[REQUEST] Urgent: Windows 7 on HP ProDesk 400

[seedubya]

So I'm trying to install Windows 7x86 on a HP ProDesk 400 G4 SFF. I can't get the keyboard and mouse working at all once it boots to the installation - no action at all. I've tried injecting the USB drivers but still nothing. Does anyone have any ideas? It's urgent as I need to have this done by tonight as it needs to be delivered first thing tomorrow.

 

[GTP]

have you checked the BIOS to make sure legacy USB is enabled?

 

[Markverhyden]

Have you done this using the USB 2 ports instead of USB 3. assuming there is USB 3.

 

[Diggs]

Plug an old PS2 mouse and keyboard in and proceed normally. The USB ports will be there after boot.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Have you done this using the USB 2 ports instead of USB 3. assuming there is USB 3.

It has both types. I would only use the USB 2.0 ports until it is fully updated.

 

[Moltuae]

Plug an old PS2 mouse and keyboard in and proceed normally. The USB ports will be there after boot.

+1

This is what I'd do. I keep a couple of old PS2 keyboards & mice lying around for that very reason. Or sometimes I'll temporarily drop in PCI card to get me around that hurdle, something that gives plug and play USB/PS2 expandability. It's far quicker to do that and find the drivers once Windows is installed than to faff around trying to find the right drivers to inject into the installation media.

 

[seedubya]

No PS\2 ports and no USB2 ports either. It's a Skylake chipset so USB3 only. It's fine with Windows 10 Pro but unfortunately I have to downgrade for a LOB application that's only supported on Win 7x86! And that's the up to date version!!

 

[seedubya]

have you checked the BIOS to make sure legacy USB is enabled?

@Barcelona - no option to do so, I believe that option is not available for Skylake chipsets.

 

[Moltuae]

Drop in a basic (natively-supported) PCI USB card perhaps? (just temporarily to get over the keyboard hurdle)

 

[nlinecomputers]

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/boards-and-kits/intel-nuc-kits/000017241.html

 

[seedubya]

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/boards-and-kits/intel-nuc-kits/000017241.html

Thanks man. Unfortunately, no joy with that method either. It simply will not load the drivers - I don't know why.

Updating WIMs is a pain in the arse!!

 

[nlinecomputers]

If it is a skylake then Microsoft isn't going to allow you to have security updates for it. Do you know for certain that the software will not run on Windows 10? You are not going to get Windows 7 to run on that hardware. Time to punt.

 

[Markverhyden]

Looks like it's VM time. 7 on top of 10.

 

[ell]

Looks like it's VM time. 7 on top of 10.

yup, did this for a couple clients with win 10 and added a xp virtualbox for old applications.

 

[seedubya]

Looks like it's VM time. 7 on top of 10.

Why did I not think of this????!

Thanks Mark

 

[Markverhyden]

Why did I not think of this????!

Thanks Mark

Trust me, you don't have a monopoly on that. Was looking for a toe tag on a server the other day. Did not see anything on the right side so I went to the back. Another guy there was like, hmm..... it's over here on the left side, which I did not even look at. LOL!!!

 

[Sky-Knight]

Nothing should be going out with Win7 on it, it's dead in 2020.

Intel didn't make chipset drivers for that old OS for that platform. So Win10 + VM is literally the only supported way to do this, and even then it's a massive band-aide.

I'm also wondering what software runs on Win7 that won't run on Win10, I've encountered almost none. Old versions of Quickbooks cannot print PDFs, but otherwise work on modern windows...

Heck you cannot even buy Win7 anymore so I'm curious where you got the license.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Heck you cannot even buy Win7 anymore so I'm curious where you got the license.

OEM versions of Windows 10 Pro have downgrade rights to Windows 8 or 7. It's legal.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Though a VM would require a retail license for Windows 7. You can still find it online in some outlets.

 

[NviGate Systems]

This is an excellent example of how simple things can trip us up. I can't say exactly the cause or reasons behind the selection of this specific machine, but I would caution techs from allowing clients to "take over the situation" by dropping catchphrases like "critical" etc.

I've dealt with companies like this before, and most are nice enough that once they stop panicking and let me work a solution for them, all is good. I'm a little rusty on all the latest platforms and what is and isn't supported etc. So I would probably run into the same issue. But I do know to check for it, hence I always ask my sales guy which platform a machine is and double check what version of Windows we are dealing with.

Provided the vendor has 32-Bit drivers available if a LOB app needs to be run on 32 bit. If it's a server app you can actually get away with no drivers and a usb ethernet if it really comes down to it. As long as the damned app runs and has a connection.