AERO themes causes severe lag in the web browsers.

Disk, not flash stick, to see if Peppermint boots and runs doing everything normally with either or both GPUs. You said it wouldn't boot with one. This does not absolve the hardware which is the point of the test.

I've asked you twice now why two GPUs.

Please pics of the win7 disk and COA sticker with Product Keys masked. The sticker normally is how one knows its Genuine.

Please tell us where you bought the Windows 7 Ultimate OEM product key from?

DARKWORLD said:

.....
Slartybart, gregrocker
So what's wrong with those reports? Are you saying that this copy or key is pirate one? Or they potentially sold me a pirated windows? Why I can activate it then?

I just need to know, so I can call in that shop where I purchased windows or contact microsoft support about it if that's so serious.
.....

The MGA reports have oddities in them that make it difficult to say if the install is genuine or counterfeit.

Sometimes shops "do you a favor" and 'upgrade' your OS license. I'm not sure what the shop will do, it's up to you if you want to call them and explain that Win 7 installs and activates, but the genuine advantage utility raises some concerns. They might give you another key - but ... would it be another suspect key? Win7 Ultimate is expensive and not as common as Home or Pro - if the shop is handing out these keys like candy, then you should ask hard questions.

Did you buy the machine and Win7 from the same shop?

---

What I'd like to do is move beyond the current state of things and try to get your system nice and neat.

Your objective is to have a Windows 7 machine that doesn't lag with an Aero theme.

Each path has some roadblocks.

The Windows 7 key is suspect.

The Windows 8 Pro might not be covered by the OEM downgrade rights. You'll have to call Lenovo and ask them. Explain that the machine came preinstalled with Win8 Home and that you later purchased Retail Win8 Pro and you would like to downgrade to Windows 7 Pro. I don't know what they will tell you, but they are the only ones who can give you the downgrade information (key).

Here's what I suggest until anything more is known

Backup you personal data

Reset you BIOS to defaults

Install the Retail Win8 Pro as the only OS on the machine - NOT on a separate disk or drive.

Update Win8 until there is nothing more offered.

Use Windows Updates to install hardware drivers - listed in the optional offerings.

Update to 8.1 update 1 - you'll have to go to the MS store for this.

The MGA report is not very useful on Win8 machines, so don't worry about that

Check your hardware drivers against the Lenovo support page
- DO NOt update drivers from other vendors (NVidia, Realtek, Intel, etc) at this point.
- Get the drivers from Windows Update or Lenovo

That gives you a very good base... it also changes the troubleshooting - but you need a solid base.

Bill
.

gregrocker said:

Did WIndows 8 Pro come with the PC? I thought you said before it came with Home. It should have the OS which came with the PC reinstalled to auto-activate.

Sorry Greg, I might have confused things.

The machine had Win8 home pre-installed

Darkworld purchased Win8 Pro afterwards

gregrocker said:

Disk, not flash stick, to see if Peppermint boots and runs doing everything normally with either or both GPUs. You said it wouldn't boot with one. This does not absolve the hardware which is the point of the test.

I've asked you twice now why two GPUs.

Please pics of the win7 disk and COA sticker with Product Keys masked. The sticker normally is how one knows its Genuine.

Greg the two GPU's mate you can "tie" them together if they are the same model - I stand to be corrected though.

See this How to trick out your gaming PC with multiple graphics cards | PCWorld