Neighbor Granny needs Win 7 help

[aftommy]

I have a neighbor in her 80's. One of her grandchildren gave her a windows 7 laptop so they could better communicate with each other. The hard drive was kaputt. I was able. to purchase a new drive for her and with an old copy of win 7 Enterprise I was able to install Win7 with limited success, BUT I cannot get online. I've tried another neighbor's wireless gateway (modem) and mine with no sucess. The copy of Win7 I have seems to be missing some drivers for internet connection and I can't find them anywhere.
I have a legitimate and legal key from the bottom of the laptop. The model number is nowhere on the unit. I used Sony's model number finder site, but no sucess.
So, I beg help for 'Neighbor Granny' She cannot afford anew pc and then pay for the internet and install at the same time.
So anywhere out there maybe a few of these drivers, a useable copy of win 7 or some answers to help out a really nice person I'd really appreciate the help. Thanks guys and Gals!

 

[samuria]

Open device manager and find any yellow triangles showing no drivers post results.
Quickest fix is to get a cheap wifi usb adapter that will work and have drivers with it and dirst cheap https://www.amazon.co.uk/600Mbps-Ad...pcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A23YJ2SLR9OE5S

 

[SIW2]

You need an edition that can be activated on that laptop. Not Enterprise edition.

If you can open msinfo32 that might give you some model info. Or there might be some clues in the bios.

One way to get drivers is to use a working machine to download the gigantic SDI pack . Copy it to a usb stick. Plug the usb stick into grannys machine and the SDI program should be able to install the correct drivers from the gigantic pack.

Glenn's version can be downloaded via torrent here
Snappy Driver Installer Origin – Glenn's Page
It is 43gb





The other version of SDI you could download the FULL PACK here. It is 35gb
Download

 

[AmericanPharaoh]

Hello,
@aftommy,

"The model number is nowhere on the unit. I used Sony's model number finder site, but no success".

To find this information: Open Command Prompt, type "systeminfo" give it a minute to populate. You should now see your model number in the list.

If you only want model number: Open Command Prompt, type "wmic csproduct get name"



You can try to tether your Android Phone to your PC to share its internet connection.

Note: I've never tried this method without Network drives installed on the PC, but it should work since you're using the phone to establish an internet connection and not the PC.

Here's how I do it: Connect your phone USB cable from your phone to a USB port on the PC. On your phone open Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot &Tethering > Enable USB Tethering > Enable Wi-Fi Hotspot. You should now have a network connection.

You might also want to watch a few You Tube videos on the tethering process. You can also use Bluetooth Tethering, as well.

Once connected you can go to your manufacturers website and download the necessary drivers. Once on the website try using their detection tool to scan your device and find which drivers it needs or find them manually.

Hope this helps.

 

[SIW2]

Once connected you can go to your manufacturers website and download the necessary drivers.

Not clear to what extent the enterprise edition installed is functioning. The op doesnt know the model. Hopefully he will be able to get the model number.

An alternative is to use the torrent client to skip part of the download and only download less than 1gb of net drivers

expand the drivers section


untick everything except LAN


and wlan

 

[AmericanPharaoh]

The op doesn't know the model.

OK, I understand now. We will have to see want other information he has for us.

 

[SIW2]

I was able. to purchase a new drive for her and with an old copy of win 7 Enterprise I was able to install Win7 with limited success, BUT I cannot get online.

The other issue is the edition. Apart from the little netbooks that had starter. It will either be Home Premium or if it was a business laptop it will be Professional.

If he has enterprise on there, he will have to install an edition that can be activated on that machine.

 

[AmericanPharaoh]

The other issue is the edition. Apart from the little netbooks that had starter. It will either be Home Premium or if it was a business laptop it will be Professional.

If he has enterprise on there, he will have to install an edition that can be activated on that machine.

Yes, has to match what's on the Microsoft activation servers, right?

 

[SIW2]

I have a legitimate and legal key from the bottom of the laptop.

It should match the coa key he has got. Or he could use slp activation but it needs to be home premium or pro

waste of time trying to get enterprise working, he will have to install appropriate edition.

 

[AmericanPharaoh]

It should match the coa key he has got. Or he could use slp activation but it needs to be home premium or pro

waste of time trying to get enterprise working, he will have to install appropriate edition.

I agree, it most likely had home edition originally installed.

Knowing the model number of the laptop may help determine which version of windows it originally had.

Otherwise, start with home edition and see if it will activate.

 

[SIW2]

check the key with microsoft pid checker
https://files1.majorgeeks.com/10afe...4092156b4375/system/Microsoft PID Checker.zip

download the appropriate iso

search the internet for either of these, very easy to find

home premium

en_windows_7_home_premium_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_676549.iso

professional

en_windows_7_professional_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_676939.iso


on a working machine download sdi and the network drivers copy them onto usb stick, then plug usb stick into granny's machine.
run sdi and it will install the net drivers

after connecting to the net run sdi again and it will download the rest of the needed drivers.

get updates either with dism++ or probably easier to use simplix update pack
https://update7.simplix.info/UpdatePack7R2.exe
put this right next to the simplix pack it will find and install it
https://github.com/abbodi1406/dotNetFx4xW7A/releases/download/24.04.10/dotNetFx48_20240410_x64.WA

get microsoft security essentials
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=5201

OR

prepare the installation media beforehand using this:

Update your Win 7 installation media

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You might be better installing win10 and using something like openshell as a start menu replacement for Gran. Win10 has a bit of life remaining, ms will be euthenizing it in October 2025.