Windows 7: Windows Seven or Ubuntu?

I currently have driver problems on my laptop in Vista. How is Seven beta for drivers because I am thinking of installing it. Or Ubuntu. What do you think?

hello illused and welcome to the forums....
it depends on what hardware you are running on
any "modern" hardware should work correctly on 7
so if you write your systems specs below should be enough to check...

hi, thanks
Well the particular driver i am having problems with is a Toshiba internal Bluetooth thing.
I have also ATI graphics, Realtek audio & ethernet, Intel Core2 5300 @ 1.7ghz

Should i use drivermax to download all the drivers first and save them to usb as someone suggested in another thread? Is it spyware-free?

so im guessing this is a laptop right?
if you can write your model we can be sure...
while i still dont know what model # and what computer internals its comprised of you should be fine....
my bluetooth was detected and enable (although to get advanced features (such as audio playback to headphones) i needed to install my OEM drivers..
with realtek audio you should go ahead and download the ones from the realtek website (i suggest to get them there and not from your OEM)


to your DriverMax question yes it is free of spyware but you need to register to 'activate' your copy (so you need a internet connection just for that moment)...

Hi Illused,

You can only get the latest drivers for laptops from the laptop manufacturer, since you mentioned Toshiba the best place to get the latest drivers is from their Europe site here: Toshiba - Download Vista drivers:

Using that link just enter your laptop details and install Vista drivers since they are the most capable and usable for Windows 7

Steven

hey thanks guys
you've been really helpful
Laptop model is PRO31J is that right?

and i keep getting told it will expire after 30 days because it's not a toshiba laptop.
Does ASUS have a similar website where you can get all the drivers for your notebook? I'll have a look now

Ubuntu works on virtually anything, and It wuill definately run your bluetooth. You should just burn a live CD and boot from it. That will tell you everything about your hardware compatibility without even installing it.

Trust me, just re-fromat Vista then download the Vista drivers off Toshiba's website and install them, you will be happier that way... About Ubuntu (plz, people don't start flame war) its good but it lacks something IMO, and also apps start kinda slow on Ubuntu, its a great OS but not for the everyday average people... Stick to Vista, upgrade to 7 if you want it when its released.. If your brave, try Windows 7 or Ubuntu NOW [but I think (WARNING: I may be BIAS-ed) better install 7]...

BTW, what do u mean expire after 30 days? If you mean Windows is asking activation, check under your laptop for a product key and activate windows with the key... PLZ DON'T share your product key!

Ubuntu is an excellent simple OS with lots of goodies built in, I'd recommend the KDE Version (Kubuntu) and they have a purpose designed Laptop version. Its very good with drivers out of the box.

Having said that Windows 7 is very sophisticated and, at least for me, a seamless pleasurable experience with easily the best driver support I've seen.

Personally I'd install Jaunty on a small partition after you've installed 7. Doesn't need much space (10gig shld do it), that way you have a back up OS just in case, you can access everything in your 7 install (read/write), its nice to play with etc etc.

I run dual boot with Windows 7 and Ubuntu. Ubuntu, on my dual core/ 4gig laptop is far faster than Windows 7, it boot's up in 12 seconds, you don't require antivirus, spyware, malware etc. It's free, it has all the software you could want using simple add or remove. It also runs all my windows stuff. But it is a learning curve, if you do more than surf the web and the odd office doc it can get abit confusing if your used to windows, but there is plenty of support. I recommend that you, as suggested above run the Ubuntu OS from a live cd, basically you do not need to install it. you can also from the live cd access all your microsoft HDD! I have used this to repair currupt windows before. Also to buy a laptop without windows it is cheaper.

In this case if I was you though I would install/ dual boot seven and your current Vista. To do this do a clean install of seven onto a new partition. Once you have it up and running you can experiment with Ubuntu.