Some users have reported an issue in which Windows 7 reports an incorrect processor architecture. For instance, the system may identify itself has an AMD-based chipset when an Intel chipset is actually present.
This can cause problems with drivers–if the system installs drivers for the wrong architecture–in addition to other issues.
Fix
This problem can sometimes be fixed by going to your motherboard manufacturer’s website and downloading the latest Windows Vista driver then installing it. If you have problems installing this driver (or any other), try installing it in safe mode via these steps:
- Right click the driver installation .exe
- Under “Compatibility” choose “Run this program in compatibility mode….” then choose Windows Vista SP2
- Choose “Run this program as an administrator” under the “Privilege Level”
- Click Apply then OK
Filed under Windows 7 by on Feb 10th, 2010. Comment. 
Generally speaking, upgrading from a pre-release edition of Windows 7 (e.g. RC 7100) requires a clean install of the system, meaning that you will need to manually reload some files from a backup or other source, and will lose various system settings.
Fortunately, there is a way to bypass this requirement, although you may not want to for compatibility and stability purposes.
The process, as described on this MSDN blog, is as follows:
- Insert the final-release Windows 7 CD when you purchase it in October
- Copy the whole image to a storage location you wish to run the upgrade from (a bootable flash drive or a directory on any partition on the machine running the pre-release build).
Browse to the sources directory. - Open the file cversion.ini in a text editor like Notepad.
- Modify the MinClient build number to a value lower than the down-level build. For example, change 7100 to 7000 (pictured below).
- Save the file in place with the same name.
- Run setup like you would normally from this modified copy of the image and the version check will be bypassed.
The “How-To Geek” has further instructions along with screenshots.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Aug 27th, 2009. Comment.
Windows 7 is available in two flavors: 32-bit and 64-bit. The differences between these two editions boil down to one primary subject: memory. 64-bit systems can address more than 4GB of RAM, while 32-bit systems are generally limited to using roughly 3.2GB of RAM. In other words, if your system can run Windows 7 64-bit, you probably should do so.
The easiest way to check whether or not your computer is 64-bit capable is to download the tool SecurAble and run it. The program will instantly tell you the “maximum bit length” of your processor. If it’s 64, you can run Windows 7 64-bit. If it’s 32, you can only run Windows 7 32-bit.
Note that the only significant drawback to Windows 7 64-bit is that some hardware drivers may not be compatible with the architecture. Make sure you check the manufacturer websites for third-party peripherals, graphics cards and other components of your system to ensure 64-bit compatibility or download new 64-bit compatible editions.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Jun 25th, 2009. 2 Comments.
Several users have reported an issue in which Netflix online streaming does not work properly in Internet Explorer 8 under various versions of Windows, or under Windows 7 in various browsers (including Internet Explorer 8). In some cases streaming works, but screensavers are not automatically disabled, the stream incorrectly uses low bandwidth, or other functionality is missing. In other cases, streaming does not work at all.
Fixes
Try compatibility mode In the IE 8 toolbar, click on the small icon that looks like a page broken in half, next to the refresh button (pictured below). This invokes “Compatibility View,” which can fix the Netflix issue.
Source: Microsoft
If the issue persists and you would like to downgrade to Internet Explorer 7, follow the instructions in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
Use the beta Netflix player The Netflix beta player, which is based on Silverlight, works better under Windows 7 for a number of users.
Filed under Internet Explorer 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on May 21st, 2009. 1 Comment.
Microsoft has released the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, which scans your PC to see if it’s ready for Windows 7, and tells you about any known compatibility issues.
The tool’s documentation states its “report will let you know if your PC meets the system requirements, if there are any known compatibility issues with your programs and devices, and will also provide guidance on your upgrade options to Windows 7.”
Upgrade Advisor can run under Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP Service Pack 2. It is available for download from Microsoft’s download center.
Filed under News, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on May 8th, 2009. Comment.
Windows 7 RC1 breaks compatibility with some antivirus/anti-malware programs that were compatible with previous pre-release builds of the operating system. Users are reporting problems with:
- avast! Home Edition
- AVG Anti-Virus Free
- Symantec AV Corporate Edition
Some developers are already working on Windows 7 RC1-compatible updates to their antivirus programs. A post in the AVG forums, for instance, states “This is a known issue, and it is planning to be fixed in one of the future updates of AVG 8.”
Note, however, that some antivirus program error messages do not necessarily indicate that your system is unprotected. If, for example, you receive an error message indicating that that antivirus program is still on but is not properly reporting its status to Windows (as displayed below), you may still be protected.
In the meantime, we have compiled a list of antivirus applications that appear to be compatible with Windows 7 RC1.
Feedback? info@windowsfixup.com.
Filed under Viruses/Malware, Windows 7 by on May 5th, 2009. 3 Comments.
Windows 7 will sport enhanced security measures that should partially eliminate the need for some anti-spyware and antivirus software, but users are still encouraged to run at least one protection mechanism. Users testing pre-release builds of Windows 7 have found that some current antivirus packages are incompatible or cause problems with the new OS, while others function flawlessly in their current iterations.
Here’s a preliminary compatibility index based on early reports:
- Kaspersky Anti-Virus beta for Windows 7 Compatible; however, may cause problems with pages loading slowly in Internet Explorer 8
- ESET NOD32 Antivirus Compatible; however, may cause performance issues
- Sunbelt Software Vipre Compatible; no major problems reported
Anything to add to the list? Let us know.
Filed under Internet Explorer 8, Windows 7 by on Mar 26th, 2009. 1 Comment.