Upgrading from Vista to Windows 7

NP13TH

Member
Hi

I'm hoping someone can advise me on upgrading from Vista to Windows 7.

I have a Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Li 1818 laptop, which i bought in 2007. It's in good working order and i like the 17 inch screen. I am running Vista 64 bit.

I checked the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and everything is ok, except for one crucial element - that being my Network Adapter.

This is a Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC. Basically it says the driver needs updating, which i've tried to do, but it still won't let me connect wirelessly to the internet. I can however connect using an ethernet cable. Basically my laptop is near enough to the Sky Hub Router to use a cable.

When i go into the Fujitsu download site, it doesn't give any options for Windows 7. Only XP and Vista.

Before i go and buy an OEM Windows 7 licence, i want to be 100% sure that i can do the following: -

  • Will i still be able to install Windows 7 even though there is not a Windows 7 network adapter?
  • I'm hoping i can, because at present i am connecting to the internet just fine with an ethernet cable as my network adapter just won't work.
  • I have no problem connecting using ethernet, as long as Windows 7 installs and works.

Many thanks.

NP13th.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Fufitsu Siemens Amilo Li 1818
    CPU
    Intel (R) Core (TM) 2 CPU T5300
    Memory
    2GB
Are you planning on doing a clean install that generates a Windows.old folder?

I'm asking because I did that both with Windows 7 32 bit and 64 bit. The 32 bit went fine. My 64 bit Vista SP1 Home Premium I got flaky behavior. It was bad enough I restored the image of Vista x64 and just kept using it.

Of course this may not happen on your machine. But it may be worth making a backup image of your current system to an external drive. Then download a Windows 7 ISO install disc. You can install for evaluation with no product ID. This should tell you if your WiFi will work when you upgrade.

If everything works out you can activate the new OS. If not you can restore the image to get things back to normal.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
Hi

Thanks for the reply. From what you`re saying I probably will do a clean install and create a backup. I`m not sure what u mean by an ISO image though.

Are you saying I can install Windows 7 as an ISO image from the installation disc before a proper installation?

Thanks.

NP13TH
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Fufitsu Siemens Amilo Li 1818
    CPU
    Intel (R) Core (TM) 2 CPU T5300
    Memory
    2GB
You can download ISO images of Windows 7 that are not pirate. Searching Windows 7 Help Forums whould provide links(my WiFi is too slow right now to search them out.)

You can burn the ISO to disc or use a program like Rufus to create a bootable install on a USB key and install from there. When it asks for the product key just leave it blank. After install it will say something about evaluation in the bottom right corner of the desktop until it is activated.

This way you know for sure everything works before you buy it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
Many thanks again. I`ll try the ISO option.

NP13TH
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Fufitsu Siemens Amilo Li 1818
    CPU
    Intel (R) Core (TM) 2 CPU T5300
    Memory
    2GB
b0221.gif
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
If the network adaptor is a problem, get a WiFi dongle.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Q6600
    Memory
    4GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Hard Drives
    2x250GB HDDs
    1x60GB OCZ SSD
    6 external disks 60 to 640GBs
    Other Info
    Also 1xHP desktop, 1xHP laptop, 1xGateway laptop
Hi..

I might have to try that if all other options don't work.

At present I`m looking at updating the network drivers using the Fujitsu downloads, but the upgrade doesn't seem to download properly. I keep getting the blue screen saying there has been an error, so I have to boot up in safe mode and roll the driver back.

The earlier replies from Miles is also my next option. I`m going to back up Vista, download a Windows 7 ISO image and see how that works before buying an OEM version. They are only about £70 so not too bad. Just trying to find the safest place to buy one from.

I have got other options too. I saw on a BT Store site that they sell refurbished laptops for around £140. But not sure if that is worth doing.

Then I`ll just keep the Vista laptop and connect using Ethernet cable.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Fufitsu Siemens Amilo Li 1818
    CPU
    Intel (R) Core (TM) 2 CPU T5300
    Memory
    2GB
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Win 10 Pro x64 x 2
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware ALX x58
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-975 Extreme O/C to 4.02 GHz, 8MB Cache
    Motherboard
    Asus® P6T Deluxe V2 X58 LGA1366
    Memory
    24GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz - 6 x 4096MB
    Graphics Card(s)
    1792 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 295 Dual Core
    Sound Card
    Onboard Soundmax® High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung XL2370 HD LED backlit 23" W/S 2ms response time
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    2 x 500gb SATA II
    1 x 1TB SATA II
    1 external eSATA LaCie 3TB
    (Non-RAID)
    PSU
    Alienware® 1200 Watt Multi-GPU
    Case
    Unique
    Cooling
    4 case fans @ CPU water cooling.
    Internet Speed
    1gb/s up and down
You're welcome and I just noticed I misspelled Tutorial, duly corrected.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Win 10 Pro x64 x 2
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware ALX x58
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-975 Extreme O/C to 4.02 GHz, 8MB Cache
    Motherboard
    Asus® P6T Deluxe V2 X58 LGA1366
    Memory
    24GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz - 6 x 4096MB
    Graphics Card(s)
    1792 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 295 Dual Core
    Sound Card
    Onboard Soundmax® High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung XL2370 HD LED backlit 23" W/S 2ms response time
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    2 x 500gb SATA II
    1 x 1TB SATA II
    1 external eSATA LaCie 3TB
    (Non-RAID)
    PSU
    Alienware® 1200 Watt Multi-GPU
    Case
    Unique
    Cooling
    4 case fans @ CPU water cooling.
    Internet Speed
    1gb/s up and down
Windows has had good native support for eithernet drivers since at least XP. Are you driver issues with wireless? If the Vista drivers won't install try running the executable with vista compatibility. I've never tried that with a driver but it might work. If not you'll need to get a new adapter.

Upgrade installs have been the source of many troubles in the past. I would vote for a clean install - even with an upgrade disc.

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version - Windows 7 Help Forums

My 7 license is an upgrade and I've had activation issues with a clean install. I've also had their activation techs refuse to help and the hacks I read about didn't work for me.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 8.1 Industry Pro x64
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion Elite HPE-250f
    CPU
    Intel i7 860 Quad core 2.8 ghz
    Memory
    8 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5770 1 gb ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Alienware 25 AW2521HF
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 &1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.cnet.com/products/hp-pavilion-elite-hpe-250f/
  • Operating System
    Windows 2012 R2 Data center/Linux Mint
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Poweredge T140
    CPU
    i3 9100 3.6GHz, 8M cache, 4C/4T
    Memory
    8GB 2666MT/s DDR4 ECC UDIMM
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB & 360 GB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/productdetailstxn/poweredge-t140?~ck=bt
Yes the issues are with wireless only. I can connect with an Ethernet.

The odd thing is, the wireless connectivity driver problems only started when I changed my internet provider. It worked fine with a BT HUB Router. The problem is with the new router on Sky, which I understand is a problem with Vista.

I`ve also never downloaded a driver before so I hope I am choosing the right ones, as it brings up different versions for I believe, 32 and 64 bit laptops.

I was tempted to use a download driver site but I don't know which one is safe and trustworthy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Fufitsu Siemens Amilo Li 1818
    CPU
    Intel (R) Core (TM) 2 CPU T5300
    Memory
    2GB
My 7 license is an upgr
ade and I've had activation issues with a clean install. I've also had their activation techs refuse to help and the hacks I read about didn't work for me.
The tutorial in the link has worked for many people. My guess is you have made a mistake somewhere along the line.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Q6600
    Memory
    4GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Hard Drives
    2x250GB HDDs
    1x60GB OCZ SSD
    6 external disks 60 to 640GBs
    Other Info
    Also 1xHP desktop, 1xHP laptop, 1xGateway laptop

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 8.1 Industry Pro x64
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion Elite HPE-250f
    CPU
    Intel i7 860 Quad core 2.8 ghz
    Memory
    8 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5770 1 gb ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Alienware 25 AW2521HF
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 &1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.cnet.com/products/hp-pavilion-elite-hpe-250f/
  • Operating System
    Windows 2012 R2 Data center/Linux Mint
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Poweredge T140
    CPU
    i3 9100 3.6GHz, 8M cache, 4C/4T
    Memory
    8GB 2666MT/s DDR4 ECC UDIMM
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB & 360 GB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/productdetailstxn/poweredge-t140?~ck=bt
Think you're right - this all started with a change to the ISP so i'm gonna give them a call to find out why their routers are causing problems and others do not.

Thanks again to all...

NP13th

P.S. I also had a look at some reliable uk stores and didn't realise they still sell new Windows 7 laptops! Also at a price better than Windows 8/8.1. I thought they were refurbs but they're actually new. They have Windows 7 Professional, which is fine by me as i need to use it for work too. Some are Windows 8.1 pro with downgrade rights, which i'm guessing aint a problem.

I'm seriously tempted!!

:D
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Fufitsu Siemens Amilo Li 1818
    CPU
    Intel (R) Core (TM) 2 CPU T5300
    Memory
    2GB
I believe that 7 pro is the only version manufacturers can put on anymore, other than 8.1.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 8.1 Industry Pro x64
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion Elite HPE-250f
    CPU
    Intel i7 860 Quad core 2.8 ghz
    Memory
    8 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5770 1 gb ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Alienware 25 AW2521HF
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 &1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.cnet.com/products/hp-pavilion-elite-hpe-250f/
  • Operating System
    Windows 2012 R2 Data center/Linux Mint
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Poweredge T140
    CPU
    i3 9100 3.6GHz, 8M cache, 4C/4T
    Memory
    8GB 2666MT/s DDR4 ECC UDIMM
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB & 360 GB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/productdetailstxn/poweredge-t140?~ck=bt
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