Windows 7 on older computers

[db83]

I installed Windows 7 on a computer that I had built about 6 years (?) ago. It is a Pentium 4 2.53 Ghz with 512MB of RAM. Installed fine, but the OS doesn't recognize my on-board network card. Is this an issue with newer operating systems? That they don't support older hardware with drivers? I also have XP SP3 installed on this same computer, and it recognizes everything just fine. Immediately after installation of XP, I was able to get on the internet to start downloading my drivers. For Windows 7 though, no drivers so no internet.

[swampler]

I can't imagine them dropping support for a particular card, but it's possible. Have you tried looking for Vista drivers for the network card online and trying them under Win 7?

How well, other than your network issue, does Win 7 run on only 512MB of RAM? The sys requirements list 1GB for 32 bit and 2GB for 64 bit, minimum.

[db83]

It seems to run fine right now, but I have nothing else installed. I'll see if I can find the drivers for the on board network card. Of course, I have to find out what brand of motherboard I have first. LOL.

[db83]

To update, I used WinXP which recognizes my network card to get on the internet, downloaded video card drivers, sound drivers, etc. Haven't downloaded network card drivers for windows 7 yet because I don't exactly remember my motherboard's specs. But after the video drivers and restarting, I tried to run Chess Titans. The computer rebooted. I'm going to file this one under: Computer hardware not sufficient to run Windows 7.

[400duser]

Originally Posted by db83

I installed Windows 7 on a computer that I had built about 6 years (?) ago. It is a Pentium 4 2.53 Ghz with 512MB of RAM. Installed fine, but the OS doesn't recognize my on-board network card. Is this an issue with newer operating systems? That they don't support older hardware with drivers? I also have XP SP3 installed on this same computer, and it recognizes everything just fine. Immediately after installation of XP, I was able to get on the internet to start downloading my drivers. For Windows 7 though, no drivers so no internet.

Best to use XP to find your drivers

[db83]

Yeah, I'll probably try that after I find out exactly what motherboard I had used to build this computer. It's been a while since I've opened this one up to look at the guts. Not much of a point if the computer reboots every time I try to run a program in windows 7. I may have to pop some more RAM in there as well.

[400duser]

Originally Posted by db83

Yeah, I'll probably try that after I find out exactly what motherboard I had used to build this computer. It's been a while since I've opened this one up to look at the guts. Not much of a point if the computer reboots every time I try to run a program in windows 7. I may have to pop some more RAM in there as well.

If they don't have one specifically for Windows 7, and they have Vista drivers, then get the Vista. It is the same under the bonnet kernel, just that it Windows 7 feels smoother, but you get this funny feeling all the time, that something isn't quite right

[db83]

Originally Posted by 400duser

If they don't have one specifically for Windows 7, and they have Vista drivers, then get the Vista. It is the same under the bonnet kernel, just that it Windows 7 feels smoother, but you get this funny feeling all the time, that something isn't quite right

I'll keep that in mind. Problem is, the parts are so old that I don't think there will even be Vista drivers for them. I ran into this problem with both the sound and video drivers. The installer didn't recognize the OS as Windows. LOL. But then windows 7 caught the problem, and allowed me to install anyways.

[400duser]

Originally Posted by db83

I'll keep that in mind. Problem is, the parts are so old that I don't think there will even be Vista drivers for them. I ran into this problem with both the sound and video drivers. The installer didn't recognize the OS as Windows. LOL. But then windows 7 caught the problem, and allowed me to install anyways.

I see, good luck anyway

[Douglas]

Do you have the MB driver disk? I found even with XP that I had to use this to get the correct drivers half the time.

[Dirk]

to find out what hardware is installed take a look at xp > Settings > System > Hardware > device settings that should list the manufacterer and type of hardware than go to google and type in the name of the networkcard + type : intel 10/100 network card (example)

[zemlin]

I have a similarly-power desktop which my teenage daughter uses - a P4 2.4. The motherboard has an Intel chipset and I've got 1.5GB of RAM on it. I'll probably try putting W7 on it over her Christmas break. XP is fine on that box, but her web-habits of installing all kinds of little programs and whiz-bang things has it running at a snail's pace.

[swampler]

Don't remember if it's been mentioned, but you can download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft to see if your system is compatible before buying and installing W7.

[zemlin]

Originally Posted by swampler

Don't remember if it's been mentioned, but you can download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft to see if your system is compatible before buying and installing W7.

I ran that both on my system to make sure 64 bit was OK, and also ran it on my daughter's P4. It say's it's OK for 32 bit, but the Radeon 9600 graphics card won't support Aero. Reports of Aero on this card are mixed on the WWW.

FWIW, my nVidia 8600GT card also was listed as no-good for Aero, but it runs it well.

[swampler]

Originally Posted by zemlin

FWIW, my nVidia 8600GT card also was listed as no-good for Aero, but it runs it well.

I've got the nVidia 8400GS card, which sounds lower than yours, but I have no idea if it is or not, and it runs Aero well and the Win 7 advisor said it would run as well.

[Dirk]

i also have a 8600gt with 512 base memory pcie x 16 it gets 5.0 in the windows vista score and 5.9 is the max my card was only 80 euro and to achive 5.9 i would have bought a 256 euro card insane when i do not play games at the main pc

[swampler]

Originally Posted by Dirk

i also have a 8600gt with 512 base memory pcie x 16 it gets 5.0 in the windows vista score and 5.9 is the max my card was only 80 euro and to achive 5.9 i would have bought a 256 euro card insane when i do not play games at the main pc

My 8400GS only got 3.5.

[db83]

Some time next week I'll see if I can fix that computer up. My other old computer's motherboard died so I'll basically be combining 2 computers to make 1. It should have a good amount of memory (2 gigs?) and a EVGA 6600GT card. Hopefully that will fix the crashing problem. I may also just put in a PCI network card if I can't find the drivers that go with the mobo.

[Dirk]

Originally Posted by swampler

My 8400GS only got 3.5.

hi steve 3.5 ? are you shure that yo have the latest driver?

i have a cheap but good EVGA card

these are the scores of my system:


Processor : 5.6

RAM : 5.9

graphic (desktop performance) 5.0

graphic (games) 5.3

primairy hard disk 5.7

the max scores are 5.9 so onaverage my main machine is pretty good

scores are vista home premium 32 bit!

cheers dirk

[swampler]

Originally Posted by Dirk

hi steve 3.5 ? are you shure that yo have the latest driver?

Yep, downloaded them myself from nVidia's website after upgrading to Win7 HP 64 bit (Vista HP 32 bit had same score).

Here's the info on it:
Display adapter type: NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS
Total available graphics memory: 3071 MB
Dedicated graphics memory: 256 MB
Dedicated system memory: 0 MB
Shared system memory: 2815 MB
Display adapter driver version: 8.16.11.9107
Primary monitor resolution: 1680x1050
DirectX version: DirectX 10

My other areas are:
CPU: 5.8
RAM: 5.8
Graphics: 3.5
Gaming Graphics: 5.3
HDD: 5.7