Did I upgrade to Win7 on PC that can't handle it?

[StupidUser]

So there are some hints that something is wrong with my Win7 install and always has been. There are also some hints that it might not ever have been a Win7 capable machine. How can I tell?

The hints are kind of varied and I don't know how to relay them. It passes all the built in hardware tests. But all kinds of things have never worked right: Gadgets don't remain on reboot, my SSD is very slow relative to other SSDs, Windows won't install the AHCI drivers for it, and other kinds of minor things which I've just lived with for years.

Other hints are that I can no longer do the Win 7 Update and I can't do the Lenovo driver update anymore, either. There's many more.

The machine was purchased from Lenovo as a Vista machine and the salesman promised me that it was eligible for a free Win7 upgrade. But when I went to Lenovo's website to get the upgrade, it said my machine was not part of the free upgrade. Lenovo's staff kept promising me the upgrade was coming, but I only got the Win7 upgrade by complaining to my state's consumer affairs. It makes me think that the salesman promised me something the machine couldn't do - which never happens, am I right? .

Anyway, the first thing I want to do is check my hardware to see if it's working and if it can support Win7. How? Thanks.

 

[wanchoo]

Did you run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (http://windows.microsoft.com/upgradeadvisor) before the installation? If you didn't then please try it now and it shall give you the needed information.

 

[StupidUser]

Did you run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download - Microsoft Windows) before the installation? If you didn't then please try it now and it shall give you the needed information.

I did run it. If I recall correctly, it had some issues with a software program or two (which are now history). Here is the results of running it right now:

The .Net 1.1 and NVidia Graphics seem like the big issues. I don't use SQL server for anything and uTorrent is very non-essential. What do you think?

 

[bobkn]

I'm running Windows 7 X64 on a much weaker laptop than yours. It's fine. It also originally came with Vista. The hardware requirements of Win7 are similar to Vista; I've never read of a Vista machine that couldn't run Win7.

It sounds like your Windows installation is corrupt. If you did an upgrade-in-place from Vista, you might consider doing a clean install instead. More easily said than done, but it's batter than limping along with a semi-broken OS.

 

[StupidUser]

I'm running Windows 7 X64 on a much weaker laptop than yours. It's fine. It also originally came with Vista. The hardware requirements of Win7 are similar to Vista; I've never read of a Vista machine that couldn't run Win7.

It sounds like your Windows installation is corrupt. If you did an upgrade-in-place from Vista, you might consider doing a clean install instead. More easily said than done, but it's batter than limping along with a semi-broken OS.

I've been avoiding a clean install due to lack of time. Now that school is finished and there is no job on the horizon, time is not quite the issue. But I still have to find all of my software and make sure I have re-install media. Ugh. But I think you're right.

 

[profdlp]

I think bobkn's advice is excellent. In my opinion, upgrading from one version of Windows to another is like repainting a wall without cleaning and priming it first - maybe it'll stick, maybe it won't.

 

[StupidUser]

I think bobkn's advice is excellent. In my opinion, upgrading from one version of Windows to another is like repainting a wall without cleaning and priming it first - maybe it'll stick, maybe it won't.

Thanks. I agree with you (and Bob). Got any advice on how-tos/dos/don'ts when reinstalling?

 

[wanchoo]

Looking at the Upgrade Advisor's results, a clean install is the best way out as suggested by all the rest. The .Net 1.1 and NVidia Graphics should get resolved in the process. µTorrent is not an issue at all but just an advise to upgrade as µTorrent 3.1.2.26729 is now the latest version and works very well.

 

[AddRAM]

Gregrocker has a link for instructions on a new install.

You can download the windows 7 iso here http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/

 

[bobkn]

Thanks. I agree with you (and Bob). Got any advice on how-tos/dos/don'ts when reinstalling?

I hardly know where to begin.

Windows Easy Transfer i supposed to simply transferring files and settings (not programs), but I've never had much success with it. I usually transfer everything by hand.

The standard Win7 installer is reasonably driver complete, but I suggest downloading the network drivers (Ethernet, WiFi, etc.) from Lenovo and having them on hand, just in case. (That's not terribly important if you have the use of another PC with Internet access, and a USB flash drive to transfer the drivers.) I'd also get the graphics drivers, to minimize the time spent under the generic VGA drivers.

Speaking of USB flash drives, installing from one of those is a good deal quicker than from a DVD. This is the method I used to create the flash drive (although I started with a Win7 .iso from the Microsoft Store, rather than a physical DVD):

Installing Win7 using a USB Stick | TechNet Edge

(I liked the web page better when it was only a text decription. Thre's a brief summary of the procedure at the bottom of the page.)

If you're looking fro a primer, there is a collection here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...ck-reference-list-installing-windows-7-a.html

 

[Sardonicus]

I'm running Windows 7 X64 on a much weaker laptop than yours. It's fine. It also originally came with Vista. The hardware requirements of Win7 are similar to Vista; I've never read of a Vista machine that couldn't run Win7.

It sounds like your Windows installation is corrupt. If you did an upgrade-in-place from Vista, you might consider doing a clean install instead. More easily said than done, but it's batter than limping along with a semi-broken OS.

I've been avoiding a clean install due to lack of time. Now that school is finished and there is no job on the horizon, time is not quite the issue. But I still have to find all of my software and make sure I have re-install media. Ugh. But I think you're right.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[StupidUser]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Reported no problems.

 

[AddRAM]

If you can place a dvd in the tray and read instructions then doing a clean install is a piece of cake. There is plenty of help here. I would definetly get all your data off the harddrive before you start and verify that you have it all. Then you can install windows a few times til you get it down.

 

[gregrocker]

MS required the manufacturer's Upgrade Kits to provide a clean-copy Installation DVD so you can clean install/reinstall just the OS for vastly superior performance. Sounds like it's badly needed.

Get it perfect and then get an image so you never have to reinstall again: Clean Reinstall steps

Remember you will be using the Product Key which came with the Upgrade Kit DVD.

 

[StupidUser]

MS required the manufacturer's Upgrade Kits to provide a clean-copy Installation DVD so you can clean install/reinstall just the OS for vastly superior performance. Sounds like it's badly needed.

Get it perfect and then get an image so you never have to reinstall again: Clean Reinstall steps

Remember you will be using the Product Key which came with the Upgrade Kit DVD.

Yeah, that's what I'm going to use to do the upgrade. I'm still collecting all the info I need and saving all the documents I need to save before doing the upgrade.