Windows 7 - windows 7 home basic is acting like starter?

hi, I have just installed windows 7 home basic RTM (7600) on an old and slow pc. I chose home basic not starter edition. when it was done, it has all the home basic logos, and it thinks it is home basic, but it is missing all the features that home basic has, and is performing like starter edition. the "personalize" menu is not there when you right click the desktop, nor is it in control panel. I can install any other version of windows 7, but Ultamate is too heavy for this compute. I have starter installed on a different machine, and it is no different than this home basic installation? a bad disc? or an install error? or is it suppose to do this. thanks in advanced.

Hello jlj945,

Welcome to Seven Forums.

Might help if we knew the specs of this comp. Also have you tried running WEI.

Gary

Gary

forgive me for jumping in. WE could also use some info abt where you got your iso, and how you burned it.

Ken

Jump in anytime Ken. Ideas always welcome.

Gary

its a pentium 3 850 thats under clocked to 697mhz 512mb of ram (believe it or not but in runs better than win xp) 120bg hdd but im dual booting with windows 2000 giving each os 60gbs. iso burned with imgburn. I succesfuly installed ultimate with this dvd and that works fine.

I'm thinking this has something to due with poor graphics card. See if you can run the WEI score. Info here if needed: Windows Experience Index - Update or Refresh Score
Seven needs to know that the comp has enough power before turning Aero on.

It wont run wei, in vista or 7, device manager disables my vid card with a error 43 i think (im using windows 2000 right now, but il look at what it says next time i reboot, im dualbooting)
I have used the latest drivers available for the card, they are for windows xp.

That would explain. Have you tried installing the driver in compatability mode for XP. Maybe the comp is too old to get it all working. I installed Windows 7 Home Premium on a very old computer and ran into the same problem. Couldn't find any drivers for the card that would work.

Mybe someone else has an idea.

Gary

What does Winver show?. Windows key and type winver. What's the make and model of your graphics card?

the video card is an ATI Rage 128 (aka mobility M1)
the exact error is "Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)" even after compatibility mode w/ xp sp2.

When I had 7 ultimate on the same machine, the drivers still not did not work, and aero was not enabled. but it was not missing any features, and was not acting starter, it was acting like ultimate without aero.

winver says "windows 7 home basic version 6.1 (build 7600)"