If you want to remove the preinstalled Windows 8 from a new Dell inspiron 7000 series (7537) laptop you need an external USB DVD drive and a Windows 7 DVD. You can buy the LG external USB DVD drive for $40 at Best Buy, and the Windows 7 at Amazon.
The first step is to turn off UEFI in the BIOS and enable the legacy boot. This will allow the computer to boot from the Windows 7 DVD.
To enter the BIOS
- Turn off the laptop
- Press the power button and continuously tap the F12 button to open the boot menu
- In the Other Options section of the boot menu select Setup
Turn off the UEFI boot mode in the BIOS
- In the BIOS setup select Boot on the top of the screen
- Press Enter on the Secure Boot option and select Disabled
- Press Enter on the Load Legacy Option Rom and select Enabled
- Press Enter on the Boot List Option and select Legacy
Save the BIOS settings
- Select Exit on the top of the screen
- Select Exit Saving Changes and press Enter
- Press Enter on Yes to save the changes
The computer will automatically try to restart and displays a message that “Operating system not found”
- Keep the power button pressed to force it to shut down
Boot from the Windows 7 DVD
- Insert the Windows 7 DVD into the DVD drive
- Start the computer with the power button and continuously tap the F12 button to open the boot menu
- If there is a + sign next to the CD/DVD/CD-RD Drive option select it and press Enter
- If there is no plus sign next to it turn off the computer with the power button and try to start it again while tapping the F12 key
Install Windows 7
- The computer will boot from the Windows 7 DVD
- Select Install, Advanced installation
- Delete all partitions on the hard drive
- Create one partition (Windows will create another 100MB system partition for itself)
- Select the large partition as the destination of Windows 7
Enjoy the last usable Windows version.
Thank you so much for this — I have been thinking about doing this, but wasn’t sure how it worked out. Were you able to find all the necessary drivers for your 7537? What about the touch screen –were you able to find a win 7 driver for it or does it essentially become non-touch. Thanks again for the great info!
Hi AJ,
I am glad I could help you with this article. Unfortunately the Dell web site does not offer drivers for Windows 7, but the Windows 8 drivers were fine. The touch screen worked even with the original Windows drivers that were installed during the Windows installation. I have returned the Dell laptop to the store the next day because the space bar only worked when I pressed it in the middle third. The left and right sides just did not work. I ended up buying a Toshiba Satellite P50-AST3GX2 laptop that has all the Windows 7 drivers on the Toshiba web site.
I really appreciate about it. I have one question. Should I have to turn on UEFI boot mode after installation??
No, you don’t need UEFI mode for Windows 7. Keep it turned off.
I am facing problem for installing
a. Application Software and
b. Drivers
for both Intel HD Graphics and NVIDIA Graphics 750M
I have the following combination:
Model: Dell Inspiron 15 7537
OS : Windows 7 Professional (64 Bit)
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics and NVIDIA Graphics 750M
Presently showing:
Display : Simple VGA
Problems faced (while Intel HD Graphics NOT installed):
a. Install Intel HD Graphics first
Problems faced (while I’ve installed some RANDOM Intel HD Graphics):
a. The graphics cannot find compatible graphics hardware.
I have tried numerous relevant drivers but all failed !
eg. drivers provide for both Intel & NVIDIA at dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/driver-sets/inspiron-laptops-windows-7/inspiron-7537-windows-7-64-bit/
Thank you so much!
i am getting no drives found during the installation. Any idea?
Download auto sky driver for your windows .
I replaced the original drive in the Inspiron with a better drive and did the BIOS settings as indicated, installed Windows 7 64bit OS. Installed drivers available for Windows 8 64bit as windows 7 drivers was not available. I had to disable driver signature enforcement for Touchpad & Airplane mode switch drivers. Then I got to dell smartsource and installed the available factory default software available for the service TAG.
Hi
I can’t see the + sing next to the cd / dvd/cd- rd drive, i turn off the computer i do it again and again but i can’t see+ sing, can you help me?
hey..i just bought the dell inspiron 15 7000 series.
and i hv windows 8 in this laptop. and i want to change my os in to windows 7. so can i do that. if i can do that.so in this all driverss are remaining same as in windows 8.or may b i m loosing all drivers.
could you please give me ans. fast
thanks
Alapi
Hi Alapi,
You have to download the Windows 7 drivers from the Dell web site. I you cannot find the Windows 7 drivers for your model try the drivers of another (little older) model.
Extremely helpful! Thank you,
Does the touch screen and multitouch track pad still work after doing this?
Thanks.
When I installed Windows 7 on that laptop the touch screen did not work. Maybe since that there is a touch screen driver available, I am not sure. I did not try the multitouch on the track pad.
Thank you!!! Just get my dell 17 7737 and was trying to install win 7
hello sir i want to installed window 8 to window 7 but some face the problem GPT PARTITION STYLE
my laptop dell inspiron 15
I just did this. turned off secure crap boot watever, installed win 7 pro 64 setting the boot option after legacy activation in bios to FIRST boot device usb then SECOND removable . win 7 did not load at first with just USB so i think it actually boots from removable … anyway win 7 installed perfectly EXCEPT well YES the touch screen works fine. but …. device manager shows pretty much no device drivers installed. :( so now I will use a linksys usb wireless to install windows updates which should bring in all the drivers if we are lucky keep you posted
Thanks very much, the installation was hanging until you cleared things up for me.
Just download the network drivers for windows 7 only, install it.
After installation hook up to the internet and use automatic device detection on the dell drivers support page to automatically get the best drivers.
Thank You so much :)
Hello sir,
I have try to downgrade win 10.1 to win 7 . OS installed successfully but while boot blue screen shows error ” The BIOS in this system is not fully ACPI complaint. Please contact your system wendor for an updated BIOS”… Please Advise me.
Goutham.K
Thank you so much