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. 
Several users have reported that various USB devices (including digital cameras, hard drives, the PlayStation Portable [PSP] and others) are not recognized by Windows 7. In some cases, devices show a “Please Wait” message, but never interact properly with the computer. In other cases, hard drives appear as empty when they actually contain data, or other functionality is missing.
There are a number of potential fixes for this issue:
Switch USB ports A surprisingly effective fix is to simply switch the USB port to which your device is attached. For instance, if your computer has both front and back USB ports, try switching from the front to the back or vice versa. Otherwise, just connect the device to a different port from the one to which it is currently attached.
Disconnect and reconnect Although this fix is almost too obvious to mention, many users overlook it. Simply disconnect the USB device for a few seconds, then reconnect it, ensuring a secure, snug fit.
Uninstall third-party USB programs Go to the Control Panel and select “Add/Remove Programs.” Remove all third-party device drivers in the device manager, then restart your computer. Try reconnecting the problematic devices and check for resolution of the issue. If you need to re-add any third-party drivers, you can obtain them from the manufacturers’ websites.
Update drivers Make sure you have the latest drivers for each device. These can usually be obtained from the manufacturer website. As mentioned in the previous fix, you may want to try deleting all currently installed drivers before installing the fresh, new versions.
Delete the INFCACHE If you are running Windows Vista, you may want to try deleting the INFCACHE.1 file, which stores device-to-driver association information. To do this, open a Windows Explorer window and type c:\windows\inf then press return, and locate the file “INFCACHE.1,” then follow these steps:
- Right-click on INFCACHE.1 and select “Properties”
- Click on the “Security” tab, then click “Edit.”
- Click “Add,” then type the name you would like to give to the user group.
- Set the new group to “Full Control” then click OK.
- You can now delete the file INFCACHE.1
You should now restart your computer and check for proper operation of the device. You may need to re-download the device(s) driver from the manufacturer website.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Oct 16th, 2009. 2 Comments.
Several users are experiencing an issue in which Windows 7 will not install, delivering the error message
“Load Driver A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing. If you have a driver floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive, please insert it now. Note: If the Windows installation media is in the CD/DVD drive, you can safely remove it for this step.”
This problem generally occurs right after pressing the “Install Now” button.
Fixes
Change BIOS boot order The most successful fix for this issue is to set the optical (DVD) drive as the first boot device in the BIOS. To do this, first enter BIOS mode as follows:
Enter your system’s BIOS mode. This is accomplished by pressing a specific key repeatedly as soon as your computer is turned on (or right after it is restarted). For many computers, the key is F8, but it may be F1, F2, F10, the Delete (del) key or the Escape (ESC) key. Consult your computer or motherboard’s manual or try different keys until you find the right one.
Find the screen or option for changing the boot order. Follow the instructions for changing the boot order. This is sometimes accomplished by using the + or – buttons.
Update ITE ATA driver Failing the above, try booting back into Windows Vista or XP. Launch Windows Update and install the ITE ATA driver update before attempting the upgrade. The upgrade advisor may not find this driver.
Switch from SATA to AHCI Follow the aforementioned instructions for booting into your computer’s BIOS, then check your HDD or storage settings. Turn off SATA, switching to AHCI, and reboot normally, then re-attempt installation of Windows 7.
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For other installation problem fixes, see our previous post “The 7 Biggest Windows 7 RC1 Problems (and Fixes)”
Filed under Windows 7 by on Aug 27th, 2009. 27 Comments.
Windows 7 may freeze or hang when the user attempts to copy files across the network. “hetmankp,” a poster to the Microsoft TechNet discussion boards, writes:
“When I attempt to copy large files onto a shared network directory the entire user interface freezes. No response to the mouse or keyboard. Waiting several minutes (i.e. long enough for the copy to finish) does not restore functionality. The only option being a hard reset. The remote network share is running on a Linux box using a Samba server. There is presently no anti-virus installed locally.”
Fixes
Install a new driver The problem may be especially prominent with the Atheros L1 Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T Controller used on Asus p5k motherboards. This driver (FTP Link), intended for Windows Vista, has been reported to solve this issue under Windows 7 in a variety of cases.
If you aren’t using an Atheros card, check the website of your network card’s manufacturer for updated drivers–even those for Windows Vista, which may work properly under Windows 7.
Use alternate drivers Try seeking out alternative drivers from manufacturers’ Web sites — both the manufacturer of your computer, and the manufacturers of specific devices.
Also, note that the presence of antivirus software scanning can block proper installation of drivers that are necessary for device function. Try turning off any antivirus or anti-malware/spyware software temporarily while you install or update device drivers, then turn it back on.
You may also want to try installing your device drivers in admin mode. To do this, right-click the driver installation .exe file (e.g. setup.exe) then select “Run as Admin.” Proceed with installation.
Many Windows Vista-compatible drivers offered on device manufacturer websites work well with Windows 7. Check for any Vista drivers and install them on your Windows 7 system. This procedure is especially useful for users who were running Windows XP or another version of Windows other than Vista before installing Windows 7.
Use a new network card Unfortunately, if the aforementioned fix does not work, you may need to use a different network card (NIC). The Dynex DX-PCIGB, available for roughly $30 from Best Buy, has been reported to work well under Windows 7.
Disable non-essential system services Follow these steps:
- Click the Start button and type MSCONFIG then press enter
- Go to the startup tab
- Uncheck any third-party and nonessential startup items. Click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, then click Disable All, and then click OK. Apply the changes and press OK, then restart the system if it does not happen automatically.
- If the problem not occur, go back to MSCONFIG and start re-enabling items in groups. Enable a few items, then restart and check to see if the problem. If it does disable some of those items then restart again. Keep enabling items until you find the culprit, then leave that service turned off permanently or uninstall it.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Aug 24th, 2009. 12 Comments.
Several users have reported an issue in which Windows 7 Internet (network) connections die or drop out randomly during routine use. This can cause Web browsers to suddenly stop loading pages; network drives to disappear; and other network-enabled applications to lose functionality. The problem may be especially prominent with the Atheros L1 Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T Controller used on Asus p5k motherboards. There are two potential fixes for this issue:
Fixes
Install a new driver This driver (FTP Link), intended for Windows Vista, has been reported to solve this issue under Windows 7 in a variety of cases.
Use a new network card Unfortunately, if the aforementioned fix does not work, you may need to use a different network card (NIC). The Dynex DX-PCIGB, available for roughly $30 from Best Buy, has been reported to work well under Windows 7.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Aug 19th, 2009. 3 Comments.
If you are experiencing slow Windows 7 shutdowns, there is an easy way to identify the potential culprit (an antivirus program, driver, or other process).
Navigate to: Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Performance Information and Tools > Advanced Tools. In some cases, this screen will display the problem files.
Failing that, open the “View Performance Details” option in the Event Log (Event Viewer). As described by BurrWalnut of the WindowsBBS forums, events in the 100 series are boot events and items in the 200 series are shutdown events. You will see an indicator of performance-slowing problems here.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Jun 9th, 2009. 4 Comments.
Some Windows 7 users are experiencing issues in which drivers suggested by Windows Update break functionality with certain devices.
One user, for instance, applied a new driver update–suggested by Windows Update–for his ATI Mobility HD 3650 graphics card, installed in a Lenovo W500. After applying the update, his screen went blank, displaying only the cursor. The system could only be accessed by disabling the graphics card. The fix, in his case, was to apply the alternative drivers for the ATI card, available directly from Lenovo’s site.
So, if you have a problem with a driver included with Windows 7, or installed through the automatic update mechanism, try seeking out alternative drivers from manufacturers’ Web sites — both the manufacturer of your computer, and the manufacturers of specific devices.
Also, note that the presence of antivirus software scanning can block proper installation of drivers that are necessary for device function. Try turning off any antivirus or anti-malware/spyware software temporarily while you install or update device drivers, then turn it back on.
You may also want to try installing your device drivers in admin mode. To do this, right-click the driver installation .exe file (e.g. setup.exe) then select “Run as Admin.” Proceed with installation.
Many Windows Vista-compatible drivers offered on device manufacturer websites work well with Windows 7. Check for any Vista drivers and install them on your Windows 7 system. This procedure is especially useful for users who were running Windows XP or another version of Windows other than Vista before installing Windows 7.
Feedback? info@windowsfixup.com
Filed under Windows 7 by on Jun 9th, 2009. Comment.
Windows 7 may exhibit a variety of issues when waking from sleep. One of the more recently reported issues involves the disappearance of mounted internal or external hard disks when the system is put to sleep (hibernation)–usually hybrid sleep–then woken up.
This issue will likely be resolved by a future update to Windows 7 or new Windows 7-compatible disk driver updates. In the meantime, there are two potential workarounds:
Disable hybrid sleep First, you can simply disable hybrid sleep by going to Power > Advanced > Sleep and turning off “Allow hybrid sleep.”
Turn off SATA Enter your system’s BIOS mode. This is accomplished by pressing a specific key repeatedly as soon as your computer is turned on (or right after it is restarted). For many computers, the key is F8, but it may be F1, F2, F10, the Delete (del) key or the Escape (ESC) key. Consult your computer or motherboard’s manual or try different keys until you find the right one.
Next check your HDD or storage settings. Turn off SATA and reboot normally.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Jun 8th, 2009. Comment.
Windows 7 Build 7021 is the latest build of the new OS, due in final form on October 22nd, to leak to file sharing networks. Users report that the new release provides yet another significant speed boost, along with the following enhancements:
- Smaller installer
- Better automatic driver installation (if you had third-party device issues with previous releases, this one may solve some issues)
- Better graphic performance (perhaps due to new drivers). Several users report a boosted WEI (Windows Experience Index) for various graphics cards and better frame rates in various games.
- Internet TV Beta 2.0 has been added to Windows Media Center
Filed under News, Windows 7 by on Jun 4th, 2009. Comment.
Several users have reported a problem in which Windows 7 RC1 systems either cannot connect to wireless networks or display the message low connectivity or no connection when attempted to the network. In some cases, using Windows 7′s built-in “fix” routine can resolve the issue, albeit temporarily.
Fix
Updating to the latest set of Broadcom wireless drivers, for systems that use Broadcom chipsets, resolves this issue for most users. In particular, users have had success with driver version 5.10.79.7, available here.
You may also want to run Windows Update to check for the latest drivers for wireless hardware from other manufacturers.
Filed under Windows 7 by on May 21st, 2009. 5 Comments.