Skylake / Windows7 Issue... SO YOU GUYS ARE AWARE

Operating Systems & Open Source Windows
1

I had a hell of a time figuring out a way to use an old Windows 7 Ultimate key to get Windows 10 Pro through the upgrade system on Skylake... This is why...

Intel has discontinued EHCI legacy support in favor of XHCI on the H110, B150, and Z170 chipsets... which wouldn't normally be a big deal because XHCI is backwards compatible...

You might ask... What does that mean? Why does that matter?

It means if you try to install Windows 7 (which doesn't come with XHCI drivers in the original installation because XCHI didn't exist in 2009) on a Skylake-based PC with USB keyboard and mouse... neither the keyboard or mouse will function... there ARE a few work-arounds that will enable you to do this... easiest is to use a PS/2 keyboard/mouse... but what if your motherboard dropped support for those (which was the case in this instance) or you don't have a PS/2 mouse or keyboard handy?

ASRock and Intel both have solutions for modifying the ISO to include XHCI drivers for legacy OS installs...

http://www.asrock.com/microsite/Win7Install/

So there's the fix that took me a few hours to diagnose earlier this week for anybody else that comes across this problem... Otherwise when you boot into the USB Windows 7 Installer, you'll have no way of communicating with the PC short of telepathy...

There's lots of people that have had this problem... there's lots of bullshit answers on other forums that don't work... just save yourselves the trouble... this is the fix

4 Likes
2

fascinating

3

I'm currently using a PS/2 kb+Mouse. Soo... i shouldn't have to worry then? Looking to get a new Keyboard down the road. I hope they still have good PS/2 keyboards. And damn.. that's awkward. It's like i'm saying "PS2". Ugghh... i'll never get used to that. And aren't USB KBs and Mice generally shunned upon?

4

I haven't used a PS/2 keyboard as a daily driver in at least 7 years...so I hope not cause that'd be weird... I'm aware of n-key rollover and whatnot but I've never had an issue...

5

Don't wish to sound rude but I'm slightly surprised that this is news to anyone.
We've known this for a while now. If I recall correctly, we had news about this a year ago.

@Prenihility
DVD media + PS/2 KB/mouse no worries
DVD media + USB KB/mouse you need to do the fix
USB media + USB KB/mouse you need to do the fix

6

well fufff fuff mmm? ☺

7

Sweeeeet. Then i can always switch to a new mouse/KB later. I'll keep it handy for things like this.