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ASRock B550M Pro4: Windows 7 fresh install

Printed From: ASRock.com
Category: Technical Support
Forum Name: AMD Motherboards
Forum Description: Question about ASRock AMD motherboards
URL: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=24884
Printed Date: 19 Apr 2024 at 4:55pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: ASRock B550M Pro4: Windows 7 fresh install
Posted By: LoTek
Subject: ASRock B550M Pro4: Windows 7 fresh install
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2022 at 10:11pm
Hi there,
I would like to install Windows 7 on my new build (ASRock B550M Pro4, AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G, nVME M.2 drive) and yes, I know this OS not supported anymore, but not being supported shouldn´t mean I´m not allowed to use it and basically forced to use a new OS full of ´new functionalities´ that I don´t need nor like.
Anyway, no matter what combination of boot configurations I choose, I can´t seem to enable the Compatibility Support Module (CSM).
So, first of all, is it true that Windows 7 needs CSM enabled to be installed?
And secondly, does this motherboard model in particular (ASRock B550M Pro4) even allow that feature to be enabled in the first place?
Thirdly, I read somewhere that AMD Ryzens with Integrated Graphics Processors (IGP) do not allow CSM, so to troubleshoot this problem I added a discrete graphics card but this hardware addition didn´t do anything for me.
In the boot menu I can read ´CSM is disabled´ and there is no option for me to enable it, and even if I enable/disable a combination of other settings such as ´Primary video adaptor´, ´iGPU configuration´, ´Secure boot´, ´Fast boot´, etc., CSM continues disabled.
In conclusion: Is there a specific hardware setup and/or BIOS settings that allow me to install Windows 7 using the ASRock B550M Pro4?
Note: I´m fully aware that Windows 7 installs EHCI instead of xHCI controllers, so when you start Windows 7 your USB 3.0 hardware stops working. But I´m guessing this can be easily circumvented by using a PS/S keyboard and mouse during installation and then installing the missing USB drivers. Not sure about NVMe though??should I try using a SATA SSD instead?



Replies:
Posted By: threadzipper1957
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2022 at 6:46pm
Dear Lo Tek,

On the first Ab350 boards, and the first range of CPU's it already didn't work anymore on Matisse, Picasso & Raven Ridge CPU only Windows® 10 64-bit was supported.
Even with Bristol Ridge and Summit Ridge CPU's, Windows 7 was no longer supported, but there was a patch tool, that integrated the XHCI drivers into a new Windows install
https://download.asrock.com/Utility/UsbPatcher/Win7UsbPatcher" rel="nofollow - https://download.asrock.com/Utility/UsbPatcher/Win7UsbPatcher (v2.0.21_AM4).zip
many people have tried to get this to work with newer CPU's, and have failed.
It has got nothing to do with ASRock, it was AMD, and Intel, who decided, no longer to support EHCI, and Microsoft stopped integrating these.
Since Intel 100 Series a special XHCI driver was on the download page, en since AM4 there was this patch tool.
On B550 there is a reason, why ASRock mentions Windows10 and 11 64 Bit.
I would say, go for Windows 11 Pro, becasue most likely you're wasting your time, and it saves a lot of frustration.
If you do get it to work, feel free to share it, but you will probably find, you don't find any chipset, or graphics drivers anymore, and hardware is not working properly.

-------------
Kind Regards



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