Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Serenity on December 19, 2014, 02:18:32 PM
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I'm throwing in the towel. I can either keep windows 8 and have a $200 paperweight for a joystick, or I can downgrade to Win 7. But the big question is, I'm not very technical, so what would I have to do for that download? Would I have to figure out what all of the different hardware I have is and redownload Win7 drivers for it all?
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You are looking at a complete OS installation, from scratch. You will need the OS, and all the drivers for the hardware of your computer (motherboard, sound, network (might come with the OS), video card...).
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If you have Win8 Pro you should be allowed to [b=http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/downgrade_rights.aspx]downgrade[/b] it to the previous version. Most likely you have the basic edition, though.
Getting a Windows 7 license is getting hard since Microsoft don't sell it anymore. You may find it at some store with a little bit of luck. Another way is to find someone who has bought a three computers license for Windows7 upgrade, only using it for one or two. I suppose reusing the code and sticker from an abandoned Windows7 computer would be against the M$ EULA, although the idea of using one oem license on one machine would be fulfilled in that case, too. Anyway, a legal and functional license code for Win7 is what you need. Don't use a pirated or hacked one, they tend to get unsupported. Get a real one.
Getting an installation media for a valid license is no problem, even borrowing or copying one should be totally legal. At least at one point Microsoft even suggested using a copy of the original CD to avoid it getting damaged.
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You are looking at a complete OS installation, from scratch. You will need the OS, and all the drivers for the hardware of your computer (motherboard, sound, network (might come with the OS), video card...).
So a real pain in the rear? Should I try to download these drivers before downgrading the OS? Or can I install the OS, and then just go to the website for each individual product and download those drivers?
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Bizman, you can still buy Windows 7 OEM versions. Not hard to find at all. Newegg has them.
Install the OS first, then install all the drivers. The OS comes with some basic drivers which will allow it to get up and running. You might want to be sure you have Ethernet card drivers handy, as those will allow you to get your Internet up and running so you can grab the rest.
After all the drivers are installed, then do the updates from Microsoft. DO NOT GRAB ANY DRIVERS FROM MICROSOFT UPDATER!!!!
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Bizman, you can still buy Windows 7 OEM versions. Not hard to find at all. Newegg has them.
Install the OS first, then install all the drivers. The OS comes with some basic drivers which will allow it to get up and running. You might want to be sure you have Ethernet card drivers handy, as those will allow you to get your Internet up and running so you can grab the rest.
After all the drivers are installed, then do the updates from Microsoft. DO NOT GRAB ANY DRIVERS FROM MICROSOFT UPDATER!!!!
Awesome, thanks Skuzzy! So I should grab the ethernet drivers before the downgrade and throw them on a flash drive? But will I be able to use my USB ports without the motherboard drivers? (Sorry, I'm kind of an idiot when it comes to these things...)
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yes, USB support is built in to win7
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Serenity, please ensure you read and follow the bolded bit in Skuzzy's reply - MS updates to drivers cause all sorts of problems that are a pig to resolve.
MS Updates for windows - heck yes, always keep your system up to date.
MS Updates for drivers - heck no!!!Eleventy1
Wurz
Edit because I'm a half wit and missed some bits out.
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What problems are you having with Win 8? Have you upgraded to Win 8.1?
My Win 8.1 laptop is really no different than any other Windows version I've ever run. I'm afraid you're going to go through all that effort to recreate the same issues in Win 7. Better off solving the problem in Win 8 if possible.
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What problems are you having with Win 8? Have you upgraded to Win 8.1?
My Win 8.1 laptop is really no different than any other Windows version I've ever run. I'm afraid you're going to go through all that effort to recreate the same issues in Win 7. Better off solving the problem in Win 8 if possible.
My problem with 8 is a known issue with Saitek sticks and drivers used on Win 8 systems with USB 3.0 ports.
I've spent hours and hours on the phone with saitek tech support only to be told that they know it's a problem, they're not doing anything about it though. The stick works fine on my Win7 laptop, so rather than have a $200 paperweight, I'm making the OS change. And yes, it's 8.1.
As for the drivers, thanks for the explanation wurzel. I called cyberpower PC (They built the desktop) and told them what I was doing, and they compiled all the drivers for me for the new OS.
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My problem with 8 is a known issue with Saitek sticks and drivers used on Win 8 systems with USB 3.0 ports.
I've spent hours and hours on the phone with saitek tech support only to be told that they know it's a problem, they're not doing anything about it though. The stick works fine on my Win7 laptop, so rather than have a $200 paperweight, I'm making the OS change. And yes, it's 8.1.
As for the drivers, thanks for the explanation wurzel. I called cyberpower PC (They built the desktop) and told them what I was doing, and they compiled all the drivers for me for the new OS.
Your motherboard almost guaranteed has also USB2 ports, why don't you use them if the problem is USB3?
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Bizman, you can still buy Windows 7 OEM versions. Not hard to find at all. Newegg has them.
Good to know. As I said, it's getting hard since Microsoft won't deliver new licenses. Or have I understood something wrong: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2378732/windows-7-oem-licence-availability-reaches-zero-day (http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2378732/windows-7-oem-licence-availability-reaches-zero-day)?
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I bought an OEM Win 7 at newegg back in August. I had to get a magnifying glass to read the key. WTH were they thinking?
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Your motherboard almost guaranteed has also USB2 ports, why don't you use them if the problem is USB3?
I've tried those too. The problem isn't the port, but the combination of windows 8 not playing well with the ports, and Saitek not bothering to release proper drivers.
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I bought an OEM Win 7 at newegg back in August. I had to get a magnifying glass to read the key. WTH were they thinking?
It's not them, it's us getting old. I've been using a magnifying glass for a long time for M$ license codes, lately assisted with a pair of reading glasses. The font they're using over the patterned background makes certain characters look similar in my eyes. B and 8 are the worst in my eyes.