Tools installation on Windows 7 64bit

tommaso.bilotta · August 16, 2022, 11:23am

Hi, I’m trying to install the drivers in windows 7. I followed the procedure described in the official documentation. Each time it restarts with the recovery procedure.
I looked around and on the microsoft forum they say to use these commands:

bcdedit -set loadoptions DDISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS
bcdedit -set TESTSIGNING ON

But dont work. Each time it restarts and goes into recovery mode.
Thank you.
Tommaso

QUBES version: 4.1
Windows 7 64bit ultimate SP1

Yorz · August 16, 2022, 4:37pm

Some time ago i tried to install windows 7 and has some problem. It may be solved by installing update pack before installing Qubes Windows Tools, but I remember random blue screens, but I may forgot the right result. May be blue screens shows only in my buggy Windows 7 build. I have used Windows 7 with QWT for some time, but now I use only Windows 10, because I need specific apps.

https://blog.simplix.info/updatepack7r2/

Direct link, if you don’t want to read or can’t use a translator:
https://update7.simplix.info/UpdatePack7R2.exe

You should never allow unrestricted network access to any Windows, because it may contain spyware.

enmus · August 16, 2022, 8:31pm

Hello and welcome to Qubes (forum and world). What drivers and what procedure from whose and which official documentation?

tommaso.bilotta · August 17, 2022, 5:41am

Hello, thanks to you for the support! Qubes is a fantastic distribution!

github.com

Qubes-Community/Contents/blob/master/docs/os/windows/windows-tools41.md

Qubes Windows Tools
===================

Qubes Windows Tools (QWT) are a set of programs and drivers that provide integration of Windows 7, 10 and 11 Standalone, TemplateVMs and AppVMs with the rest of the Qubes system. They contain several components than can be enabled or disabled during installation:

- **Shared components (required)** - common libraries used by QWT components
- **Qubes Core Agent** - qrexec agent and services. Needed for proper integration with Qubes
- **Qubes GUI Agent** - video driver and GUI agent that enable the seamless GUI mode that integrates windows apps onto the common Qubes trusted desktop (currently only for Windows 7)
- **Disable UAC** - User Account Control may interfere with QWT and doesn't really provide any additional benefits in Qubes environment
- **Clipboard sender/receiver** - Support for [secure clipboard copy/paste](https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/copy-paste/) between the Windows VM and other AppVMs
- **File sender/receiver** - Support for [secure file exchange](https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/copying-files/) between the Windows VM and other AppVMs
- **Copy/Edit in Disposable VM** - Support for editing files in DisposableVMs as well as for `qvm-run` and generic `qrexec` for the Windows VM (e.g. ability to run custom service within/from the Windows VM)
- **Audio** - Audio support requires R4.1 and is available even without QWT installation if `qvm-features audio-model` is set as `ich6`
- **Xen PV drivers** - drivers for the virtual hardware exposed by Xen for Windows that increase performance compared to QEMU emulated devices and are required for attaching USB devices
   - Base Xen PV Drivers (required): paravirtual bus and interface drivers
   - Xen PV Disk Drivers: paravirtual storage drivers
   - Xen PV Network Drivers: paravirtual network drivers
   - Move user profiles: user profile directory (`C:\users`) is moved to VM's private disk backed by `private.img file` in `dom0` (useful mainly for HVM templates).
	
	> **Note**: Xen PV disk drivers are not installed by default. This is because they seem to cause problems (BSOD = Blue Screen Of Death). We're working with upstream devs to fix this. *However*, the BSOD seems to only occur after the first boot and everything works fine after that. **Enable the drivers at your own risk** of course, but we welcome reports of success/failure in any case (backup your VM first!). With disk PV drivers absent `qvm-block` will not work for the VM, but you can still use standard Qubes inter-VM file copying mechanisms. On the other hand, the Xen PV drivers allow USB device access even without QWT installation if `qvm-features stubdom-qrexec` is set as `1`

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Basically the procedure, if I have not misunderstood, consists in deactivating the driver signature check, restarting with the driver cdrom and installing the Qubes drivers. The only anomaly I found is that when you restart the Qube actually turns off, but I don’t think it matters so much to the operating system. Each time the windows recovery starts and brings everything back. The windows version is unlicensed, but I don’t know if it affects this part (I’ll get it if it works above). I’ve been looking if there is another way to disable this driver verification system, but even using microsoft site instructions it fails.

The deactivation setting operations are done by cmd as administrator. the reboot I do it with shutdown /h always from cmd.

I always keep the operating system and drivers (qubes-dom0-update qubes-windows-tools) updated, I always update them as soon as they are present.

Thank you!
Tommaso

enmus · August 17, 2022, 5:20pm

Indeed is. the more, the more you use it.

Which version of QWT you are using?

tommaso.bilotta · August 18, 2022, 10:55am

The latest version obtained from the update: 4.1.68-1

enmus · August 19, 2022, 4:37am

That’s good. It is still unclear to me which drivers exactly you are trying to install, by name. Those offered by QWT? All of them?

tommaso.bilotta · August 19, 2022, 5:32am

Yes, I install the complete package and every time the windows are restored after reboot.

enmus · August 19, 2022, 1:27pm

Good Will you try not to install network drivers and then restart? Also, do not restart when offered… Say no and complete installation, then shutdown, then start.

tommaso.bilotta · August 19, 2022, 10:47pm

i found this error in the recovery window of windows.: xenbus.sys

enmus · August 20, 2022, 6:54am

Please confirm that you uninstalled all QWT you previously tried to install, and that you tried the method from my last message. I am almost sure it’s about that. Also, which version of xenbus.sys is reported to be corrupted 9but after you try previous).

tommaso.bilotta · August 20, 2022, 1:09pm

is a virgin version of windows 7 (en_windows_7_ultimate_x64_dvd.iso). Each time it restores, it cancels all files installed since the last check then and all software.

I have also installed a new qube with windows 7.

tommaso.bilotta · August 20, 2022, 1:32pm

This is the driver version:

tommaso.bilotta · August 20, 2022, 2:07pm

Also with this fail:

tommaso.bilotta · August 20, 2022, 4:25pm

I have downloaded also the driver from here (for test):
https://xenbits.xen.org/pvdrivers/win/8.2.2/

The network work, the xenbus not. Same problem of QWT.
https://xenbits.xen.org/pvdrivers/win/8.2.2/xennet.tar

The problem is the xenbus.

I found this:

" Uninstall KB932596 , KB938979 , KB938194 and KB941649 updates from “Installed Updates” in “Programs and Features”, and never install them again. Best still, hide the updates from viewing and accidental install in Windows Update. After uninstalling and rebooting the computer, add the DDISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS option and restart to disable integrity checks again. This method probably won’t work with the release of SP1, which incorporated all these changes."

Tzunami · September 1, 2022, 5:39pm

Could you post the Windows 7 instructions, also did you install a gpu-vm first?