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Question about using Windows 7 with old hardware and old software

Forum Windows 7 : Question about using Windows 7 with old hardware and old software

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SteveSmith1980   10-22-2009 at 05:34:13 AM

Hi, I would like to get Windows 7. However, my computer is a Pentium 4. I also have an old router and a few old things that were released before Vista even came out. I also use a lot of older software. So am I screwed? Should I attempt to upgrade to Windows 7 or just forget it? Thanks.

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badge   10-22-2009 at 06:56:57 AM

If the old hardware like the router, printer, wireless adapter, sound card, scanner has Vista drivers they will likely work with with Windows 7. If only XP drivers are available, the hardware periphals will have to be replaced with new units that have Vista/Win 7 drivers available. I have M$ office 2000 fully updated and installed on a Windows 7 64 system which includes an AMD 64 4000+, Mach Speed NF 4 socket 939 MB, 2.5GB DDR PC3200., EVGA 7900GT, etc. I did not have to load a single system/MB driver, Windows 7 64 had all the drivers supplied to start right up without a single problem.


Message edited by badge on 10-22-2009 at 07:00:05 AM
------------------------------ "To better understand why you need a personal computer, let's take a look at the pathetic mess you call your life."
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Bronze Win 7 badge sminlal   10-22-2009 at 08:10:38 PM

I successfully installed and ran Windows 7 RC on an ancient 1.6GHz Pentium with 768MBytes of memory. It wasn't a speed demon, but it ran and didn't have any stability issues. So you don't have to write off your system just because it has a Pentium 4.

On my new system I'm running several older programs, including Money 97 (originally released for Windows 95!) without any problems.


Message edited by sminlal on 10-22-2009 at 08:10:53 PM
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badge   10-22-2009 at 10:17:32 PM

That's cool. Probably installed faster than XP would. With less issues.

------------------------------ "To better understand why you need a personal computer, let's take a look at the pathetic mess you call your life."
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SteveSmith1980   10-23-2009 at 12:13:25 AM

What happens if I install the drivers for a motherboard or sound card for example, and choose Windows XP in the choice of the platform (because that was the latest Windows available when they were released)? Will this work?

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badge   10-23-2009 at 12:25:22 AM

Windows XP drivers will not work with Windows 7. As mentioned, Windows 7 has a well planned lineup of drivers pre installed for a lot of chipsets, old chipsets. Like I said, if the manufacturer does not supply a Vista/Win 7 driver, chances are you will have to buy a new router, printer, wireless adapter, sound card, scanner, etc. For example a scanner from the Windows '95 era that has no XP driver. If it even works at all, not very well with no software app to amount to anything.


Message edited by badge on 10-23-2009 at 12:30:17 AM
------------------------------ "To better understand why you need a personal computer, let's take a look at the pathetic mess you call your life."
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Keiki646   10-23-2009 at 12:31:27 AM

What Badge said in the first reply, I have to agree with him, But yes it would work with a Pentium 4CPU.......I have windows 7 on my wife P4 3.2 HT computer now. Works excellents

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DiscoDuck   10-23-2009 at 03:35:47 PM

I have installed win7 on a 2.8ht P4 with 1 g ram and it runs it good.

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geofelt   10-23-2009 at 03:54:18 PM

SteveSmith1980 wrote :

Hi, I would like to get Windows 7. However, my computer is a Pentium 4. I also have an old router and a few old things that were released before Vista even came out. I also use a lot of older software. So am I screwed? Should I attempt to upgrade to Windows 7 or just forget it? Thanks.



Download and run the windows 7 upgrade advisor program to check your pc for any possible issues:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads [...] 97c146af15

Reply to geofelt
SteveSmith1980   10-27-2009 at 04:20:44 AM

I tried to run the Windows 7 upgrade advisor, however I have a big problem. Since I installed my new Ati video card, the scanning programs like this one no longer works! My computer just scans for hours without any result. The same thing happens with 3DMarks. This started to happen just after I installed my new ATI video card.

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