15.6" Optimus VII - Wont Boot (except windows test version)

[mufc02]

Bought laptop with Samsung EVO 250GB SSD, no Operating System. Came preinstalled with test version of Windows 10. I tried putting the ISO of Win7 on a DVD and USB but when I try to load, I get the Windows logo for a second, then the system locks up, and the top 1/10 of the screen comes up red.

So I remove the SSD from the laptop and install the OS from my PC instead after formatting it. Now when I put the SSD back into the laptop, it doesn't see any bootable devices, even though it recognizes the SSD in the BIOS through one of the SATA connections. The OS loads on my desktop fine, both are in AHCI mode.

Is my laptop not operating correctly or am I doing something stupid here?

 

[Rakk]

I'm not convinced the Optimus VII will work with Win7 (the same applies to quite a few of the new laptop chassis), you can't select Win7 from the drop down menu in the configurator and if you select 'No OS' and tell it you're going to be using Win7 you get a red message saying

Unfortunately Microsoft® Windows 7 is no longer supported on this configuration. We cannot confirm that the drivers we provide will enable you to correctly install and configure all of the components that you are planning to order and therefore we do not recommend that you install Microsoft® Windows 7. Drivers for other compatible operating systems are provided in one of the following ways:

On a CD or DVD provided with your order.
As a download link on the manufacturer's website.
As a download link in the customer account area of our website.

So I just don't think the laptop will work with Win7.

 

[mufc802]

Really, I wasn't aware of that at all. I paid for a Win7 key just for it.

Where does it state on the website this laptop cannot use Win7?

 

[Rakk]

Really, I wasn't aware of that at all. I paid for a Win7 key just for it.

Where does it state on the website this laptop cannot use Win7?

When you go through the configurator and press proceed, if you haven't selected an OS it asks you to select which you will be using and if you select Win7 you get the message (in red) that I quoted on the on the next page, a little above where the 'order' buttons are.


Note: its possible I'm wrong about this and there is a way to get it to work, but I just don't know but it may be worth waiting for a reply from someone who knows more than me about this.

 

[mufc802]

I got this email from PC Specialist:

Dear ...

To ensure that the setup of your new laptop goes smoothly, please take a minute to read through this email.

You have ordered a laptop without an operating system installed, and you told us at the point of ordering that you intend to install Windows 7. Your laptop will come supplied with a test version of Windows installed to demonstrate that the laptop is working perfectly. A disc has also been supplied that contains all the necessary drivers for Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 so that you can install these on your laptop should you ever wish to upgrade the operating system in the future. The drivers for Windows 7 are not supplied on this disc, but they will always be available for you to download as often as you like from our website, which you can access by logging into your account and clicking on the "Download" link.

We recommend that you login to your account and download these drivers so that you can install them on your new laptop once you have installed Windows 7. You can download these drivers at any point, at a time convenient to you, and of course free of charge.

This email is for your information only, however if you are unsure about anything please do not hesitate to contact us on 0333 011 7000 - Monday - Friday 9am - 8pm (Saturdays 9am - 5pm) and we will be happy to help.

Many Thanks

PC Specialist Ltd

They didn't seem to state here there was a problem using Win7 as I specified this is the OS I would be using even though I didn't actually buy the OS.

 

[jeebus]

I had same problem, could get it to boot to Win 7 install by disabling UEFI in the BIOS but it would always give me an error when it tried to start the installer. I thought this would save me some money as I have a few Windows 7 keys I could use but no luck. Next I bought a cheap Windows 8.1 code (about £35 I think) and managed to install fine with this with UEFI enabled but had a major problem. After about 1 minute the fans would come on full pelt, a beeping would start and it would shut down. To resolve this I did the free upgrade to Windows 10 - no issues since.

 

[Rakk]

I got this email from PC Specialist:

They didn't seem to state here there was a problem using Win7 as I specified this is the OS I would be using even though I didn't actually buy the OS.

I think that is more than likely the default mail that gets sent when you don't order an OS.

You do however get a red warning message above the order buttons if you select Win7 for an Optimus VII - this is how it looks:

Possibly it could have been clearer but it does advise against trying to install Win7

 

[jeebus]

That's been updated. Didn't see that when I ordered either.

 

[ubuysa]

Really, I wasn't aware of that at all. I paid for a Win7 key just for it.

Where does it state on the website this laptop cannot use Win7?

That's been updated. Didn't see that when I ordered either.

Possibly not, but you will have seen in the configurator that Windows 7 is not offered as a pre-installed OS on this laptop. That probably should have rung bells.

 

[mufc802]

Well I got Windows 10 to install so looks like the problem is solved. Thanks to Rakk for saving me a lot of time troubleshooting!

 

[Rakk]

Well I got Windows 10 to install so looks like the problem is solved. Thanks to Rakk for saving me a lot of time troubleshooting!

Glad you managed to get it sorted