This means:
Select "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)" .
The period around 2021 saw millions of perfectly functional PCs (Core 2 Duo, first-gen Core i-series) that lacked TPM 2.0 or UEFI Secure Boot. These machines could not officially run Windows 11 and ran Windows 10 poorly. For their owners, Windows 7 Pro 64-bit—the last version supporting legacy BIOS and older GPUs—remained the highest-performing OS their hardware could run. The search for a “2021 ISO” is an act of digital preservation, keeping usable hardware out of landfills.
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit remains one of the most successful operating systems Microsoft ever created. Renowned for its stability, clean user interface, and low system overhead, it became the gold standard for both corporate environments and mainstream users.
. Because official Microsoft support for Windows 7 ended in January 2020, these 2021 versions are typically "All-in-One" (AIO) builds designed to save users time on manual updates after installation. Microsoft Community Hub Integrated Features in 2021 ISO Builds
Certain classic PC games built with older DirectX frameworks experience compatibility glitches on Windows 10 or 11. Technical Specifications: Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit
Open Rufus, select your USB device, and click to choose your Windows 7 ISO file.
Restart the target computer and press the BIOS entry key (usually F2 , F12 , Del , or Esc ). Turn off (Windows 7 does not support it).