A comment on Microsoft Windows 7

[jrj350]

This is just something I wanted to say.
I am running a dual boot, Windows 7 and Ubuntu 14.04.
Today is Friday. Last Monday, I did something,(I am not sure what) and wiped Windows 7 from my computer. My bad, but what the heck.
I decided on a clean install, which meant I would also have to load Ubuntu again. I have the Windows 7 disk that I paid a lot of money for, and I started the installation.
Today, I finally have Windows 7 working properly. I spent days looking for ways to get the proper drivers in place. No Internet connection. mouse didn't work, display was wrong, etc. But after many hours I finally got things up and running.
Then I had to load Ubuntu. One and one half hour later,Ubuntu was up and running. Things were back to normal. My question is, why can't Microsoft have a method for loading the correct drivers, as does Ubuntu?
No, this is definitely not a rant against Microsoft. I am very happy with Windows 7. Just a curious comment.

 

[LMiller7]

My question is, why can't Microsoft have a method for loading the correct drivers, as does Ubuntu?

Can you clarify exactly what that means.

Windows is generally very good with including drivers on the install media, but only for hardware that existed at the time the version of Windows was released. You can hardly expect Microsoft to include drivers for future devices. Remember that Windows 7 is almost 5 years old, likely older then your computer.

 

[DavidE]

The problems might be because you did not have the latest Win 7 ISO, and you could not connect to the internet with your re-install.

If the disc you used to install Win 7 is an older version that can cause problems.
You can download and burn a disc with the latest official W7 ISO and use that for your licensed version.
If your original disc is pre SP1, you should get the latest media refresh version - with SP1, and use that.
You paid for the license, not the "disc".
i.e. - I believe if your disc is pre-SP1, and you updated to SP1, your disc will not work for a Startup Repair, if you ever need to ?
You will need a SP1 disc for that.
And, installing with the latest ISO, there are fewer Windows Updates needed to get "up to date" after a re-install.

You should always have your LAN and/or Wireless drivers backed up and ready to install, if needed for a Win install/internet access.
It seems you didn't have internet access with the re-install, and that's what caused your "driver problems".

This tutorial by gregrocker explains all this - where to get the latest Win 7 ISO, how to get and handle drivers, ...
The Tutorial title is for OEM, but it applies to Retail as well.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

As you have everything working, I'm not suggesting you making any changes, but you might want to review the tutorial and compare it to how you installed, and use it for future reference.
There are also other MANY other SF tutorials, that can help with topics such as installation, dual-booting, Linux, ...
Tutorials - Windows 7 Help Forums

hth,
David

 

[strollin]

I've installed Win 7 (both 32 & 64 bit) on a myriad of computers and VMs and have rarely ever had to search for any drivers. Most of the time when I did need to dig up a driver, it was only a single driver.

I recently installed Win 8 on an older netbook. Win 8 installed drivers for everything except the built-in card reader. After a day or so the system notified me that it had found a driver and offered to install it.

Maybe not perfect, but I think MS does a pretty good job of installing the required drivers.

 

[jrj350]

Some interesting responses.

I purchased the Windows 7 disk approximately 9 months ago. Perhaps it is outdated.

I am running the system on a Dell Inspiron 17R 5721. I went to the Microsoft site, and the Dell site trying to get the correct drivers. Plus many others, many that seemed to be a bit shady. :shock:

Well, maybe I'm not doing it right, since you all had little trouble installing the system. With luck, I won't have to do it again for a looooong time. I still haven't figured out what I did to cause Windows 7 to bomb out. That is a bit unsettling for me. I will be more careful though.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[DavidE]

You're welcome and glad to hear you have things working.

If your Dell Inspiron 17R 5721 came with Windows pre-installed, you should not have to purchase a NEW license/disc.
It should have a COA (certificate of authenticity) with the license key that you can use to re-install "as needed".
Greg's tutorial has better details and more info ...

If you bought and used an OEM license, it is now tied to that same PC as the DELL license is ONLY valid for ...
A RETAIL license can be transferred to a different PC ... an OEM license can't be transferred ...

DON'T go to shady sites for drivers ...

 

[jrj350]

It came with Windows 8. I really didn't like Windows 8 and after about three months decided to go with Windows 7. My desktop has Windows 7 and I like it a lot.


Yeah, I know, don't say it. I'm an idiot... but a likeable idiot anyway.

I won't go to shady anythings... well, almost anythings.

 

[Anshad Edavana]

My question is, why can't Microsoft have a method for loading the correct drivers, as does Ubuntu?

To your original question :

The difference is because of the vastly different kernel models Linux and Windows are using. Windows uses micro kernels which requires device drivers to be provided separately. Linux uses monolithic kernel in which common drivers are embedded. Both do have merits and demerits. It is very hard in Linux to install and configure a device which is not natively supported by the kernel. On the other hand even a 10 year old kid can easily install a driver in Windows.

 

[gregrocker]

The error was not to have the wireless or Ethernet driver in your backup so if perchance the new install did not start up ready to connect you can install it to connect to network, enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3), then run all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates, with requested reboots, until there are no more offered when you again go back to Check for Updates.


This should supply most of your drivers and patches needed to make them work best. Any drivers then missing can be imported from the Support Downloads webpage for the OEM device or PC.


It's amazing we still see XP methods being used to install a driver-complete OS five years later, when Windows 8 doesn't even allow user participation with drivers using advancements developed for Win7.

 

[Layback Bear]

May be I'm lucky.
I seldom do a clean install because I have no need to.
In the past 3 years I have done three clean installs because of new builds.
The installs went clean and quick except for all the updates which took some time because of the 100 plus updates.
Windows 7 loaded all need drivers including those needed to go online and get all the updates.
I wish all can have such luck.

Now I also take the video card driver updates when Windows Updates offers them. I have had no problems with those drivers either.
All these clean installs were done on Asus motherboards if that means anything.
From my side of the toad stool Windows 7 is a complete driver operating system.

 

[gregrocker]

You can build a Win7 installer with all of the latest drivers using this method: Update 7 installation media - Windows 7 Help Forums .


If you write it to a bootable flash stick then each time more Updates batches are ready to be included you only need to build the install.wim and replace that one file on the flash stick in Sources. I check for the latest before each install to add them if there are a lot, updating Home Premium and if necessary another version - they must be done separately as explained in tutorial.