Hi All,
This is MY procedure for installing Windows 10 and/or Windows 7 on my MSI LAPTOP GT72S 6QF (DOMINATOR PRO DRAGON 4K)-093UK. I recommend the following software to create the OS backup images but there are plenty of alternatives out there. I use Rufus to create a bootable USB. This setup works for me and enables me to switch to either OS build with 5-10 minutes.
Macrium Reflect v6.2.1549:
Works out the box. No issues found at present.
Symantec System Recovery 2013_R2_11.1.6.55604:
Seems to have an issue with adding drivers for certain hardware. Although I think I have found a solution. PM me if needed any help with this.
If you dont have/need a backup image solution then just refer to my Windows 7/10 install notes.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
I would recommend that you update your FIRMWARE for BIOS, VGA and THUNDERBOLT to the latest version that MSI have for your hardware where appicable. If you are NOT sure. Leave it on the current version. You can always update later.
A few things may vary like your MSI hardware but you should know what drivers are needed during the Windows Installs. DONT FORGET TO GET THE INTEL F6 DRIVER READY IF NEEDED. I needed the F6 INTEL RAID DRIVER for my Intel RAID setup.
UEFI or LEGACY BIOS:
I cannot get around this. I wanted to use LEGACY BIOS mode for my Windows installs but using LEGACY removes the Intel RAID option from the BIOS menu and refuses to see my TOSHIBA NVMe PCIe SSD devices in INTEL RAID0 set. So I dont have a choice but to use UEFI with CSM. Also set SECURE BOOT to DISABLED. It can be re-enabled if needed after the OS installs. I've left mine DISABLED.
Due to the limitations of UEFI (GOP) you may find that some of the USB boot image GUI's or other screens show up really small on this laptop screen i.e. Install of Windows, any System Imaging software. This only occurs during the USB boot process. After any install of windows it will actually look OK.
Some of you may have older hardware so UEFI may not be an issue. So the partition layout may differ and you can do your own thing for installing Windows.
INSTALL WINDOWS 10:
===================
I found installing Windows 10 first was a better option as it defines the needed partitions for UEFI. If you are using a LEGACY BIOS this will NOT apply.
Disconnect Network cable. Install WINDOWS 10. This allows the OS to create the required UEFI partions. You should end up with: DISK 0 PRIMARY 981 GB (MY STANDARD 1TB MSI HDD)
DISK 1 (1) RECOVERY 450 MB
DISK 1 (2) SYSTEM/BOOT 100 MB
DISK 1 (3) MBR (RESERVED) > This disappears and is not shown as a partition after an install of Windows
DISK 1 (4) PRIMARY 450GB > This is where you installed WINDOWS 10
INSTALL MSI DRIVERS FOR WINDOWS 10:
===================================
I found THIS was a better INSTALL ORDER as using CHIPSET drivers first refreshes the screen and you lose the install window and you are unable to click FINISH.
REBOOT after each install if it asks you.
VGA
INTEL CHIPSET
INTEL MANAGEMENT
INTEL IRST RAID
TOUCHPAD SYNAPTICS
CARD READER
AUDIO
NETWORK WLAN
EC RADIO
THUNDERBOLT
*BLUETOOTH INTEL
*BLUETOOTH KILLER
(* not sure if BOTH are needed but I installed both INTEL and KILLER BT)
INSTALL MSI UTILITES FOR WINDOWS 10:
====================================
Do NOT REBOOT after each install even if it tells you too. Choose later.
AUDIO (They have included the Audio as a UTILITY but it appears to be the same as the above AUDIO driver only - so I skipped this.)
HELPDESK
MSI TRUE COLOUR
MSI BATTERY CALIBRATION
MSI SIZING OPTIONS
DRAGON GAMING CTR
STEEL SERIES ENGINE
SYSTEM CONTROL MANAGER - SCM
MSI AFTERBURN
INSTALL WINDOWS 10 UPDATES AND YOUR OWN SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS:
==============================================================
Now attach the Network cable. Install any Windows updates as well as your own software i.e. MS Office. This is just my personal preference but I like to keep my backup/restore images to a nice size. So after a few very basic installs I create a BACKUP IMAGE. So in theory you should have done something like this:
Installed Windows.
Installed MSI DRIVERS.
Installed MSI UTILITIES.
Got all WINDOWS UPDATES.
Installed your basic needs like OFFICE. STEAM. Other.
Change CONTROL PANEL > SYSTEM & SECURITY > SYSTEM > SYSTEM PROTECTION setting to disable for C: drive and remove current images.
Run WINDOWS ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS > DISK CLEAN UP for both CLEAN UP SYSTEM FILES and the default one that it runs at the start.
Reboot your machine.
Re-enable SYSTEM PROTECTION > CONFIGURE > TURN ON for the C: drive I Set mine to 20GB. Create a NEW RECOVERY POINT. Call it something like: NEW_BUILD_CLEAN_OCT_2016
Reboot your machine.
Using your preferred SYSTEM IMAGE BACKUP/RECOVERY software. Create a NEW IMAGE via USB or DVD or your other HDD if you have one. Skip this if you dont use any Image Backup/Recovery Software.
THATS WINDOWS 10 INSTALLED AND YOU NOW HAVE A CLEAN WORKING IMAGE TO RESTORE BACK TO IF NEEDED!
INSTALLING WINDOWS 7:
=====================
NOTE: During the Windows 7 setup. You may find some of the USB devices may not work (My external Mouse). It makes sence to have the MSI DRIVERS and UTILITIES pre-extracted on another drive or a USB stick in readiness. You can still use the Synaptics Touchpad until you can install the MSI USB 3.0 drivers and reboot.
Repeat the above install procedure using WINDOW 7 ISO.
During the "WHERE DO YOU WANT TO INSTALL WINDOWS". The UEFI partions will already be there. You only need to select the: DISK 1 (4) PRIMARY 450GB > This is where you installed WINDOWS 7
and hit FORMAT. It wont change anything else as the UEFI partition already exist! (UEFI process can be ignored for people running LEGACY BIOS). Install Windows 7 to this location.
INSTALL MSI DRIVERS for WINDOWS 7:
===================================
Repeat the ABOVE install process for the MSI WINDOWS 7 drivers... BUT pay attention to the following:
*BLUETOOTH INTEL (BT Server)
*BLUETOOTH KILLER (Virtual BT Support with Audio) FAILS to install and you get btath_flt.sys BSOD
(*ONLY Install ONE of the BLUETOOTH Drivers - NOT BOTH otherwise it will BSOD)I chose to install BT KILLER only. I am unable to confirm if its related to the chipset or the EC radio that is only available via Windows 10.
INSTALL MSI UTILITES for WINDOWS 7:
===================================
Repeat the ABOVE install process for the MSI UTILITY drivers... BUT pay attention to the following:
SteelSeries v3.8.1. Installs OK. Reports there is an update v3.91. The Update hangs trying to find a Keyboard Driver. After further testing it appears it just takes 5-10 mins to find what it needs. Or just skip the v3.8.1 install and find the v3.9.0 and install that.
Odd but I couldnt install MS Office. I got a message msg about Microsoft Bootstrapper hanging. Restarted laptop. Closed down all MSI software. Tried the MS Office install again and all was 100% OK. Could have been a one off error
OTHER NOTES:
============
I found creating a nVidia CUSTOM resolution for 1920 x 1080 appeared to provide me a better visual solution than using the MSI scaling software. The scaling software looks OK for icons and images... but the text can still be really small on some windows.
I recommend google'ling GWX Control Panel v1.7.4.1 for Windows 7. This supposidly stops all the windows 10 crap that you get on Windows 7. Although I am not sure you get it any more now that the offer for a free upgrade has expired... but I'll be using it anyway.
Window 7 Updates to Avoid/Hide:
=======================
These updates are from abbodi1406's list at:
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/63145-Safe-way-to-get-rid-of-updating-to-Windows-10?p=1101967&viewfull=1#post1101967KB971033
For those that may NOT need it. Update for Windows7 for x64 based Systems windows Activation Technologies.
KB3021917
Performs diagnostics to determine whether performance issues may be encountered Windows 10 is installed.
KB2990214
Update that enables you to upgrade from Windows 7 to a later version of Windows
KB3068708
KB3080149
Adds the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Unified Telemetry Client), which collects data about functional issues in Windows.
KB2952664
KB3150513
Performs and collect compatibility appraiser logs in order to ease the upgrade experience to Windows 10
KB3035583
Installs Get Windows 10 app
KB3075249
Update that adds telemetry points to the User Account Control (UAC) to collect information on elevations from low-level requests
KB3123862
Adds capabilities to some computers that lets users easily learn about Windows 10 or start the upgrade to Windows 10.
Hope that helps everybody. PM me if you need any help and I'll see what I can do. Again...depending on your hardware/setup the results may differ. Good Luck.
Kind Regards,
Kenny