keyboard, a dvd with windows 7 64 bits and a dvd reader device.

In principle, with this "recipe" you should have no problems installing windows 7 pro 64 bits correctly on an i7 8700 with the Asus z370 motherboard, is it all right?

turina3 · Aug 11, 2018

Thank you very much for all, I am going to try the same with a Asus z 370 model and I really hope it works perfectly

turina3 · Aug 11, 2018

Angantyr said:
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.

( if the image isn't enlarged enough, you can follow this link and see it in full size; https://i.imgur.com/wehIqcL.png

Thank you very much for all, I am going to try the same with a Asus z 370 model and I really hope it works perfectly

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

Windows 10 sucks

DesertSweeper

ThrashZone

chrcoluk

MatthewMB

vg5138

Spieler4

vg5138

chrcoluk

LoLomgbbq

Nowin10formeplz

Mivas

Mivas

ThrashZone

geronimo

Sholva81

geronimo

turina3

turina3

turina3

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