Solved Where to buy Windows 7

[Janesdf]

OK, I've had it with Windows 8 and 8.1. Win 8 came installed on my new (a year now) laptop and there was one problem after another. I upgraded to win 8.1 and it was worse, including compatibility problems with my employer's software while working from home. I'm done with both of them! Can anyone tell me where I can find a reasonably priced copy of Windows 7 Home Premium. I have it installed on my desktop (that's about 4 years old), but also want it on my laptop. There are reasonably priced copies on ebay (under $75 for 64 bit), but how do I know if I'm purchasing genuine Win 7 and not a pirated copy that either won't work or could damage my laptop?

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Jane,

Personally, I wouldn't trust anything from ebay. Just to risky in my opinion.

If you like, both Newegg and Amazon has 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium for $99.

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems - Newegg.com

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premium-System-Builder-Packaging/dp/B00H09BB16

Best Buy has a copy for $95.99

Windows 7 Home Premium With Service Pack 1 64-bit - License and Media - 1 PC - PC - Best Buy

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Janesdf]

Thanks, Shawn. You're right, the peace of mind is worth more. Thanks for the links.

Jane

Hello Janesdf,

Personally, I wouldn't trust anything from ebay. Just to risky in my opinion.

If you like, both Newegg and Amazon has 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium for $99.

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems - Newegg.com

Amazon.com: Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit, System Builder OEM DVD 1 Pack (New Packaging)

Best Buy has a copy for $95.99

Windows 7 Home Premium With Service Pack 1 64-bit - License and Media - 1 PC - PC - Best Buy

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[LMiller7]

Check with the computer manufacturers website to confirm that Windows 7 drivers are available. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[ThrashZone]

Yes laptop's are very different than desktops,
Your webcam is probably toast in win-7,
Most of your touchpad features should be okay,
Download Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Official Microsoft Download Center

 

[PSCO2007]

Yes laptop's are very different than desktops,
Your webcam is probably toast in win-7,
Most of your touchpad features should be okay,
Download Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Official Microsoft Download Center

Your webcam is probably toast in win-7,

Why do you say that?

I just installed W7 Pro in my laptop and the webcam is fine.

 

[Janesdf]

Thanks for the suggestion. I just contacted Lenovo and yes, they have all of the Windows 7 drivers that I would need and my laptop can run Win 7. However, I would like to know if anyone here has done this. I've downloaded and installed software before, but never removed one os and then installed another one. Is this something I can take on myself or should I leave it to an expert? By the way, here is the Lenovo site I was directed to for Win 7 Home Premium drivers.

Laptops and netbooks :: Lenovo N Series laptops :: Lenovo N500 Notebook - Lenovo Support (US)

Check with the computer manufacturers website to confirm that Windows 7 drivers are available. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Brink]

Jane,

If you are comfortable with doing a clean install of Windows, then it's pretty easy to do yourself. The tutorial below can help show you more on downgrading to Windows 7 from Windows 8 to see if it's something you are comfortable doing. We'll always be here if you have any questions.

Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7

 

[LMiller7]

Laptop manufacturers tend to use proprietary hardware for which they are the only source of drivers. Often a manufacturer will choose to support only the OS the computer was sold with. For that reason it is always best to run the Windows 7 Upgrade advisor.

In many cases a new laptop will fully support Windows 7. Other users are not so lucky. Find out before you put down your money for Windows 7.

 

[Janesdf]

Thank you for that link. I looked over the tutorial and I will take on a positive attitude that I can do it. I've already ordered new usb drives to download the drivers to and will order the new Win 7 Home Premium. I will do the install this weekend so as not to interfere with working from home. Wish me luck and thanks again!

Jane

Janes,

If you are comfortable with doing a clean install of Windows, then it's pretty easy to do yourself. The tutorial below can help show you more on downgrading to Windows 7 from Windows 8 to see if it's something you are comfortable doing. We'll always be here if you have any questions.

Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7

 

[ThrashZone]

Then you were lucky,
Sometimes manufacture switch venders for technology for improvements sometimes webcams suffer from that switch
Cheers.

 

[Brink]

Thank you for that link. I looked over the tutorial and I will take on a positive attitude that I can do it. I've already ordered new usb drives to download the drivers to and will order the new Win 7 Home Premium. I will do the install this weekend so as not to interfere with working from home. Wish me luck and thanks again!

Jane

Janes,

If you are comfortable with doing a clean install of Windows, then it's pretty easy to do yourself. The tutorial below can help show you more on downgrading to Windows 7 from Windows 8 to see if it's something you are comfortable doing. We'll always be here if you have any questions.

Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7

I hope it goes smoothly.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

 

[Janesdf]

I finally received my Win 7 Home Premium software yesterday and installed it today. Two issues, though. The wireless internet drivers on Lenovo's site (a total of four) don't work. One of the drivers, labeled as wireless, is actually an Ethernet driver and that is how I am able to access the internet. None of the other drivers work at all, just error messages. Also, aero peek, though it is checked, does not work. I did create a recovery disk for Win 8, just in case, but don't plan to go back. I'm now about to install the Windows updates, but if someone can tell me where to find a Win 7 wireless driver for a Lenovo N580-20182, 64 bit, I would really appreciate it, and also, how can I get aero peek working?

These are only the first couple of issues I have come across after the install and hope there won't be anymore.

Thanks for all of your help and I'm looking forward to your replies.

Thank you for that link. I looked over the tutorial and I will take on a positive attitude that I can do it. I've already ordered new usb drives to download the drivers to and will order the new Win 7 Home Premium. I will do the install this weekend so as not to interfere with working from home. Wish me luck and thanks again!

Jane.

Janes,

If you are comfortable with doing a clean install of Windows, then it's pretty easy to do yourself. The tutorial below can help show you more on downgrading to Windows 7 from Windows 8 to see if it's something you are comfortable doing. We'll always be here if you have any questions.

Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7

I hope it goes smoothly.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

 

[Brink]

I found this wireless driver at Lenovo for your model number that will hopefully work.

Intel Wireless LAN Driver for Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit) - IdeaPad P580, N580, N581 - Lenovo Support (US)

 

[Janesdf]

Thank you for the link. Unfortunately, that is one of the drivers I tried yesterday and it does not work. I receive the message "Access is denied". There are four wireless drivers (below), and I tried each one.

This one is in the wireless section, but it is an Ethernet driver and the only way I can connect to the internet with my Ethernet cable.
Atheros LAN Driver for Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit) - IdeaPad P580, N580, N581


I tried this one yesterday and again today after receiving your message, but received "Access is denied" after a second attempt at installing.
Intel Wireless LAN Driver for Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit) - IdeaPad P580, N580, N581


I also tried this yesterday and received the message "No Appropriate Driver Installed"
Wireless LAN Driver (Liteon/Atheros, CyberTan/Broadcom) for Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit) - IdeaPad P580, N580, N581


This is the fourth one I tried, which didn't work because I don't have WiMax (whatever that is)
Intel WiMax Driver for Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit) - IdeaPad P580, N580, N581

I deleted each driver after trying it and seeing that it didn't work except for the Atheros LAN driver (I wish this one worked for wireless AND Ethernet). However, the Intel Wireless LAN driver will not delete. It seems to be stuck in my drivers folder.

If you or anyone else has any other suggestions, please let me know. Thanks, again. Jane

I found this wireless driver at Lenovo for your model number that will hopefully work.

Intel Wireless LAN Driver for Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit) - IdeaPad P580, N580, N581 - Lenovo Support (US)

 

[Brink]

When you try to install the driver, right click on the driver install file, and click on "Run as administrator" to see if that may help.

 

[Janesdf]

Hi,

I followed your suggestion and it did install, I then restarted my laptop. It still did not connect wirelessly so I ran Troubleshoot for connections and received the message

"The local area connection is experiencing driver or hardware related problems." Attached is a screen shot. Thanks.

When you try to install the driver, right click on the driver install file, and click on "Run as administrator" to see if that may help.