ASRock Z170 Extreme6 Windows 7 compatibility

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Damonvi

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I'm looking to upgrade from an old i5-2500 to a new skylake i7-6700k, and the motherboard i've been considering is the ASRock Z170 Extreme6 (provides features i want and matches my build theme).

I see with a lot of the skylake intended motherboard by ASRock require a unique "installation" for windows 7, my current OS. However, do i need to re-install win7 or go through this special installation process if i already have win7 installed on my C: drive SSD?

After Installation Update:

Everything went just fine. All USB slots, both I/O and Front Panel (onboard USB 2.0/3.0) recognized my mouse and keyboard in BIOS, but once Windows started, no response from either peripheral. however, my USB 3.0 PCI-e expansion installed it's drivers, and actually got full response from all devices plugged in to it. SO, lucky me, i used that to install the Intel USB 3.0 drivers on ASRock's page for this mobo, before doing the "windows patching", and voila, EVERY USB slot started working properly!

screw that windows 7 patching, all you need is the intel USB 3.0 drivers, and you're set!

went from an i5-2500 on a ASRock Z77 Extreme4, to an i7-6700k on an ASRock Z170 Extreme6! my bottleneck is no moar!
 
Solution
Tradesman1
Make backups of your data files, then I would simply install the harddrive, Win will prob transition to the new mobo with no problem, then run a registry cleaner (Wise has a good free version) and reactivate Win - may need to reupdate the latest mobo drivers. Have done this numerous times with no problems yet (knock on wood ;) )
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Alec Lockhart

Alec Lockhart

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As a general rule you will want to reinstall your OS any time you get a new Mobo. Unfortunately when you set up an OS, like with Windows, the key will be bound to that Mobo. Sometimes, especially when changing Mobo brands, you will need a new Windows key to set it up.
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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Make backups of your data files, then I would simply install the harddrive, Win will prob transition to the new mobo with no problem, then run a registry cleaner (Wise has a good free version) and reactivate Win - may need to reupdate the latest mobo drivers. Have done this numerous times with no problems yet (knock on wood ;) )
 
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Solution
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Damonvi

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Jan 26, 2015
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So what you're saying is that i have to reinstall my OS, wipe my C: drive, and then deal with the backwards windows 7 installation for skylake ASRock mobos? I've upgraded my mobo before (not changing the CPU, or any other part for that matter), and ran in to zero problems with the OS. it was like just turning on my PC again, without any changes.
 
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Damonvi

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"if you were originally planning to install Windows 7 with an optical disk drive and PS/2 keyboard and mouse then you won't be affected, if not, then let us show you how its done."

Neither of these installation processes would be an issue (CD-Disk or USB) since i already have the OS installed on my current SSD, which is sata, which as far from what i can read, doesnt seem to be an issue
 
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mcnumpty23

mcnumpty23

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Jul 15, 2011
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no guarantee plugging in your hard drive with windows already on it will work though

it may be fine or it may blue screen you

thats why showing you the option in case you do need to re-install

 
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A

ArtPog

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Sep 17, 2014
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Damonvi...
Take a look at http://www.asrock.com/microsite/Win7Install/
and also do a Google search on this specific issue.

Some time age we had occasion to work with the ASRock Z170 Extreme4+ and the Extreme7+ mbs and experienced no problem installing Win 7 on those systems. As best I recall in both cases we successfully transferred a drive (or its clone) containing the Win 7 OS to those systems. But I can't recall the details of the installation process and whether we ran into any problems in so doing.

In my notes I came across the following comment from an ASRock rep responding to a user's question re this issue...
"If you’re installing windows7 OS, we’d like to remind you that Intel 100 Series has removed their support for the Enhanced Host Controller Interface and Windows 7 OS image doesn't include USB3.0 driver for Intel 100 platform.
Therefore, we provide a tool to pack USB3.0 driver into Windows 7 ISO file.
Please refer to the website from link and follow the step to install USB driver into Windows 7 ISO file.
link: http://www.asrock.com/microsite/Win7Install/"

Sorry I can't be more specific re this issue.
 
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Damonvi

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I do have 2 more HDDs installed as program and storage drives, both with more than enough space on both of them to copy my C: SSD (~120/167gb) completely in case anything happens during my initial start up. i have my windows 7 disk still on hand, and the activation key for it somewhere as well.
 
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Damonvi

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This is where i'm a bit confused. i've gone to their site, and i've seen what the software looks like, but to me, it looks like it's trying to re-inatall the OS (in order to have the USB drivers). this isnt just some driver update, as far as what the context of everything seems.
 
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mcnumpty23

mcnumpty23

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it patches the usb 3.0 drivers into your windows iso file so when you need to re-install it has the usb 3.0 drivers during installation

 
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Damonvi

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So essentially, i wont be able to use my USB 3.0 ports on the I/O without this driver? or will they still operate like USB 2.0? i essentially dont need 3.0 speeds, seeing as i only use peripherals like mouse, keyboard, mic, and webcam there.
 
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mcnumpty23

mcnumpty23

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and you will only need this if

A--you need to re-install windows

B--you will be using usb to re-install windows,either installing it from usb flash drive or are using usb mouse and keyboard

so you may not need it any way if you get away with just plugging in your existing windows drive

oh and any way my asrock z170 actually has a ps2 port so could use old fashioned mouse and keyboard and optical drive to install it as well
 
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mcnumpty23

mcnumpty23

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no they will not work during install full stop not just run at slower speed

 
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