Uh, how to install Windows?

So, I recently received a Sager NP8640 from Xotic PC (everything went smoothly, first time ordering from somewhere other than Amazon, it was an awesome price for a 970m and I realized I really wanted something even more portable than a 15.6", I'll post about my experience).

For some reason it will not install Windows 7 from a USB drive. Even if its USB 3.

I assume Windows 7 can be installed on it, why else would Sager provide Windows 7 drivers?

So since USB doesn't work, do I need to get an external optical drive?


Lol, I guess I should have paid a little more an had Xotic do the setup. Oh well, I did want to do it myself and its good experience.

EDIT: Sorry, I mean Windows 7. I'd rather not deal with Windows 10 if I don't absolutely have to.

Thanks

LC

 

Windows 7 often has problems with USB 3.0 drivers. Either use a USB 2.0 port to install Windows 7 or install Windows 8.1 or newer on the USB 3.0...

 

This. One of the reasons I hate Windows 7 is because it can be difficult to install on anything new enough to only have USB3 ports. I gave up and just paid for Win 10 again, not worth me messing with all night long to save $100 lol.

 

You will need a modified Windows 7 ISO to be able to install Windows 7. You will need to inject the USB 3.0 driver in the image file.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N915A using Tapatalk

 

This, here is how to do it, you must be on a Windows 7 machine though to properly inject the USB 3.0 drivers in the ISO otherwise the process will never complete on a UEFI boot Windows 8/10

How to install Windows 7 on Samsung 950 PRO

Then after you have your DVD/USB Flash Disk installer of Windows 7 with the updated ISO, follow this:

NBR Windows 7 Clean Installation Guide

 

Apologies, I found this thread right after I made this thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...an-nvme-ssd-from-a-usb-3-0-thumbdrive.783921/

Thanks, I'll check out all these links.

 

If you do need any help with getting your system set up, just let us know. You can find the contact info for our support team under the Support tab on our site. Or message me directly and I can send that to you (never sure if I can put numbers in the forum or not). But let me know if there is anything I can help with though as well.

 

@Phoenix: I did try the MS USB dvd tool earlier and it didn't work for some reason; said it was unable to create a bootable usb, with it halting at 99%.

However, rufus seemed to work. Not sure which one is right. I'll try it with rufus. If my iso is damaged I may just need to actually buy windows 10. Sigh.

@pat@XOTICPC: Thanks!


Lol, I would have used the quote system but I broke it apparently. ><



EDIT: Ok so, as per the first link, I don't seem to have the boot.wim or install.wim files, so maybe Rufus did fail to correctly create a bootable drive. ><


EDIT2: Can anyone confirm; this issue is only Windows 7? If I just buy Windows 10 it shouldn't have a problem?

 

It's a Windows 7 issue. 8.1 or 10 are your best bets for the newer machines. 7 doesn't even like pure UEFI mode.

If you have a retail 7 key, just install Windows 10 and go to activation and change the key to your Windows 7 key and it will activate a digital entitlement for you for free.

Just grab the ISO using this tool http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/microsoft-windows-iso-download-tool.791918/

From there use Rufus, select the ISO, change the boot option to GPT for UEFI systems, write it to your USB and boot from it. Skip the product key because the installer won't take a 7 key, install it, then go activate it.

 

Yeah as Ethrem said Win 7 only issue, Win 10 should work fine. I also have had problems making the Win 7 inject/driver disk, and getting it to work. I know the last time I tried I finally got windows to start the install then it would just stall. Waited all night and it never finished. I'm just not interested in spending my limited free time troubleshooting that anymore.

However I did NOT know I could have just put in my Win 7 key in Win 10 and not had to pay for it. Wow!

 

Microsoft changed it awhile back to make it easier.

 

I was unaware of this as well. I may go this route with my M17x R4. Upgrading over Win 7 seems to never work right. Many quirky things going on...

 

When has a Windows upgrade EVER gone right lol

 

Agreed, but I didn't know this was an option.

 

Another option is to just upgrade then use the shift while clicking restart, go to advanced, and do a system reset. Unlike 8.1 it actually works and doesn't even need the install media. Does a complete reinstall of Windows 10 with your option to either keep your documents and files and just remove all programs (it even leaves a list of the removed programs on your desktop so you can reinstall what you want) or you can do a complete wipe of the Windows install or the entire computer. Windows will automatically reactivate itself.

 

Hmmmmmmm....my key is an MSDNAA for Win7 Pro. I guess I'll let you know if it works.


EDIT: It worked!! Awesome!!!

Now installing Windows 10.


Annnnnd up and running on Windows 10.

Sigh. Only running windows because of gaming, otherwise I'd be on some distro of linux.

Now time to install drivers.

 

The windows 10 installer took the key?!

 

I know right?! But yeah, it did!


I guess they really, REALLY don't want a repeat of XP hanging around for forever!

 

Well that's a nice change. It used to have to be the change the key option. That makes it even easier.

I've got 7 Pro, 8.1 Pro, and now 10 Pro and the best part is that it doesn't invalidate your original key. Obviously the terms of the digital entitlement mean you can't use both at the same time but you can uninstall one and use the other.

 

Ummmm....I'm actually using both at the same time right now! Maybe you can't update at the same time?

 

It doesn't check but it is against the terms to do that. The agreement for the digital entitlement is that you use one or the other, not both at the same time. It's not like someone is going great to bang down your door for it but it is indeed against the EULA.

 

I see, thanks.

 

Doh, I forgot to properly thank you!

I'm sure I would have gotten Windows 7 running eventually, but I kind of wanted to just get up and running and I would not have known anything about this if you hadn't posted!

Thanks so much!

Also thanks to everyone else who posted!