Installing W7, Final Panic - Help!

[Submarine]

Hi all,

Trust you to carry me through this

Tomorrow, I plan to install W7 as dual boot. You can see what I have in the spec's. I have a Dell XPS720 with Vista X86 Raid 0 and will install a retail W7 64 bit on a SSD. I must get it working tomorrow.

All advice based on your experience is most welcome.

/Sub

 

[Tepid]

One thing to keep in mind is....

If something happens to the Stripe, you may not be able to boot 7 either as the boot loader will be held there and not the SSD drive. A startup repair might fix the issue. Maybe.

What I can tell you is,,,,,,,, 7 far exceeds Vista in everything (and I liked Vista). So, if you like Vista, you will like 7 more.
So, you may just want to bite the bullet and backup your data and load 7 and get rid of Vista.
If everything you have works in Vista, it will work in 7.

Just my opinion.

 

[jfar]

Hi, go to the Dell site and Download everything that is there for your machine
and save it on a usb stick or an exterior disc, in case you need them after you install windows 7.

 

[Submarine]

One thing to keep in mind is....

If something happens to the Stripe, you may not be able to boot 7 either as the boot loader will be held there and not the SSD drive. A startup repair might fix the issue. Maybe.

What I can tell you is,,,,,,,, 7 far exceeds Vista in everything (and I liked Vista). So, if you like Vista, you will like 7 more.
So, you may just want to bite the bullet and backup your data and load 7 and get rid of Vista.
If everything you have works in Vista, it will work in 7.

Just my opinion.

Thanks, now I feel much calmer
Made all backups I can, including an extra copy of bcd. Right in the start, I only need to get W7 working with basic functionality, keyboard, mouse, internet and similar. W7 is initially for Photoshop CS4. I am taking a university course over the internet; it started previous week so I am already behind. Will install PS on W7. Later other stuff.

 

[Submarine]

Hi, go to the Dell site and Download everything that is there for your machine
and save it on a usb stick or an exterior disc, in case you need them after you install windows 7.

The Dell site is very difficult. They tend to check the computer to make sure you do not download anything outside of the spec's you purchased. I have managed to download a number of things, can only hope it is enough and the right stuff. Any idea of what would be cruical?

 

[jfar]

The netwok driver for your card in case 7 doesn't find it .

ALSO IN CASE YOU NEED DRIVERS AFTERWARDS, THIS MAY HELP.

Hi go Here and it will check your machine for missing drivers, in case you are missing some.
Follow the instructions, and when it does it's scan, press the green button, bottom
left of picture and install whatever it has for you, this might help with your problem.


http://www.ma-config.com/

 

[Submarine]

The netwok driver for your card in case 7 doesn't find it .

ALSO IN CASE YOU NEED DRIVERS AFTERWARDS, THIS MAY HELP.

Hi go Here and it will check your machine for missing drivers, in case you are missing some.
Follow the instructions, and when it does it's scan, press the green button, bottom
left of picture and install whatever it has for you, this might help with your problem.


http://www.ma-config.com/

View attachment 51079

Excellent! Thanks.

 

[jfar]

Your welcome, hope it goes well for you.

 

[theog]

Take jfar very good advice, good luck with your university course & have fun with Win 7.

 

[Tepid]

I guess there might be an exception,.,, and I don't want to alarm you. Or panic you again....

But,,, you might want to read through some of this before taking the plunge,,,, milage of course varies greatly with anything.... Some people don't have any problems, while others do,,, but research this first.... and take some of it with a grain of salt. Better to know what you might be getting into before you do.

Search Results for Adobe Photoshop CS4

That is by no means trying to say that switching to 7 is not worth it.

 

[gregrocker]

Back up your Vista windows/system32/drivers file externally so you have access to all of your drivers if any are missing.

The complication is the RAID which Win7 doesn't like. Otherwise you could disconnect the Vista HD to install Win7 independently - either would then boot from BIOS shortcut key, a much simpler method which doesn't make the HD's dependent upon one another.

 

[Submarine]

I guess there might be an exception,.,, and I don't want to alarm you. Or panic you again....

But,,, you might want to read through some of this before taking the plunge,,,, milage of course varies greatly with anything.... Some people don't have any problems, while others do,,, but research this first.... and take some of it with a grain of salt. Better to know what you might be getting into before you do.

Search Results for Adobe Photoshop CS4

That is by no means trying to say that switching to 7 is not worth it.

Woops, that does not make me panic

Well, one panic at the time.

 

[Submarine]

Back up your Vista windows/system32/drivers file externally so you have access to all of your drivers if any are missing.

The complication is the RAID which Win7 doesn't like. Otherwise you could disconnect the Vista HD to install Win7 independently - either would then boot from BIOS shortcut key, a much simpler method which doesn't make the HD's dependent upon one another.

Thanks!
You mean just take a copy of the folder to a USB stick?
For what purpose, use in W7?

I will try the normal route first. If I fail totally, I will return and ask for more info on the installation option.

 

[Submarine]

Take jfar very good advice, good luck with your university course & have fun with Win 7.

Thanks!

 

[Submarine]

So, how did it go?
I am surprised to say it worked without any fuzz at all.
All drivers but two installed nicely. Installed TV card driver myself, but is going to uninstall my PhysX as I do not need it. Even my Bluetooth keyboard and mouse worked from the start. Windows managed to find dedicated drivers even for my monitor, which Dell said had none for W7. Most drivers look pretty generic, I will uninstall sound and gpx and install manufacturer ones. Like to get their control panels in. Will also try to install the Dell Keyboard and Mouse drivers to see if I get Set Point. If it does not work, I can always roll back. There is of course a lot more to do, like printer, A/V etc etc, but I will sort all this out as I go. Time to order PS.
Thanks for all good advice. And, by the way, it is shockingly speedy.

 

[bigmck]

So, how did it go?
I am surprised to say it worked without any fuzz at all.
All drivers but two installed nicely. Installed TV card driver myself, but is going to uninstall my PhysX as I do not need it. Even my Bluetooth keyboard and mouse worked from the start. Windows managed to find dedicated drivers even for my monitor, which Dell said had none for W7. Most drivers look pretty generic, I will uninstall sound and gpx and install manufacturer ones. Like to get their control panels in. Will also try to install the Dell Keyboard and Mouse drivers to see if I get Set Point. If it does not work, I can always roll back. There is of course a lot more to do, like printer, A/V etc etc, but I will sort all this out as I go. Time to order PS.
Thanks for all good advice. And, by the way, it is shockingly speedy.

Glad to hear it went smooth. I had pretty the same "panic" that you did when I installed Win 7. It went smooth for me also.

 

[theog]

That is good to here.

 

[jfar]

Good news.