Obsolete Guide

This guide has been superseded by:

Download Dell Windows 7 Pro ISO (Media Refresh January 2016) from Dell and Make a Bootable USB

January 2020

Windows 7 Reached End of Mainstream Back up in Jan 2015. Extended Support lasts until January 2020. For more details seeEnd of Support.

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Your Dell Windows 7 OEM License is eligible for a Free Upgrade to Windows 10 for more than details see Windows OEM FAQs and Downloads.

Contents one: Dell Windows 7 Pro OEM

  • Introduction
  • The Microsoft Windows and Office Download Tool
    • The Dell Bone Recovery Tool
  • Dell Windows vii Pro Reinstallation ISO Checksums
  • How exercise I tell if I have a UEFI Kick?
  • Creating a Windows vii Bootable USB
  • Windows 7 Standalone Updates
  • Installation Instructions

Tutorial Video 1

Contents two: Dell Windows 7 Home Premium + Ultimate OEM

The Dell Windows vii Domicile Premium Reinstallation OEM and Dell Windows 7 Ultimate Reinstallation OEM ISO are not available to Download.

If you need to install these, download the Dell Windows 7 Professional person Reinstallation OEM ISO, delete the EI.cfg File in the sources folder. Utilize the Windows USB Installation Tool by Gigabyte Tool to Add together USB iii.0 Support to the Install.wim and then manually Apply OEM SLP. This is documented in detail beneath:

  • Unlocking Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows seven Ultimate
  • Adding USB 3.0 Drivers and Storage Controllers to your Bootable USB
  • Applying Dell OEM Organisation Locked Preinstallation for Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional

Introduction

Dell released an up to date Windows 7 Pro .iso – the "Dell Windows vii Pro Skylake Reinstallation .iso" which is multilingual and includes USB 3.1 and Storage Controller support necessary for installation of Windows 7 Pro on up to 6th Generation Intel Skylake systems. This installation media is Updated until January 2016 and includes Cyberspace Explorer 11. It will automatically activate on eligible Dell systems using Dell OEM System Locked Preinstallation.

dell-windows-7-reinstalaltion-dvd31

USB Flash Drive

You will need a USB Flash Drive. If you lot don't take please click see more than and use the affiliate links below for Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. These will help fund the website costs for my installation guides.

These are the USB Flash Drives I have tested (note in that location is no point getting a larger capacity USB flash drive for Windows Installation Media as you need to format the USB as FAT32 and the ISO is far less than 16 GB, unremarkably closer to viii GB.

The Dell Windows vii Skylake Reinstallation .isos in this guide will apply Dell OEM System Locked Preinstallation meaning it will automatically actuate offline on eligible Dell systems.

Eligible systems have a Windows Pro sticker:

win10Pro Win8Pro

Or alternatively a Windows 7 Pro COA (key non required, often found under the battery compartment):

The Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Role Download Tool is bachelor hither:

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/applied science-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-role-iso-download-tool

This has been updated to Download the Dell Windows 7 Professional Reinstallation ISO and addresses some of the issues experienced with the Dell OS Recovery Tool.

Launch the Microsoft Windows and Part ISO Download Tool. You lot will be asked whether you want to use some of your idle resources to help with the development of the tool. Select [Yep] or [No] equally desired:

To the correct manus side, select DELL:

Hither information technology doesn't matter what Model yous select, as you are Downloading a Dell Windows 7 Professional person Reinstallation ISO which only has the necessary drivers inbuilt to recognise USB 3.0 Ports and Storage Controllers. These ISOs work on any Dell with 6th Generation Intel (Skylake) Hardware or Older that are Licensed for Windows 7 Pro OEM/Windows eight.x Pro OEM or Windows 10 Pro OEM. Just ensure you select a Model that has a 64 Bit ISO or a 32 BIT ISO as desired (probable you lot want the 64 Chip ISO):

I will select the Breadth E7470 as the model and Windows 7 SP1 Professional 64 Flake every bit the image:

At present you tin copy the link for 64 Bit:

Select OK:

Now paste information technology in Chrome to Download the ISO.

I recommend using the Windows and Role ISO Download Tool opposed to the Dell OS Recovery Tool as it is less problematic.

Installation .iso Checksums

Open your Downloads binder. You volition meet a subfolder chosen Dell. The installation .iso y'all have downloaded volition be present there. The installation .isos will have the following names with a suffix including the time you downloaded the .iso due east.g. _20171207_0202

Windows 7 Profession 64 Chip Multi-Language:

  • G13K9_PW4KGA00_W7SP1PRO64_ROW(DL).iso

Windows 7 Profession 64 Fleck Multi-Language Variant ii:

  • V24C6_GGFY7A00_W7SP1PRO64_ROW.iso

Windows 7 Professional 32 Bit Multi-Linguistic communication:

  • MT5KY_N6N9GA00_W7SP1PRO32_ROW(DL).iso

Ensure that the .iso checksums match before using the .iso as there are often issues with incomplete downloads.

.iso checksums can be checked with Rufus (which we will too utilize to make the Bootable USB):

https://rufus.akeo.ie/

Rufus doesn't need to be installed. Launch Rufus:

Take the User Business relationship Control Prompt:

You will be prompted to check for updates, there is no point in doing so if y'all accept just downloaded Rufus:

Select "select":

Select the installation .iso you lot have but downloaded and select open:

The proper name of the loaded .iso will be displayed at the bottom:

Select the tick marking abreast "select". This will compute the installation isos checksums:

The progress bar will prove at the bottom:

Ensure they match the installation .iso checksums I list below:

G13K9_PW4KGA00_W7SP1PRO64_ROW(DL).iso (7,404,138 KB):

  • MD5: d363f535afae79139fe8632702613ffb
  • SHA1: f52615d64ebe9b7c7aeb754746356bc3a052c415
  • SHA256: 2bfa2ebbee84804c8e643bf829644e6c5ef373e63bdeae3a6ac927d371f4c0d0

V24C6_GGFY7A00_W7SP1PRO64_ROW.iso (7,521,254 KB):

  • MD5: 4da7a972664e6db1091d7c5959d2b94a
  • SHA1: f0cdd94c0aa2a28bc48c82b65c83ac24e5c6fc52
  • SHA256: cc1a650e9fac2f89ffd68f64a272203fd7581e66c729a7e8a89bcbcfb4d7b101

N87PW_X00-00_D0V2KA00_7601_W7SP1_PROFESSIONAL64_RTM_DELL(DL)_.iso (5,488,294 KB)

  • MD5: bcd068249a4d00e124a0c2c597da42d7
  • SHA1: 10529a3a46bf8cb917e317512640e6846e1c3f16
  • SHA256: 0510cec214db80ce811040daebd7e2e494290e87d2afd8f0c0cfffb49a59fa27

MT5KY_N6N9GA00_W7SP1PRO32_ROW(DL).iso (5,715,252 KB):

  • MD5: 488ae6c2a7e587e87c12101fde083458
  • SHA1: c36a77d3dbbe1d248a04a496e2f88ab268ff6ce9
  • SHA256: b33b6b5a5c98ad33729741b2f2fe4c74bc7a8677f7c13d0c4966fd9ae5ed2c14

If they exercise not you have a corrupt installation .iso and should retry the download using the Dell Os Recovery Tool again:

Checking if your System has an UEFI Boot

Power downward your Dell and and so power up and Press [F12]. This will take you to your systems Kicking Menu.

If information technology mentions at the pinnacle "Boot Manner" and so you have a UEFI BIOS.

For Windows 7 64 Bit Installation:

  • The Boot Fashion should be set to UEFI.
  • Secure Kicking should be Off.
  • Legacy ROMs settings (non shown on the Boot Managing director Screen) should be Enabled.
  • Note that early on UEFI systems may not have Secure Boot and hence no need for Legacy ROM Settings.

For Windows 7 32 Fleck Installation:

  • The Kick Style should exist set to Legacy.
  • Secure Kick should be Off.
  • Legacy ROMs settings (not shown on the Boot Manager Screen) should be Enabled.
  • Annotation that early UEFI systems may not have Secure Boot and hence no demand for Legacy ROM Settings.

For details in Enabling these settings see Unified Extensive Firmware Interface (UEFI).

If it doesn't mention at the top "Kick Mode" then you accept an older arrangement with a Legacy BIOS.

Creating a Bootable USB Flash Bulldoze

Note: All Data on your USB Flash Drive will be formatted, so check there is cypher important on it before using it to make a Windows vii Bootable USB.

If Rufus is closed, relaunch it and load the installation .iso. Insert a sixteen GB USB Flash Drive. Your USB flash bulldoze should display under Device:

The Division Scheme: Windows 7 64 Bit (2012-2016 Computer)

If you lot are installing Windows 7 64 Fleck, the default settings will use the GPT Partition Scheme. GPT has the advantage that it contains multiple Boot Records opposed to a Unmarried Kick Record, can back up many more partitions (128 versus 4) and can work with larger drives (>2 TB). The Target System, File Arrangement and Cluster Size will be updated correspondingly.

It is advised to change the Partition Scheme from FAT32 to NTFS. FAT32 has the advantage that information technology tin can laissez passer through Secure Boot, which Windows vii cannot do anyway. NTFS can support file sizes >iv GB and your install.wim may be >four GB if you follow my instructions to perform a slipstream.

The Partition Scheme: Windows 7 64 Bit (2007-2011 Computers) and Windows 7 32 Bit (2007-2016 Computers)

For earlier computers that don't possess a UEFI BIOS you take have to change GPT to MBR. The Target Arrangement, File System and Cluster Size will be updated correspondingly. If you lot are using a Windows 7 32 Scrap installation .iso you also have to employ MBR simply this will be automatically selected:

Creating the Bootable USB

It is advisable to alter the Volume Characterization to something recognisable such as Win7Pro:

Press Outset to begin making your Windows seven Bootable USB:

Yous volition be warned that your USB Wink Drive will exist formatted. Select OK:

Rufus volition now begin making your Bootable USB Flash Bulldoze:

Once finished information technology will say "Ready". You may now close down Rufus:

Standalone Updates for Windows 7

The time information technology takes to patch a Windows 7 install tin take ii-3 times as long equally the installation procedure of Windows seven itself. I have made a Windows 7 Slipstream Script which slipstreams the Convenience Rollup and it'due south perquisite updates, Net Explorer 11 and it'south perquisite updates, the NVMe Hotfixes, Intel USB 3.0 Drivers, Intel F6 Storage Controllers and the latest Security Rollup for Windows seven meet Slipstreaming Windows seven. I take fabricated the slipstreaming guide as piece of cake to follow every bit possible just it is nevertheless fairly avant-garde. If information technology is also advanced for you, download the updates and save them to your Bootable USB then manually install them post installation, see Standalone Updates for Windows seven.

Installation Instructions

To install Windows vii see Windows 7 Installation in a UEFI BIOS or Legacy BIOS.

Unlocking Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows vii Ultimate

This is not needed if y'all are installing Windows seven Professional person.

In gild to install Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows seven Ultimate on newer hardware you will have to accept slipstreamed the drivers and updates. Once again see Slipstreaming Windows vii.

The ei.cfg should exist deleted after the Bootable USB is made to allow installation of all Editions of Windows 7 for a Corresponding Architecture.

Open up the USB in Windows Explorer:

Get to the sources folder:

To the top right in the search bar search for ei.cfg

Delete the EI.cfg file:

With the EI.cfg file deleted during installation you will get the following election screen:

Adding Commuter Back up for Windows 7 Home Premium of Windows vii Ultimate

This is non needed if yous are installing Windows vii Professional person as the Install.wim is updated for Windows 7 Professional person.

Unfortunately from the screen above one can run into that only the Pro Edition is updated. The other Editions are unfortunately from Late 2010 and do not have back up for USB 3.0 or many storage controllers. If you try and utilise it with hardware with these technologies you may get stuck here with a non-responsive keyboard or mouse:

no-usb-3-0

Or alternatively here and get:

"A required CD\DVD drive device commuter is missing. If you have a driver floppy disc, CD, DVD, or USB flash Bulldoze, please insert it now. Notation: If the Windows installation media is in the CD/DVD bulldoze, y'all can safely remove it for this step."

no-usb-3-0-or-nvme-or-sata-drivers

To make your Bootable USB usable on up to sixth Generation Intel Skylake hardware you lot'll need to add drivers to the Bootable USB.

The Windows USB Installation Tool past Gigabyte adds USB 3.0 drivers and storage controller drivers for Intel and Samsung NVMe SSDs besides as associated hotfixes. It may be found hither:

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z170X-Gaming-G1-rev-ten#support-dl-utility

Roll down until y'all find it:

Alternatively printing [Ctrl] and [ f ] and search for Windows USB Installation Tool.

Download the tool and excerpt it:

To launch the utility double click the WindowsImageTool.exe and accept the User Account Control:

Cheque the iii boxes to add the drivers:

Exit the Source Path as "None – Add USB Drivers" and change the Destination Path to your Windows seven Bootable USB Flash Bulldoze:

Select Start:

The tool will mount each alphabetize of your boot.wim file, add the drivers and so commit the changes. It'll repeat the process for the install.wim file:

For a Bootable USB fabricated from the Dell Windows vii 64 Bit .iso Downloaded Directly from Microsoft.

The procedure took about 20 minutes in my test.

The boot.wim found in the sources folder of the USB was updated from 409 MB to 433 MB.

The install.wim found in the sources folder of the USB was updated from 3.88 GB to 3.97 GB.

OEM Cert Drove

This is not needed if you are installing Windows vii Professional as OEM System Locked Preinstallation volition Automatically be Applied.

Unfortunately switching Edition breaks the OEM Arrangement Locked Preinstallation BIOS based production activation and the installation will inquire for a Product Key. This can be applied post-installation. During the Windows vii setup, you are all-time to install Windows 7 without a Product Key and actuate postal service installation using OEM System Locked Preinstallation – the same BIOS based Product Activation machinery of manufacturing plant settings. Doing so will save you from having to call Microsoft to activate by phone.