Seeking Advice on Windows 7 Ultimate Install, keep or dump it?

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  1. Posts : 22
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
       #1

    Seeking Advice on Windows 7 Ultimate Install, keep or dump it?


    Hello,

    I will ask that you pardon me in advance, but I have an odd problem and it might take a longer post to describe the situation.

    I have two identical Dell XPS410 Dimension computers. These have the same BIOS (updated), Motherboard, and external devices with the exception that the second of these machines has 2 CD/DVD drives and one of those multi-floppy disks, where the first one has just 1 CD/DVD drive.

    Both of these machines ran Vista for a couple years, and they ran fine. Then I decided to update the machines to Windows 7. I bought real copies, one of Windows 7 Enterprise, and one of Windows 7 Ultimate.

    I did the Windows 7 Enterprise install first - I did both installs CLEAN, not an upgrade. This first install went pretty well. All devices were found and software went well too with the only complaint that I bought Office 2010 and I hate it - but overall the first install (of Win 7 Enterprise) had no real hiccups.

    I then undertook the Windows 7 Ultimate install on the second machine (2 CD/DVD drives and that multi-floppy drive). What a disaster this has been - in fact, its been two weeks now and I still cannot get Windows to "see" the multi-floppy at all, and both CD/DVD drives seem to work now and then (more then, than now...)

    I have been up and down the support chain including talking to Microsoft who, to my utter shock, seem to know the least about the very product they make. The MS tech had me update some firmware in the CD\DVD drives, go in and out of the BIOS (which he said seemed correctly set), and run both Computer and Device Manager over and over and over again. After all of it, nada, zilch, nothing - in other words nothing he did, or any of the web help I have found, has solved the problem.

    Indeed, I think I have done 50-100 Google searches and tried every solution from modifying the registry, to various hardware tweaks. Nothing seems to work - I still have never seen the multi-floppy, and the CD/DVD drives come and go and of course, when they work, they read 1 or 2 discs and then 'go away' again.

    So I need to choose a course of action and though I am not a novice, I am no expert either and thus would appreciate any advice. My question is basically...

    Should I...

    - Go back to Vista on this second machine. At least you knew it worked.
    - By another copy of Enterprise NOT Ultimate (dont know what the difference might be...) ((...and will this really solve things, or is it hardware based?))
    - Find a REAL solution. (No offense to the web posters, but really its just a ton of suggestions that some work for some, none have for me...)

    Any further advice would be MOST appreciated. I am just so tired of reformatting this machine and starting over again always hitting the same wall in the end.

    Thanks very much!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #2

    What is the make and model number of this Multi-floppy thingy?

    I've never heard of one. Does it have A Windows 7 driver?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #3

    Why did you buy Enterprise ?

    I don`t think installing enterprise on the 2nd machine will fix anything as it and ultimate are basically the same. Your problems is a driver issue. If there was a driver for Vista then there "should be" a driver for 7.
    Check all your connections on the drives.

    And, you don`t have to buy another Enterprise to test it on the 2nd machine.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 22
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    ZTrucker - I did some research and the device I am talking about is called a "Media Card Reader". Its part number is GH493, but that is the Dell part number - I could not determine much more beyond that as the itemized list of it on my receipt says just that. Sorry about the "floppy disk thingy" reference but I could not recall what the darn thing was called.

    AddRAM - I take your advice that Enterprise might not be the path to pursue, however a couple problems with your advice - #1 "If it has a Vista driver, it will have a Win7 driver". This just is not true. For example, I am a musician and powered my studio for many years with Creative Labs stuff - they didnt release any Win7 drivers for more than a year. And this is one example - I have many where both hardware and software makers had no Win7 drivers/versions. This is indeed part of my problem - seems like many companies did not get out front on Win7, let alone Vista. #2, as for checking cables, etc etc - these machines have not moved in years. They are in a cabinet I had made that has both front and back access, so I am very leary to start looking at hardware when both machines ran fine with Vista for years, and its only going to Win7 on the second machine that has become a nightmare - I really dont think this is any cable connection or anything like that.

    To you both, I deeply appreciate the advice and dont take an response as an assault - I do not intend anything that way - its just that I have been wrestling with this for weeks and want to proceed through to a fix (or just give up) in some sort of orderly fashion. I suppose if it gets down to opening up hardware and checking at that level, I may just buy another machine with someone else setting it up - hate to do that, but who knows. For now, I cant stand having a big expensive paperweight.

    Might I also ask an additional question... I go way back with computers to the days when a "big" hard drive was 1 MB. Yup, that old. But what I dont understand is whatever happened to "Plug and Play"? Why am I hunting for drivers? Did Microsoft suddenly decide NOT to distribute drivers with these Win7 OS's??? It appears not - and this is where I am told many companies just were not ready with them when MS wanted to do its release candidate for Win7. Baffles me... Like one step forward, and 10 back... but I have been doing that dance with MS for years. Just wish it would end!!!

    Thanks guys.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #5

    Windows 7 comes with loads of drivers but not all as you have found out. I have a couple or so questions. Pretty basic but worth a try.
    Have you ran this?
    Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
    Where did you get your DVD's of Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise form?
    Are these upgrades from Vista or clean installs?
    They are basic questions but a starting place never the less.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #6

    I nevet said IT WILL HAVE a driver, I said there " SHOULD BE ", a driver. Not the same thing.

    A lot of times when you find a driver for 7 x64 it will be a Vista x64 driver. And that`s the driver you would use and it " SHOULD " not WILL work.

    So..... instead of hunting for a 7 driver you hunt for and use a Vista driver. :)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #7

    I'm wondering if on the 2nd machine, an upgrade rather than a Clean Install might make a difference, since you already had a fully working system, including the Media Card Reader.

    Also, open Device Manager, locate the entry for your Media Card Reader (may have to click on View / Show hidden devices). Double click on it then click on the Details page. Select Hardware Ids in the drop down. Click on the line that ends with the &SUBSYS)nnnn... then press Ctrl+C to copy it, looks something like this:

    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_266E&SUBSYS_01751028 (this is for my SoundMax audio)

    Paste that into a Google search and see if it give you any useful info.

    Since the Media Card Reader is fed from the system board, you could also try looking for Windows 7 drivers for the system board itself.

    Lastly (or maybe firstly), try the Vista X64 driver, see if it works.

    Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

    Seeking Advice on Windows 7 Ultimate Install, keep or dump it?-teac.jpg
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #8

    I agree AddRam many Vista drivers will work with Windows 7. Sometimes with older hardware Vista drivers is the only choice one has. It's kind of a hunt and peck system until one finds one that will work.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #9

    Here`s a prime example, notice how it says compatible for 7 but the driver was actually made for Vista.
    Last edited by AddRAM; 22 Apr 2015 at 17:49.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,996
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #10

    Ztruker said:
    I'm wondering if on the 2nd machine, an upgrade rather than a Clean Install might make a difference, since you already had a fully working system, including the Media Card Reader.

    Also, open Device Manager, locate the entry for your Media Card Reader (may have to click on View / Show hidden devices). Double click on it then click on the Details page. Select Hardware Ids in the drop down. Click on the line that ends with the &SUBSYS)nnnn... then press Ctrl+C to copy it, looks something like this:

    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_266E&SUBSYS_01751028 (this is for my SoundMax audio)

    Paste that into a Google search and see if it give you any useful info.

    Since the Media Card Reader is fed from the system board, you could also try looking for Windows 7 drivers for the system board itself.

    Lastly (or maybe firstly), try the Vista X64 driver, see if it works.

    Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

    Seeking Advice on Windows 7 Ultimate Install, keep or dump it?-teac.jpg
    If you find your Vista driver and it doesn't work, try running it in the Compatibility mode.
    Compatibility Mode
      My Computer


 
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