Historically, Windows 7 does not natively support the Extensible Host Controller Interface (xHCI) used by USB 3.0 ports. This meant that during a fresh installation on a modern PC, your keyboard and mouse would simply stop working the moment the installer loaded. Additionally, if you were trying to install the OS on a high-speed NVMe SSD, the installer wouldn't be able to "see" the drive. The MSI Windows 7 Smart Tool solves both of these issues by creating a modified ISO or bootable USB flash drive that includes the required xHCI and NVMe drivers.
The is a quick, effective solution for installing Windows 7 on Skylake/Kaby Lake desktops (2015–2018 era). It works on non-MSI motherboards too. However, it is obsolete for new hardware and should not be used for daily internet browsing. msi windows 7 smart tool
For a long time, this signaled the end of the road for a Windows 7 installation on modern hardware. The issue is that modern motherboards utilize USB 3.0/3.1 ports and NVMe storage, technologies that Windows 7 (released in 2009) simply doesn't understand natively. Historically, Windows 7 does not natively support the
Using USB mode is simpler, but using ISO mode + Rufus gives more control (e.g., partitioning scheme MBR/GPT). The MSI Windows 7 Smart Tool solves both