Tom's Hardware > Forum > Windows 7 > Drivers for Windows 7
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r_manic   05-05-2009 at 09:28:11 AM

All Windows 7 driver resources I've found online... feel free to post additions!

Graphics Cards Drivers: NVIDIA, ATI

Realtek Audio: High Definition Audio Codecs

For Microsoft Hardware: Of course Microsoft would provide Windows 7 for its own hardware, here.

Many manufacturers also carry Windows 7 drivers on their sites; search for it, and they may come. Failing that, you may try either last resorts:

Last Resort #1: Use Vista drivers. As Walt Mossberg wrote...

Quote :

Microsoft says that, in most cases, the Vista drivers — software that makes hardware like printers or monitors operate with a PC — will work fine with Windows 7, which is the successor to Vista that is coming later this year. In some cases, where Windows 7 has features Vista lacked, such as its multi-touch screen features, new drivers will be required. Hardware manufacturers may also choose to do new Windows 7 drivers to take advantage of under-the-hood improvements in the new version. But Microsoft claims the Vista drivers will work in the vast majority of cases.

If you are running the much older Windows XP, as many folks are, and Windows 7 doesn’t automatically work with your hardware, you may need to obtain a new driver.


Last Resort #2: Trial and error. Back up your system and try all versions of drivers that even remotely work for your hardware (make sure to remove one version before trying out the next). You can also try running the driver installers under compatibility mode to "fool" them (may cause system lock-ups though).

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cjl   05-05-2009 at 11:49:33 AM
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Honestly, I've found that I don't need to install most drivers. The default ones from the install seem to work fine for me.

------------------------------ Asus P6T deluxe
i7 965 @ 4.2GHz (200*21), 1.384V
12GB Corsair Dominator DDR3-1600 CAS 7
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sprucebr1   05-05-2009 at 03:26:40 PM
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I would imagine that drivers/driver CD's that we have from XP/Vista will be fine. I usually don't even worry about USB/PnP stuff, cause windows takes care of it. I imagine Win7 will kick Vista butt. I was not a Vista fan, now I'm using it just fine. I'm gonna keep waiting though, if it does come in October, then it will be interesting.

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halcyon   05-05-2009 at 08:18:45 PM
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Since the RC is now free to all and good until next March there doesn't seem any reason to guess about it, just give it a whirl. The 7000 Beta was quite good so I'd imagine by the time Win 7 hits retail it should be quite sharp. However, Vista is quite sharp in my experience too, but I am running it on contemporary hardware.

https://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience/productkeys/win7-rc-32/enus/

https://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience/productkeys/win7-rc-64/enus/

------------------------------ 17" MacBook Pro: 2.66Ghz, 4GB DDR3-1066, 256GB Corsair P256 SSD
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mihirkula   05-08-2009 at 07:23:34 AM
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I just have one HD with XP in C Drive ... and i'm gonna install Win 7 in D Drive... so does that mean i need to DL the latest Win 7 drivers all over again and install them in D Drive for Win 7?

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ Intel E6750 * Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L * Galaxy 8800GT 512mb 620MHz* Corsair VX450 * 2GB Transcend 667* 2x120GB Seagate SATA * Altec Lansing ATP3*
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halcyon   05-08-2009 at 12:04:30 PM
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mihirkula wrote :

I just have one HD with XP in C Drive ... and i'm gonna install Win 7 in D Drive... so does that mean i need to DL the latest Win 7 drivers all over again and install them in D Drive for Win 7?

 

Well, if you have drivers from the 7000 Beta they'd work, but looking @ the hardware in your signatures suggests that Windows 7 will have the drivers for you built in. However, I'd downloading the latest. You'll like Windows 7 RC, compared to Vista, it really performs well (not that Vista doesn't already) and adds some nifty features.


Message edited by halcyon on 05-08-2009 at 12:05:05 PM
------------------------------ 17" MacBook Pro: 2.66Ghz, 4GB DDR3-1066, 256GB Corsair P256 SSD
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mihirkula   05-08-2009 at 01:24:33 PM
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Hi halcyon i have just added Windows 7 to my D Drive while C drive has XP. :) The drivers have worked very well without any problems :)

 

Windows 7 is a.m.a.z.i.n.g!! What an answer Microsoft has given to its critics! It runs fast and is supersmooth! Even the installation was nice and swift!

 

But i seem to have one problem... I am not able to use MS Word (i have office 11). Whenever i try to open a word file with MS word it says 'the operating system is not presently configured to run this application" :( ... photoshop isn't opening either :( ... would i have to go back to XP everytime i have to use Word and Photoshop??

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by mihirkula on 05-08-2009 at 01:39:54 PM
------------------------------ Intel E6750 * Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L * Galaxy 8800GT 512mb 620MHz* Corsair VX450 * 2GB Transcend 667* 2x120GB Seagate SATA * Altec Lansing ATP3*
 Reply to mihirkula
4ryan6   05-08-2009 at 01:52:18 PM
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Win7 will use Vista drivers, at least it has for me.

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Bronze Win 7 badge Jonmor68   05-09-2009 at 03:53:27 AM
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mihirkula wrote :

Hi halcyon i have just added Windows 7 to my D Drive while C drive has XP. :) The drivers have worked very well without any problems :)

Windows 7 is a.m.a.z.i.n.g!! What an answer Microsoft has given to its critics! It runs fast and is supersmooth! Even the installation was nice and swift!

But i seem to have one problem... I am not able to use MS Word (i have office 11). Whenever i try to open a word file with MS word it says 'the operating system is not presently configured to run this application" :( ... photoshop isn't opening either :( ... would i have to go back to XP everytime i have to use Word and Photoshop??


Have you reinstalled Office on W7? you can't use the one that's installed on XP or any other program from XP. All programs will need reinstalling.
You can reinstall the copy Office on W7 without a problem, it will activate I did it on mine.

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halcyon   05-10-2009 at 05:05:19 AM
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Yes, Windows 7 RC is pretty nice, some nice new features...but to be fair, Vista 64 runs GREAT for me too. Office 11...is that Office 2003? I have Office 2007 and Photoshop 7 (quite the ancient, I know) running in 7 without issue. Have you applied all SP's to your MS Office installation?

------------------------------ 17" MacBook Pro: 2.66Ghz, 4GB DDR3-1066, 256GB Corsair P256 SSD
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