Doing Windows 7 install with uefi bios and gpt ssd boot drive

[saberasus007]

I forgot how to really do this since it has been some time.

What I remember was that I had to create a windows iso then use rufus to get into onto a bootable usb device. I have mine in ntfs, while going back through all the websites they say the bootable usb always has to be fat32 and won't work in ntfs.

In addition I can't remember if I need to add service pack 1 for Windows 7 to that bootable usb drive. I have also scanned the internet again looking for the answer. I find more instructions that don't mention service pack 1 than those that do. It could be they assume you are already using a windows 7 sp 1 disc or they forget to mention.

The thread I tried to make sense of was
https://rog.asus.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-23204.html

"From what I can remember from the posts of old regarding the need to use SP1 to install, that is indeed the case. SP1 needed to install in UEFI mode." one poster said.

Another poster, "actually it is still valid, because the stock disk is a GPT disk. when people try to install windows to the GPT disk, they need UEFI to make the installation work. you need windows 7 sp1 for that.

if you have a fresh disk, the windows 7 install disk will make it an MBR disk by default and install the OS via BIOS mode, not UEFI mode."

The link that most people point to is one on seven forums. However it makes no mention of UEFI needing service pack 1.

Now why issue? I usually like to install my service packs after all drivers and bios updates are done. That way if a program erased something critical the service pack will ensure the correct version is there (yes I know I can run a command to put back proper files. However I mostly think of security updates that have different versions.

So
Is Service Pack needed on the bootable usb flash drive to install windows 7 x64 using a uefi bios (z170 chipset so you know how new/old the board is) and a gpt on a samsung 850 evo 500gb.

Does the bootable flash drive have to be fat32 in order to have a uefi install and gpt on drives?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Skunk-Works]

I would just slipstream SP1 anyway. You'll want it anyway, correct? You may have issues booting from USB. Especially if it's USB 3. In that case you'll have to slip stream the USB 3.0 driver as well.

I just reformatted my desktop and installed Win 7. It's a z270. For some damn reason, I could not use USB 2.0 with my USB drive with the drivers. My mouse/keyboard worked though. I had to burn the drivers to DVD/RW and install my drivers that way. I installed the OS via the DVD.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I've always had better luck installing Windows 7 SP1 64-bit in UEFI mode, by installing off of a DVD burned from an official ISO. Just go into BIOS boot menu, select "UEFI: DVD" and boot off of that.

 

[saberasus007]

Thanks for the advice. ]

Skunk Works, your issue I remembered from my Z170. Because Intel or all 3.0 developers went to eXtensible HCI (xchi) you have to either have the drives on a cd/dvd from intel and then instruct windows during install the location of the drivers (intel for example) before you can start using usb, which of course the Windows 7 DVD that was originally shipped didn't have or know to have xhci drivers as that came out after.

So it sounds like take the image of Windows 7 w/service pack 1 and usb xchi drivers streamlined to install, however can you still do it without sp1 involved?