Windows 7 Essential Driver Compatibility Tips for Testing Windows 7 Release Candidate

[Radenight]

Hey all!

I've noticed alot of driver questions coming in since the public release of the RC.. alot of which have been solved but alot that also simply can't be solved due to lack of driver support at this point in time..

I just want to remind those new to testing a RC.. Though Windows 7 RC is very compatible there are still alot of devices that just don't have driver support at this stage in the game... So, if you've tried using the most recent Windows Vista drivers and any Windows 7 specific drivers for your particular device and it still won't work or won't work right than there's a very good chance that you'll just have to wait until the manufacturers release a Windows 7 driver for your devices.. Which hopefully starts sooner than later..

In the meantime, the fact that your device may not be supported this early on doesn't mean that Windows 7 is at fault.. It just means you'll have to wait (if a workaround can't be found of course).. which unfortunately is one of the risks you take when testing Beta and RC versions of an OS...

If your thinking of testing the Windows 7 RC a good habit to get into is to do some research on your hardware prior to installing the RC.. If there are driver's available and if you notice from other people's posts that the drivers available seem to work fine in the RC then you shouldn't have any major problems.. but if you see that someone or multiple people just can't get a certain device to work no matter what they try then that's a very indication that the RC may not be right for you to try.. This is especially true for people who run small businesses and need every single component to function exactly as it's intended to..

Just some food for thought when your clicking on that "Download" button to get Win 7 RC...

Cheers!

 

[kemical]

LOL....Try googling foxconn

 

[Asmodeus]

I can't be arsed,i've got XP.
I'll wait.

 

[kemical]

Cool enough...

 

[Asmodeus]

They'll release a fix or something in time im sure.
After all until 22nd Oct,it's still classed as a beta.

 

[kemical]

All very true... I'll keep my eye's open in case I see something that looks like a fix of sorts..

 

[Asmodeus]

Appreciated mate.

 

[Asmodeus]

Well im very perplexed.
I wiped everything on the partition,and did a fresh install,of Windows 7,installed the catalyst control centre.
I emphasise the resolution was 1156xwhatever to start with,so after installing the catalyst control centre,i right clicked on the icon,set desktop area to 1024x768,and waited with bated breath,the screen went blank for a second then WAHEY! 1024x768!
I've got the right resolution with Aero.
But there's definitely something amiss,if i have to reinstall an OS to get the right resolution.

 

[kemical]

Perhaps the first install wasn't as clean as you thought but now this has been remedied... Good news anyway

 

[Asmodeus]

Nope! It's deeper than that,i've had the same problem everytime i install it,which has been about 8 - 10 times.
Something's up.
With the ATI driver working,it's a little flakier than without it.

 

[kemical]

You never did check up on the bios did you? Now may be prudent?

 

[Asmodeus]

Well finally i did a Windows update on Fri nite and there was an update for ATI Radeon HD2400 pro.
The screen went black for about 7 seconds,then Woohoo! superb my problem has been rectified.
She's crashed a couple of times this weekend,but there's a marked improvement on stability.

 

[kemical]

Excellent! That windows update utility does come in handy sometimes lol... Glad your all sorted, well apart from the crashes but like you say..it's an improvement.

 

[Radenight]

They'll release a fix or something in time im sure.
After all until 22nd Oct,it's still classed as a beta.

I hate to argue but the RTM is certainly not classified as a BETA..

 

[kemical]

He's running the RC isn't he Radenight?

 

[Asmodeus]

Im running the RTM build 7600 which i class as a beta,as it's not on general release yet.
Saying that Vista was released into 7600 if my memory serves me correctly.
Something strange just happened,i just had a box saying new hardware detected and did another score.
I haven't put any new hardware in since my PCI express card,long before this new OS.

 

[Radenight]

Yes but the RTM IS the "General Release".. They are the same thing...

 

[Asmodeus]

I know,i just call it a beta till it comes out.

 

[Asmodeus]

Realtek RTL 8139x10

My sound card driver could do with an update,my sound is a little distorted 7/10.
It's a real pain in the arse.

 

[Radenight]

I find the sound to be very particular in Windows 7.. I can't quite put my finger on it but I find even if your using the top of the line sound cards the sound just doesn't sound as good as it should.. Hopefully some new drivers will solve the problem..

(Wow, I just said sound too many times.. )

 

[Asmodeus]

Sounds ok!