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General discussion

partition problem

by skolvike Jan 31, 2011 8:27AM PST

I have a new 64 bit W7 computer and found a lot of older applications won't run on it. I created a new partition and installed a clean copy of W7 32 bit. Works fine -- except for the small fact it sees absolutely no peripherals including network card, video card, audio, etc. Any ideas what I can do to get these devixes recognized so I can install drivers for theM?

Discussion is locked

7 Posts
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Just like we've done for decades.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 31, 2011 8:34AM PST

You identify the machine and go to the maker for the drivers.

Nothing has changed much in 2 decades but you can find help if you share make, model of such things.
Bob

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John Wilkinson compared 32 vs 64 bit
by Darrell Jan 31, 2011 7:17PM PST

The bottom line was that 32 was better than 64 bit. In the 17 pages I read, it was menton to save all your drivers in a flash drive or CD/DVD+-RW first. Then, you can update them in Windows Update. I have 2 display adapters that are for winxp only but I downloaded drivers for HP All-in-One that will are for WIN 7. SoundMAX may be ok but my 2 Intel Display Adapters 81945G are only for WINXP and not for WIN 7. I might get update drivers from Windows Update or from DELL. PS - you may have created the problm for installed both 64bit ahd a partition for 32bit for Windows 7. Darrell

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Re: drivers
by Kees_B Forum moderator Jan 31, 2011 7:25PM PST

Don't use Windows Update for drivers! Always use the makers site (that's Dell and HP as far as you mention).
The drivers for the Intel Display adapter probably are on the Windows 7 DVD already.

Kees

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(NT) thak you Kees
by Darrell Jan 31, 2011 7:27PM PST
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Drivers
by skolvike Jan 31, 2011 10:51PM PST

Doesn't Windows have to at least recognize the hardware exists to update the drivers? I have an ATI 7550 video card in the machine but all Windows sees is the generic mother board video. It says there is no Ethernet card at all.

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Did you try the new hardware wizard?
by Kees_B Forum moderator Jan 31, 2011 11:08PM PST

Or just install the drivers. Won't harm.

Kees

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In my experience? No.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Feb 1, 2011 12:41AM PST

Well, rarely. Most hardware appeared after Windows shipped and after DECADES no standard appeared to mandate "this is how hardware shall be identified."

I can tell long stories of why this is, how it fails and more but only folk new to Windows will wonder why it can't find the hardware.

The old ways live on.
Bob

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