https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6tYFKpp558

Make sure you are using a USB 2 port, not USB 3 which is blue, if the computer has USB 3. If the problem was your USB port driver and you have USB 2 then there is a good possibility you can install Windows 7 in UEFI mode and not legacy. If you only have USB3 ports then see this thread.

I have tried everything now, I just cannot get the boot menu to recognize any USB drives. I have tried multiple USB sticks, Sandisk, "no name" China sticks, etc. Nothing works. I have tried all USB ports. The laptop has 2 x USB 2.0 and 1 x USB 3.0. Note that the USB stick is detected while still in the BIOS, but not in the boot menu.

I have looked at the link https://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/391622-windows-7-x86-usb-installer-not-detected-lenovo-ideapad-100s.html and it appears that person was having the exact same issue as me, and there never was any solution posted to his problem.

I'm curious as to why it is necessary for you to have Windows 7. It would seem to me that if it was necessary

and known to you that you would of purchased a computer with Windows 7 and not 10.

 

It could be that installing a FREE Linux OS in a dual boot with Windows 10 could be a better solution. That is one

reason why I ask you about your reason for wanting Windows 7.

Because I didn't personally buy this computer, I'm trying to help someone else. I would never for anything in my life have bought a Windows 10 computer, I have learned from that mistake in the past.

 

Hopefully this will head you in the proper direction and give the best results!

 

Thank you for the detailed guide! However, I tried it, including the load default settings which seems to have helped many people, but it made no difference for me.

Just to clarify, it seems most of these guides deal with issues that occur during the Windows 7 installation program procedure. However, while I'm sure I would run into said problems as well, I haven't even gotten that far as to even reaching the installation program. My main issue is that the laptop's boot menu is not recognizing any USB drives no-matter-what. I read something about some Windows 10 laptops having USB sticks blocked, until the Windows password has been entered. Could this have anything to do with it? I tried to follow guides on how to deactivate this USB blocker thing, but that wouldn't work either. The problem was that the guides referred to settings and options that weren't present in (my version of) Windows 10.

Do you think the reason for the USB stick not being recognized in the boot menu is due to this USB blocking setting?

Edited by hamluis, 20 June 2018 - 10:42 AM.