Chipset Driver for W7 Install Question

[TVeblen]

My daughter asked me if I could install W7 on her laptop for her. Doing due diligence, I proceeded to find out.

She has a Compaq F767NR running Vista 32 bit. It meets minimum requirements. I will suggest a clean install.

HP does not support this laptop for W7, and provides no W7 drivers for it.

I ran the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and all was cool except one thing: the chipset drivers.
nVidia nForce System Management Controller & nForce System Management are both listed as unknown.

The F767 has a Quanta motherboard, v30EA, and the chipset is nForce 560, rev A2.
The current nForce driver file SP37711.exe is v2.5A and dated 11/1/07. The current Controller driver in Device Manager is 5.1.2600.131 and dated 2/16/07.

Going to nVidia's site finds that there is no W7 driver package for the 560 chipset.
There are 2 driver packages for Vista 32 bit:
15.01, dated 6/2/07
15.23, dated 9/12/08

So the question is: can I install W7 32 bit on her laptop without a major PIA? Can I use the Vista driver dated 2008? How much of an issue would this be?

I found a W7 chipset driver at a website www.bioticaindia.com/30ea.html . Never heard of Bioticandia. Wondering if this is legit. Why would these guys have the driver and nVidia would not?

Best of course: has anyone here installed W7 on a F700 series laptop and care to share their experience?

TIA - Bob

 

[Jonathan_King]

I expect it will work using Vista or generic Windows 7 drivers.

I can't imagine any machine running Vista not compatible with 7. At worst, you may not get some special features available in Vista, but Windows 7 should run at the very least.

 

[gregrocker]

Use the drivers given by Win7 installer, or provided soon after install in optional Windows Updates.

MS spent a fortune paying to have drivers developed for Win7 so that manufacturer's won't hold out (as with Vista) to force us to buy newer hardware, and so that they could have them in the installer and Windows Updates.

Only if drivers are missing in the Device manager, or perfromance dictates trying others, should one use the drivers on the Support Downloads webpage for your computer/device model. Be prepared to roll them back.

 

[TVeblen]

Thank you gentlemen for those votes of confidence. It helps.
I just want to avoid what should be a 4 hour project turning into a 4 day obligation complete with guilt and whining!

 

[Phone Man]

Use the drivers given by Win7 installer, or provided soon after install in optional Windows Updates.

MS spent a fortune paying to have drivers developed for Win7 so that manufacturer's won't hold out (as with Vista) to force us to buy newer hardware, and so that they could have them in the installer and Windows Updates.

Apparently MS didn't pay HP enough. Lots of people trying to run Win 7 on older HP laptops and cant find drivers. Most have found Vista drivers and with a few tweeks have got them to work.
The good part is you learn a lot about your system and how to make it work. Don't count on 4 hrs. The basics may work but getting everything back to normal may be a challenge. Lots of resources on here as a lot of people have gone through these type of upgrades and have found solutions. Please keep your cool and don't rant in front of your daughter.

Jim

 

[gregrocker]

I haven't found any Vista drivers yet which won't work for Win7 in the absence of Win7 drivers.

Sometimes Vista drivers need to be installed in Compatibility Mode, riggtclicking the .exe. for Properties.

 

[TVeblen]

Please keep your cool and don't rant in front of your daughter.

That may scare her. She will think I have been replaced by an alien replica.

 

[TVeblen]

I haven't found any Vista drivers yet which won't work for Win7 in the absence of Win7 drivers.
Sometimes Vista drivers need to be installed in Compatibility Mode, riggtclicking the .exe. for Properties.

So maybe the most recent nVidia driver for Vista in compatibility mode is best?
(Providing the system is not up and running "out of the box")

What do you guys think of this Bioticandia driver?

 

[gregrocker]

You can try Vista driver first w/o Compat mode. Most will work.

The site you are referring to charges for drivers you can get from Intel, etc. for free. Any other reason to take another look at them?

 

[Phone Man]

Please keep your cool and don't rant in front of your daughter.

That may scare her. She will think I have been replaced by an alien replica.

Updating computers tends to do that to people.

Jim

 

[TVeblen]

You can try Vista driver first w/o Compat mode. Most will work.

The site you are referring to charges for drivers you can get from Intel, etc. for free. Any other reason to take another look at them?

That is what I will plan to do- the most current Vista driver. Thanks.

No need to look. I didn't like their site anyway. Just wondering if anyone had heard of them. (and fishing to see if anyone knows of another W7 driver!)