Window 7 on a Centrino notebook

[undergrd]

Hi Ppl,

Just want to ask around if I want to install window 7 on a old centrino notebk, can it be done as long as I am able to find the latest driver software of my notebk for W7?

FYI: My centrino notebk is on Win XP

Thanks Ppl...

 

[Sparatan117]

Hey undergrd,

Yeah I'd imagine so. Windows 7 in my opinion is as fast if not faster than XP so I'd say putting it on there would be a great idea. Windows 7 should be able to find all the drivers you need no problem. But don't quote me on that if you get what I mean

Let us know how it goes.

 

[undergrd]

Hi Sparatan117,

Thanks for the reply. You mean win7 will automatic check for latest update on the drivers?

Read in the forum that ppl recommended to install 2 OS in the machine if Win7 does not serve the owner and he/she can revert back to the former OS. So if I want to do it like this, how am I go about doing it?

Thanks!

 

[Sparatan117]

Ok, Here's what your gonna need to do.
The easiest way to do it is to get everything off it you want to keep and whipe the hard drive completely. If you want to keep a certain OS on there theres ways around that too.

I'll base this on if you wipe the hard drive.
Boot from installation disk and create 2 partitions of however big or small you want them when you get to the where to install screen windows 7 will give you, or vista will give you since the process is identical.

Make sure to give one partition no less than 30 GB (1024MB x 30) because vista or Windows 7 needs at least this to mess around in otherwise you get the ugly window low disk space.

After you install it to once side and see how it runs you should be able to go back into the installer (using the Boot CD) and use the other partition you created to install the other OS on.

When you boot up having 2 OS's on your PC it will prompt you which one to pick and pick the latest installed one by default. This can be changed in Windows.

That should be it. I recommend you keep another computer nearby so you dont have to restart and reboot in another OS everytime you run into a driver issue.

Hope it helps!

 

[killercat]

Hello, can you maybe specify "old centrino" a little bit more, since there are different generations with different hardware.

I'm running Win7 on a second-generation Sonoma platform (2005) without any problems. (Please see my specs in my sig)
But since Centrino only describes the combination of chipset, processor & WiFi, I can only speak for those components though.
For remaining hardware, you'd have to check. Why don't you post a little more detailed list of your hardware?

Anyway, Chances are good that it'll run well

 

[undergrd]

Im sorry...the specs of my old machine is as follow:
Acer 3002WTCI
Intel Pentium M740, 1.73GHz
2GB Ram
Intel Integrated 915GM

Thanks guys for highlighting...

 

[undergrd]

Hi Guys,

Any idea where can I DL the latest Win 7 & how do I obtain the product key?

Thanks!

 

[killercat]

Hey,
sorry I didn't post back earlier.

First of all, Win7 should run just fine on your machine. Only thing, the Intel 915GM won't give you Aero, since Intel just wouldn't provide WDDM drivers for it.

To get the beta and a key now, I'd suggest you'd sign up for Microsoft Connect.
You'll find details on how to sign up here: Get Your Windows 7 Updates from Microsoft Connect

 

[undergrd]

HI Killercat,

I got the key from MS website but cant find where to download Win7....

 

[killercat]

On the Ecosystem Connection page click on 'Downloads' and select 'Windows 7 Beta (7000-0-081212-1400) Ultimate', choose the language you want to install, and off you go...^^
(you will have to install Microsoft File Transfer Manager (FTM) to download the file)

 

[undergrd]

Found it, thanks. Whats the difference between X86 & X64?

 

[killercat]

x86 is 32bit, x64 the 64bit edition. You'll need x86.

 

[undergrd]

ok.Roger that...Thanks!

 

[undergrd]

BTW, how long are we able to use the Win 7?I guess there is an expiry to it right?

 

[killercat]

Yep. It expires on August 1.

 

[undergrd]

any idea what will happen next after aug 1st?

 

[justnrt]

probably tell you its expired when its loaded and to reinstall an old (XP Vista) or newer Win7. id imagine before it expires, if you turn off auto date & time sync and tell your computer its the wrong date (before aug 1) it would work. dont quote me on that though

 

[terrykb]

I have Acer Travelmate 4000 wich is Centrino based. I installed on a dual boot system retaining my old XP just in case. Very glad I did as Wifi does not yet work on Win7 - no driver! I am here trying to find out where to find all the drivers I need and will probably need to search one by one. However I think will be worth the effor. I have Win7 on my Ace netbook and love it! Good luck to alll of you facing the Win7 challenge