Installing W7 64 bit on a Vista 64 bit machine

[TerenceW]

I have this tower machine: GPC36 E8600 Overclocked Intel E8600 Core 2 Duo @ 4.0Ghz 6MB Cache 1333FSB CPU / Asus P5Q Pro Intel P45 Crossfire DDR2 Motherboard / ATI 4870 512Mb / OCZ 4GB DDR2 PC8500 1066Mhz Memory / 500Gb SATA Hard Drive / 22x DVD-RW/Vista 64bit. At the moment I run MS Flight Sim 2004 on it.

I am giving it to a friend with a 24" monitor, who has Wet Macular degeration, in the hope he will see things easier than on his 12" laptop. However it needs to have a usb wirless dongle fitted but I cannot find one with Vista drivers. I'm told new dongles will not have Vista drivers.

So - I have bought a W7 installation disc to replace Vista with W7 to accomodate a wifi dongle. I have tried the upgrade advisor but it will not use Firefox (with latest update) & I got no advise.

I'm told the W7 disc will have an option that will upgrade Vista as long as I follow the instructions. Is this correct.

Thank you for any advice received - Terence Wallis.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Terence

Your best bet is a Clean install
BIG NOTE reset Bios to default FIRST

There is/was a way to auto-upgrade to W7 but i think thats gone
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version


W7 comes driver equiped so hopefully the Wifi dongle will "auto-install"
Which one is it??

The other question
Where did you get the Product key for W7
(unlikely to be genuine - but we can get to that AFTER your install)


further info W7/W10
MS have an Ease of Access option for people who have sight/sound difficulties and do offer discounted,
(and sometimes FREE Upgrades)

Roy

 

[wither 2]

I think most dongles support everything from XP to Win 10. For instance, here's one at Amazon-

https://www.amazon.com/Waxden-Adapt...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

It's a bit on the high side, pricewise.

 

[TerenceW]

Hello Roy,

I'll do a clean install & reset - thanks.

The adapter I tried to install was the tp-link T2U. tp-link in China told me it wasn't Vista supported & to return it to the retailer, which I did.

As for drivers, I'm assuming other drivers used by other things don't get removed during installation?

The cd came with a label & product key which the seller assured me in pukka. Time will tell.

I've investigated the Ease of Accsses options but thanks for the reminder. Now I must copy the stuff I want to keep before going ahead with installation!

Cheers,
Terry.
PS I have 3 other W7 machines all custom made (incl a beauty by PCSpecialists) running MS Flight Sim 2004. I make all my own airfields.

W2.
A computer technician at PC World told me 3 days ago that all new manufactures don't, regardless of what the packaging says, support Vista since it stopped being supported by MS. The dongle you linked to is the price I paid for the tp-link T2U adapter that tp-link in China told me is not Vista compatible. This is why I'm installing W7.

 

[TerenceW]

I've noticed on the product key sticker the words DELL. I'll contact the seller but thought I'd see what you have to say...........

 

[torchwood]

Hi Terence,

That doesn't look legit to me.
Its a System Builder CD, and like you said a Dell OEM product key sticker
They just don't go together
Id say the W7 COA sticker was pulled off of a Dell comp.

Your 3 custom Builds will either have System Builder or Retail product keys
IF your not using 1 of them, that includes if its NEVER ONLINE, the key on that system will be transferrable




Roy

 

[wither 2]

"The adapter I tried to install was the tp-link T2U. tp-link in China told me it wasn't Vista supported & to return it to the retailer, which I did."

I'm still skeptical that the problem is specific to all dongles. I was looking at this (for Win 7) and there are a couple of solutions-

Wireless USB Dongles Not Working On Windows 7. - Microsoft Community

Of course, I don't know what happened when you tried installing that dongle.

 

[torchwood]

There's loads of posts about that adapter - none extolling its virtues, or their customer support

 

[TerenceW]

The ebay cd seller (large ebay shop) has just emailed this "Hi please see ad these are from scrap PC for PC Fitters, it doesnt matter what make ie DELL ,HP etc they all install just the same and update exactly the same all working fine."

My custom builds have retail product keys, btw. I use them in sequence & go on line for updates, etc.
I'll give this a whirl & will be back if trouble stikes if I may?

I'll look around for another dongle/adapter and will research options.

Thanks for your invaluable advice...........

Terry.

 

[wither 2]

If you have a Walmart, Best Buy, KMart etc., in your area, they have numerous ones. I even see them in grocery and drug stores but the prices are too high.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Terence,

Tell em your gonna forward that email to MS, Should be an interesting reply from the retailer and MS MIGHT send you a free, (w10) licence key

How to Tell - Home

It breaks MS EULA licencing. COA sticker keys are NON-Transferrable

Roy

PS
as its a Vista machine, it will also NOT have a W7 marker, which will require a call to MS to Activate it

 

[TerenceW]

None of those so will go to PCWorld. They have knowlegable technicians.



BTW when I install W7 does it keep, eg., graphic card drivers, etc ? Roy said W7 come with drivers & I'm not sure what he meant by that.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Terence

W7 comes driver complete - well for most things
there are generic Core drivers supplied so you should be able to get up and running for graphics etc
(they will update via Windows update once your on line - connect it via your ethernet)
But it was never setup for every driver, usually easy to find tho.

As for PCWorld, they will push you towards W10


On another note do you live down south, if so have a look here
Front Page ⋆ Jamies Computers

They are genuine MS accredited refurbishers and might have some


Roy

 

[SIW2]

torchwood

further info W7/W10
MS have an Ease of Access option for people who have sight/sound difficulties and do offer discounted,
(and sometimes FREE Upgrades)

That seems a good idea - though I expect they will only win10 on that scheme. I remember hearing about it a while ago. I don't know if they are doing it atm.







Software cannot be tied to a particular piece of hardware

Where the copyright holder makes available to his customer a copy – tangible or intangible – and at the same time concludes, in return form payment of a fee, a licence agreement granting the customer the right to use that copy for an unlimited period, that rightholder sells the copy to the customer and thus exhausts his exclusive distribution right.

https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2012-07/cp120094en.pdf

 

[TerenceW]

Bon jour Roy,

The machine is hard wired so update is automatic. The recipient when 7'd is getting wifi from the flat below him thus the need for the adapter. I gave him a XP 12" dell laptop a few years ago & that latches on in an instant.

It was a PCWorld tech. that suggested W7 as it's like XP & works well for emailing, etc. He thought 10 would be a mistake.

I'm 2 miles east of Fordingbridge (west edge of the New Forest) & 25 (?) from Jamie's Computers. Thanks for the link - they sound interesting. I use Supported Computing in Ferndown. Joe the owner is first class & has done amazing work for me. I'll ring Jamie and will pop down there somewhen, sat nav willing that is.

I appreciate the support you all give,
Best Wishes,
Terry.

A hanged parliament is better than a hung parliament. Terence Wallis, Nov. 2019.
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reasons. Mark Twain.
How many Old Etonians does it take to destroy a country?

 

[torchwood]

Hi Terence,

Greetings from Southampton, Jamies is easy to find, mostly follow the signs for St Mary's stadium.

likely be popping down there soon, need an upgrade for my old 2009 lappy.



Roy

 

[TerenceW]

Aha.you're in Southampton!! Well well! I will go to see Jamie. I'll give him a tinkle too...................
I have to go to Salisbury now.....bless Park & Ride & bus passes !

Cheers,

Terry.