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[Solved] Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - [Solved] Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

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Best answer from hallowed_dragon.

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BlueCat57   10-22-2009 at 03:36:40 PM

I ran the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor on my system. The following results seem contradictory:

Windows Aero - Not capable

NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420 - Compatible

Is Upgrade Advisor telling me that my graphics card is Compatible with Windows 7 but that I cannot run Windows Aero?

After doing some research I found that the graphics card has DirectX 8.1.

The graphics requirements for Windows 7 are: DirectX 9 graphics device with Windows Display Driver Model 1.0 or higher driver

OK. I should have checked the NVIDIA Web site for driver updates before posting this. I thought my drivers were up-to-date but they aren't. There is a driver update with DirectX 9 for my card.

If the moderator thinks this post might be useful to others that see this apparent contradiction in the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor report then leave it up. If not, feel free to delete it.

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Best answer from hallowed_dragon

BlueCat57 wrote :

I installed the new drivers and ran Update Advisor again with the same results. I use a CRT TV for that system's display so I can't read much of the fine print when I do installations and diagnostics. I'm going to move the system so I can use a better display and check to see which version of DirectX is now installed. I'll post an update when I do.



Windows Aero will run on a system which has at least 3.0 in Windows Experience Index.

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BlueCat57   10-22-2009 at 04:23:44 PM

I installed the new drivers and ran Update Advisor again with the same results. I use a CRT TV for that system's display so I can't read much of the fine print when I do installations and diagnostics. I'm going to move the system so I can use a better display and check to see which version of DirectX is now installed. I'll post an update when I do.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to BlueCat57
hallowed_dragon   10-22-2009 at 04:31:01 PM
Best answer

BlueCat57 wrote :

I installed the new drivers and ran Update Advisor again with the same results. I use a CRT TV for that system's display so I can't read much of the fine print when I do installations and diagnostics. I'm going to move the system so I can use a better display and check to see which version of DirectX is now installed. I'll post an update when I do.



Windows Aero will run on a system which has at least 3.0 in Windows Experience Index.

Message quoted 1 times
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 Reply to hallowed_dragon
BlueCat57   10-22-2009 at 05:02:46 PM

hallowed_dragon wrote :

Windows Aero will run on a system which has at least 3.0 in Windows Experience Index.



I found out that I do have DirectX 9.0c installed on the system. I thought it might be an issue with WDDM but couldn't determine which version I have.

Since the system in question is running Windows XP I'm not sure how to find the Windows Experience Index.

The Update Advisor message for Windows Aero says: Your current graphics adapter won't support the Windows Aero user interface. ...

This implies that the adapter won't support Aero but your comment implies that Aero is dependent on the WEI as well as the graphics card.

Since my graphics card supports DirectX 9 it may support Aero in another system with the proper WEI.

While it is not relavant to this particular discussion what I am planning to do is rearrange some of my existing hardware to upgrade several of my home systems from XP to Win 7. I have one system that I am scavanging parts from and this display card in in that system. I may just swap the card over to the intended system and see what happens.

Thanks for the reply.

Reply to BlueCat57
BlueCat57   10-22-2009 at 05:10:13 PM

Just checked the Upgrade Advisor for the other system. The graphics chip is compatible but the system is "Not capable" of Windows Aero. Again, the system is running Windows XP do I need to find out how to determine the WEI for a system running Windows XP.

I originally thought I needed to put a graphics card in that system, but apparently I don't.

Reply to BlueCat57
BlueCat57   10-23-2009 at 12:44:41 AM

Ah the simple solutions. Just as in Vista there is no need to use the Aero theme in Windows 7. Simply disable it and no more concerns about whether or not your system is capable of running Aero. Why doesn't Upgrade Advisor simply say something like that?


Message edited by BlueCat57 on 10-23-2009 at 12:45:16 AM
Reply to BlueCat57
rodney_ws   10-23-2009 at 01:01:41 AM

If you're running a NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420 in your rig, odds are it's a pretty old rig... that said... there's no way in the world paying full price for Windows 7 makes sense for you. If you're scoring a $30 student edition, that's one thing... but if you're paying $100+ for a OEM/retail copy... well, I think I'd take a pass and save my money until I was ready to build a proper rig.

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