Windows 7 Useful Links Compendium v1.3

As of 25/02/2023

by: evening primrose

1 - Windows 7 x64 pro iso (directly from microsoft): https://download.microsoft.com/download/0/6/3/06365375-C346-4D65-87C7-EE41F55F736B/7601.24214.180801-1700.win7sp1_ldr_escrow_CLIENT_PROFESSIONAL_x64FRE_en-us.iso

2 - Install Windows 7 on newer x570 amd cpus (and others): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNlf2Qdy8bE

3 - Windows 7 Survival Guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/windows7/comments/id5kbo/windows_7_survival_guide/

4 - Windows 7/8.1 drivers for usb 3.0/3.1 for new amd chipset: https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/solution-win7-8-1-drivers-for-usb-3-0-3-1-controllers-of-new-amd-chipset-systems/33603

5 - Run Windows 8+ applications on Windows 7 (Project): https://github.com/vxiiduu/VxKex

6 - mydigitallife thread regarding usb 3.0: https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/usb-3-xhci-driver-stack-for-windows-7.81934/page-5

7 - Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate: https://archive.org/details/en_vs_2010_ult

8 - Regarding usb 3.0: it's way easier and safer to buy a ps2 mouse and/or keyboard to install the drivers than flashing your win7 installation iso.

9 - Regarding the iso: Other safe isos are available in https://archive.org/search?query=windows+7+iso and https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-office-iso-download-tool but I recommend using the official microsoft one.

10 - 4fun: Nanami Madobe Theme https://archive.org/details/NanamiMadobeTheme - https://archive.org/details/eng-subbed-windows-7-madobe-nanami-commercial

11 - You'll need a PS/2 mouse to install windows 7 on recent hardware. USB 2.0 ports might not work in the case they rely on an USB 3.0 controller.

12 - Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5201

13 - Custom Qt 6.3.1 DLLs for W7: https://web.tresorit.com/l/iWnTl#yGMg45iqZObF8miEZt7FaA

14 - CFF Explorer: https://ntcore.com/files/CFF_Explorer.zip

#Previous 2 links found on this thread: https://github.com/vxiiduu/VxKex/issues/56, https://github.com/vxiiduu/VxKex/issues/56#issuecomment-1408453974 (how to use OBS 29 on Win7)

15 - windows 10 api on windows 7: https://github.com/nalexandru/api-ms-win-core-path-HACK/releases

16 - with the link above you can make blender 2.9.13 LTS work. download it at: https://www.blender.org/download/releases/2-93/

17 - take a look at this thread (da vinci resolve 18 possible workaround): https://github.com/vxiiduu/VxKex/issues/61

Aegisub works up to ver. 68.0.0, handbrake 1.3.3, blender 2.9.13, chromium 108.0.5359.125, vscodium 1.75.1, mullvad 2021.6 (this version do not support wireguard), da vinci resolve 16.2.8 (link: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/support/download/0221c32a73844413bc0b1ec35686a4d3/Windows)

Always save web pages and download useful software like those to prevent stuff from getting offline.

I recommend using windows 7 as a "windows emulator" for games which often don't work very well on VM's. Pretty much all applications the average user needs are available on linux these days, either as official packages or at flathub. Use a non-systemd XFCE distro - my recommendation is Salix OS.

If you are on (debloated) Windows 10, I don't believe windows 7 will grant you better performance - provided you run it on modern hardware. That said, It's impressive how factory install windows 7 has less than 10 processes running on the background.