This post is more than 5 years old
1 Rookie
•
22 Posts
0
12836
March 7th, 2019 11:00
Optiplex 390 - Trouble Installing Win7 Under UEFI
Gentlemen, I am trying to install Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit on a Dell Optiplex 390 under UEFI from a DVD and it isn’t working. So far as I know, the Setup options are as good as they get for this model: I have the Boot List Options set to UEFI, there is no support for Secureboot, and the Legacy Option ROMs is always enabled. According to a tutorial I saw on Sevenforums, this looks pretty straight forward with the Windows installation disk formatting the drive with the three partitions used for GPT and the rest of the installation is the same as under the legacy BIOS system. My trouble is that my Windows disk will not create the GPT partitions, only the legacy BIOS two- partition scheme. The disk that I am using is a retail copy of WinProx64 SP0. I have read that you have to have Windows installation media with SP1 to install under GPT so I used RT 7 Lite to slipstream SP1 and create a new, all-in-one installation DVD with SP1 which lets you choose which version of Windows 7 you want to install. The DVD works fine to install Win7 HP on this computer if I choose Legacy BIOS in the Boot List Options in Setup and the resulting installation verifies in System Properties that SP1 is installed. The only reason I am installing the Home Premium version is that it is the version indicated on the Microsoft product sticker on the computer. I tried to update the BIOS from A11 to A14 thinking that might have some benefit, but the installation fails. The failure might be due to my forgetting to set the correct time and date in Setup so that when I set the right date in Windows it immediately complained about the installation not being genuine. Maybe updates won’t install if Windows thinks it’s not a kosher installation...? Anyway, I have a copy of Partition Magic and as far as I know that will format the drive with the correct GPT partitions, perhaps allowing Windows installation on this computer under UEFI. Before I proceed with that, I just want to get some opinions from people who know more than I do about this subject. Maybe this won’t work at all no matter what I do, using the type of installation disk I have. This is why I want some input. I don’t have a fetish for UEFI but I have seen recommendations that Windows 7 should be installed under that system if the option is available. I’m fine with installing under Legacy BIOS if this doesn’t pan out. Any helpful information will be appreciated. Thank you for your interest! Grant
No Events found!
Philip_Yip
11 Legend
•
16.1K Posts
•
65.9K Points
0
March 8th, 2019 01:00
This is one of the first UEFI systems. As a result it has a UEFI Boot without Secure Boot. Therefore there is no Secure Boot or need to Enable Legacy ROMs. It is however a bit flaky on earlier BIOS revisions so make sure you have it updated to A14. You can do this on your legacy install...
Windows 7 DVDs will by default Boot using MBR. For a UEFI Boot you need to create a Bootable USB using the following settings:
Note the Partition Scheme is GPT (not MBR). The File System can be FAT32 (required for Secure Boot which is a moot point since Windows 7 fails to Pass Secure Boot anyway and this system doesn't support it) or NTFS (required if the install.wim exceeds 4 GB).
For more details on making a Windows 7 Bootable USB Flash Drive see here:
https://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/slipstream-win7/
You can away without slipstreaming on this model however I would advise you to slipstream the Convenience Rollup, IE11 and the Dell System Drivers for the OptiPlex 390 (for all indexes of the install.wim or only the 2nd Index Windows 7 Home Premium) and then clean install using the updated installation media.
Note that Windows 7 Reaches End of Life in about 10 months.
Gchagen
1 Rookie
•
22 Posts
0
March 7th, 2019 11:00
Sorry for the run-on paragraph. I pasted in the message body from Word and it looked fine.
I guess I'll have to acquaint myself with the Preview feature.
Grant
speedstep
11 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
March 7th, 2019 11:00
UEFI is for windows 8 and 10.
Windows 7 must have SECURE BOOT OFF and Legacy Option Roms On.
You must F12 Legacy Boot a windows 7 SP1 DVD.
You cannot install 7 over the top of a drive that has 8 or 10 on it.
You will have to use DBAN or Windows PE and DISKPART to CLEAN the Drive before installing 7. WINDOWS 7 DVD cannot remove windows 8 or 10 partitions.
Gchagen
1 Rookie
•
22 Posts
0
March 7th, 2019 12:00
Thank you, 7 Plutonium.
Optiplex 390 does not offer Secure Boot, so that's off by default and Legacy Option ROMs is also enabled by default.
I don't know what the HDD had on it before I got the computer, but if it needs total wiping and partitioning to GPT before I can attempt an installation, I believe Partition Magic can do that. Or does it have to be the apps you mention?
Grant
speedstep
11 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
March 8th, 2019 04:00
This model would be one of the Models that the Dell Recovery utility has an image for EXCEPT if its an N Series which did not come with windows.
If it came with windows it would have a VISTA Business or WIN7 PRO COA.
Vista COA means there isn't an image.
https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/sln299044/how-to-download-and-use-the-dell-os-recovery...
What you will need
Gchagen
1 Rookie
•
22 Posts
0
March 10th, 2019 22:00
Dr. Yip!
I am a fan!
I was ready to give up on this. I figured that maybe the computer didn't like the slipstreamed SP1 disk I made with RT 7 Lite as it would never give me a UEFI boot option for the disk in the F12 boot menu.
If the BIOS update to A14 is necessary, this is dead in the water. I'm currently on A11 and have tried to run the A14 update and it fails every time. An IT guy opined that there was something wrong with the update, citing 40 390's in his office, none of which would install the A14 update.
Can Rufus use the settings indicated in your screen grab to make a DVD that has these properties, or does it have to be a USB drive?
speedstep
11 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
March 13th, 2019 10:00
The DELL USB Recovery tool does not need to be run on a dell that you want to install to.
You just need the SERVICE TAG of the machine and a USB Flash drive of 16 or 32 gigs.
You create the recovery then put into your dell and F12 Boot and reinstall.
Gchagen
1 Rookie
•
22 Posts
0
March 18th, 2019 20:00
I finally did get Win7 HP installed under UEFI using Rufus to create a bootable USB drive configured as shown in the screenshot in Dr. Yip's post. I used the slipstreamed SP1 .ISO file which never worked under UEFI when burned to DVD. Only USB installation with Rufus got me a UEFI boot option through f12.
The BIOS thing is still up in the air, but I got some good information on that subject from a separate post.
Considering that my question here has been satisfactorily answered, I'm considering the issue closed.
Thanks to all respondents! If I could give you all official kudos, I would, but nothing happens when I click on the icon.
Grant