Some questions about installing and using Win7 in 2024.
First of all, hi everyone! Long time lurker, first time poster.
Long story short, could someone please advise me on how to go about getting Windows 7 updated and running on bare metal in 2024? I still have my retail copy of Windows 7 Home, and I can borrow a friends Professional edition disc. I still have my product keys for both of them but I'm not sure whether they're still useable. I should also specify that I have no plans to ever connect the system to the net.
Slightly longer story...
The Win 7 system is to be used as part of a VHS capture project I'm working on. The system has the following hardware-
The thing that kicked this whole thread off is that in order to avoid swapping peripherals and monitor inputs, I've been looking at buying a KVM. Before splashing the cash though, I wanted to know if my GPU could output sound via either HDMI or DisplayPort. Which would impact which model of KVM I buy. I've tested the DisplayPort on the clean install of Windows 7 and no dice, so I figured I'd try installing the Nvidia driver. Not least because the non native resolution looked poopy. Which is where I ran into an issue related to the OS missing an update... I'll update this paragraph with the exact error message tomorrow (when it's not 02:15). I ended up being unable to see the wood for the trees in regards to how and where to get updates, not to mention which updates I needed.
On the subject of the Nvidia driver... one thing I should emphasise is that I would like to get the Win7 system displaying a calibrated image, at the correct resolution for my monitor. I have a 5120x1440 49" ultrawide but I'm only looking to get a 2560x1440 output (or 1080p), as the monitor has Picture-by-Picture mode and I don't want the image distorted in any way. I also have a ColorMunki calibration device, so I want to be able to either install something like DisplayCAL, or at least install a colour profile on the Win7 system.
Sorry if this is a bit rambly but I'm really tired.
NOTE: I know that as my monitor has PBP, there are ways of getting round buying a KVM, such as a simple USB switch but the KVM is a "kill many birds with the one stone" sort of deal. It might not be essential for the use case above but I can use it in a bunch of other ways.
Long story short, could someone please advise me on how to go about getting Windows 7 updated and running on bare metal in 2024? I still have my retail copy of Windows 7 Home, and I can borrow a friends Professional edition disc. I still have my product keys for both of them but I'm not sure whether they're still useable. I should also specify that I have no plans to ever connect the system to the net.
Slightly longer story...
The Win 7 system is to be used as part of a VHS capture project I'm working on. The system has the following hardware-
- Intel i5 2500k
- Asus P8Z77-V Deluxe
- Asus GTX670 DirectCU II Top
- Samsung 830 256GB SATA SSD
- Corsair RM550x
The thing that kicked this whole thread off is that in order to avoid swapping peripherals and monitor inputs, I've been looking at buying a KVM. Before splashing the cash though, I wanted to know if my GPU could output sound via either HDMI or DisplayPort. Which would impact which model of KVM I buy. I've tested the DisplayPort on the clean install of Windows 7 and no dice, so I figured I'd try installing the Nvidia driver. Not least because the non native resolution looked poopy. Which is where I ran into an issue related to the OS missing an update... I'll update this paragraph with the exact error message tomorrow (when it's not 02:15). I ended up being unable to see the wood for the trees in regards to how and where to get updates, not to mention which updates I needed.
On the subject of the Nvidia driver... one thing I should emphasise is that I would like to get the Win7 system displaying a calibrated image, at the correct resolution for my monitor. I have a 5120x1440 49" ultrawide but I'm only looking to get a 2560x1440 output (or 1080p), as the monitor has Picture-by-Picture mode and I don't want the image distorted in any way. I also have a ColorMunki calibration device, so I want to be able to either install something like DisplayCAL, or at least install a colour profile on the Win7 system.
Sorry if this is a bit rambly but I'm really tired.
NOTE: I know that as my monitor has PBP, there are ways of getting round buying a KVM, such as a simple USB switch but the KVM is a "kill many birds with the one stone" sort of deal. It might not be essential for the use case above but I can use it in a bunch of other ways.
Comments
Fortunately for you (and many others) every possible option has been explored here:
https://forums.mydigitallife.net/forums/windows-7.16/
In a nutshell, the big issues I ran in to:
First install "Service pack 1", if your installation media is not already at that version.
Then use find an install a copy of the WSUS offline installer for Win 7 with all of the last Windows 7 updates (I'm not sure if the updates can still be sucked down from Microsoft using another system).
When running the WSUS offline installer, make sure to check the option to create a temporary local account so it can automatically reboot and resume installing - IT WILL NEED TO REBOOT A LOT!
In this case, it was an OEM-pre install I was re-loading from a recovery partition. It was pre-activated so I didn't have to worry about that.
Fortunately for you (and many others) every possible option has been explored here:
https://forums.mydigitallife.net/forums/windows-7.16/
Thank you for the link. Now I just need to wait for my confirmation email from mydigitallife to actually show up in my inbox.
At the risk of going off topic, I'm curious as to why you say it's beyond what most collector peeps would be investing in?
Then use find an install a copy of the WSUS offline installer for Win 7 with all of the last Windows 7 updates (I'm not sure if the updates can still be sucked down from Microsoft using another system).
Thank you for the reply.
Unfortunately the latest version of WSUS has removed support for Windows 7, as Microsoft no longer support it. I'm guessing that means WSUS won't work but I'm going to cross my fingers and give it a go non the less. Oh, and thanks for the tip about rebooting!
My boxed retail copies are pre-SP1, so I'll have to find an alternate source... it does raise a question I've been pondering though. Is there anyway to verify the security of what I find on the internet? I was thinking that finding the original hashes for the ISO / download in question, on the Microsoft website (via the Wayback Machine) might be the best way to go, or is there a better way?