The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Windows 7 UEFI install on Alienware 18

    Discussion in 'Alienware 18 and M18x' started by Mobius 1, Apr 22, 2016.

  1. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    So, with the Alienware 18 only having USB3 port, how does one go around this limitation and install Windows 7 on the laptop?

    I prefer if I can run UEFI GPT (ISO created from rufus), and not legacy mbr.

    Maybe I should install windows 7 from my desktop to the SSD then transfer said SSD to the Alienware 18? But what issues could this cause?


    Looking for advice on how members have accomplished this.

    Thanks in advance.
     
    Mobius 1, Apr 22, 2016
    #1
  2. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist®

    Reputations:
    37,250
    Messages:
    39,344
    Likes Received:
    70,712
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Use the Intel Windows 7 USB 3.0 tool to update the ISO before creating the stick. It's unlikely you will get Windows 7 to function without Legacy Option ROM/CSM support. You can use UEFI with Legacy/CSM and GPT, but not pure UEFI mode. It will typically freeze on the Windows Welcome screen with the gyrating colored blobs without Legacy/CSM enabled.
     
    Mr. Fox, Apr 22, 2016
    #2
    deadsmiley and pathfindercod like this.
  3. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,147
    Messages:
    1,626
    Likes Received:
    702
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Yep. I have been down that road.

    Sent from my overpriced Galaxy S6 Edge +
     
    deadsmiley, Apr 23, 2016
    #3
  4. Zero989

    Zero989 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    910
    Messages:
    2,836
    Likes Received:
    583
    Trophy Points:
    131
    The 18 has 4 USB 3.0 ports, 2.0 is needed?.
     
    Zero989, Apr 23, 2016
    #4
  5. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    Win7 doesn't support installation though usb stick if the port used isn't 2.0
     
    Mobius 1, Apr 23, 2016
    #5
  6. GodlikeRU

    GodlikeRU Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    165
    Messages:
    1,254
    Likes Received:
    562
    Trophy Points:
    131
    What about eSataP port? Does 18 have it?
     
    GodlikeRU, Apr 23, 2016
    #6
  7. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist®

    Reputations:
    37,250
    Messages:
    39,344
    Likes Received:
    70,712
    Trophy Points:
    931
    It does it you take the right steps.

    Did you already do what I suggested with the Intel tool to inject the USB 3.0 drivers into the ISO and re-burn a new USB stick? That works really well. Installing Windows 7 on the Sky X9 and Alienware 18 over USB 3.0 is uncomplicated using that tool. Neither of those machines have USB 2.0 so that tool is fantastic.

    You can choose the option to install drivers during Windows Setup the same as you would Intel RST F6 drivers to install the USB 3.0 drivers, but that's not as easy as using the Intel tool I linked in a previous post.
     
    Mr. Fox, Apr 23, 2016
    #7
  8. Zero989

    Zero989 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    910
    Messages:
    2,836
    Likes Received:
    583
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Are you doing a Win10 upgrade? Curious why you'd ever want UEFI.
     
    Zero989, Apr 23, 2016
    #8
  9. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist®

    Reputations:
    37,250
    Messages:
    39,344
    Likes Received:
    70,712
    Trophy Points:
    931
    I use Legacy or UEFI with CSM for all versions of Windows, including 10. I cannot identify a legitimate need or a good reason to use UEFI other than some of the new hardware has cancer firmware that needs it.
     
    Mr. Fox, Apr 23, 2016
    #9
  10. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    Yes, I'll usethe intel usb stick tool when I get the AW18




    So you would recommend Legacy Win7 install on the AW18 with CSM enabled?

    I thought UEFI is better than Legacy, cmiiw.
     
    Mobius 1, Apr 23, 2016
    #10
  11. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist®

    Reputations:
    37,250
    Messages:
    39,344
    Likes Received:
    70,712
    Trophy Points:
    931
    I would use Legacy (no UEFI enabled) or UEFI with Legacy Option ROM enabled (Dell's naming convention for CSM). Either one is effective. The latter gives you some flexibility to straddle the fence when necessary. My preference is Legacy with no UEFI.

    I cannot identify anything extraordinarily useful about UEFI. It creates an ability to impose restrictions that OEMs should not be entitled to impose, so it has potential to be used for evil to an extent that overshadows the potential for it to be used for good.
     
    Mr. Fox, Apr 23, 2016
    #11
    Mobius 1 likes this.
  12. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    Ok, I'll use uefi w/csm. Thanks in advance.
     
    Mobius 1, Apr 23, 2016
    #12
    Mr. Fox likes this.
  13. Dufus

    Dufus .

    Reputations:
    1,194
    Messages:
    1,336
    Likes Received:
    548
    Trophy Points:
    131
    @Mobius 1 if you want to use full UEFI, no legacy it can be done as long as the following is met.

    1. GOP compliant video (can be integrated graphics)
    2. Install W7 with CSM first using GPT
    3. If using Intel raid then use drivers from 11.5 and upwards
    4. Update video card drivers in the OS to latest
    5. Replace the bootmgfw.efi in the FAT32 UEFI system folder with one from W8 or above. Note it's about twice the size of the W7 one.
    6. Set BCD option novesa to yes
    7. Disable CSM in BIOS

    Enjoy W7 without legacy but do note that frame buffer during OS boot may not properly show messages such as check disk scans.

    Worked for me on both laptop and desktop systems.

    For me pure UEFI allows for faster posts and interaction with the BIOS from the OS, IOW all BIOS settings can be adjusted including the hidden ones unless one has a manufacturer who prefers to lock everything down.
     
    Dufus, Apr 23, 2016
    #13
  14. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    I don't think I'm going to risk losing the framebuffer message, it might bite back in the future if I actually need to repair the OS.
     
    Mobius 1, Apr 23, 2016
    #14
  15. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    Hm, not able to access bios.

    F2 key spam doesn't stop the machine from booting OS.
     
    Mobius 1, Apr 28, 2016
    #15
  16. Rengsey R. H. Jr.

    Rengsey R. H. Jr. I Never Slept

    Reputations:
    1,084
    Messages:
    2,771
    Likes Received:
    1,020
    Trophy Points:
    181
    Pound F2 when it's loading up and you will get to the BIOS.
     
    Rengsey R. H. Jr., Apr 28, 2016
    #16
    deadsmiley likes this.
  17. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    Ok thanks for the info.

    So in the BIOS -> BOOT

    Windows 8 Fast boot = disabled
    USB HOT KEY SUPPORT = ?
    UEFI BOOT (selected)
    SECURE BOOT = disabled
    LOAD LEGACY OPTION ROM = enabled
    BOOT LIST OPTION = uefi

    boot win7 (uefi gpt) usb that's created by rufus

    btw, the SSD is M.2 slot


    edit: also to mention, I took out the slave mxm fan since there's literally nothing on the 2nd mxm port. this would be ok?
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2016
    Mobius 1, Apr 28, 2016
    #17