[Ryukai]

When I upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 will I need to download a fresh set of drivers for my hardware? If so how can I find out which ones I'll need as the Acer site (I'm on a Aspire 7720G laptop) lists lots of drivers for the same kind of device. Also as I'll be doing a clean install I will lose all the Acer tools, but will I be able to get eAudio management back? It's the only one I use as the default speaker settings suck and I don't know how to change it permanently. If I can't get it can anyone recommend a program that does the same job as it? (change the way the speaker works for like movies, rock, classical etc).

[joeten]

Hi first you can check out hardware and software via here http://www.microsoft.com/windows/com...s/default.aspx next you can check if your pc is ready for win7 here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...1-2497c146af15 and you can find all your hardware details using this everest ultimate http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http:/...tw1yOnPlV8_gEA
since this would be a clean install you would lose all preinstalled apps you may be able to find a copy of your acer apps on there site and they may well work as they worked in vista

[flavallee]

Ryukai:

Go into the Device Manager and advise what's listed in these headings:

Display Adapters

Network Adapters

Sound Video And Game Controllers

Make sure to spell them correctly.

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Doing a hard drive format and fresh install of Windows 7 instead of doing an upgrade from Windows Vista will get rid of all that pre-installed Acer crap that came with your computer. You really don't need any of it.

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The Acer Aspire 7720G has at least 3 models:

7720G-5A2G16MI

7720G-302G32HI

7720G-603G50HN

Which one is yours?

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[Ryukai]

Originally Posted by joeten

Hi first you can check out hardware and software via here http://www.microsoft.com/windows/com...s/default.aspx next you can check if your pc is ready for win7 here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...1-2497c146af15 and you can find all your hardware details using this everest ultimate http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http:/...tw1yOnPlV8_gEA
since this would be a clean install you would lose all preinstalled apps you may be able to find a copy of your acer apps on there site and they may well work as they worked in vista

Okay I'm looking into all that now. Quick query, I'm buying the upgrade version as its cheap for students and I wondered if I'd be able to merge the partitions on my hard drive during the installation. Also does the upgrade overwrite the Vista installation or install along side it?

[Ryukai]

@ Flavallee

Display Adapters: NVIDIA Geforce 8400M GS
Network Adapters: Broadcom Netlink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet, Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
Sound,Video and Game Controllers: Realtek High Definition Audio



Is it possible to do a clean install with the upgrade version as that is the one I get cheap as a student...?

[TerryNet]

Check out this thread. Post # 8 gives the official way to do a clean install with the upgrade DVD. I understand that if you do it that way a copy of your Vista will be made in old.windows, and you can update drivers from there if necessary.

See if Acer has eAudio management for download. Or maybe with your PC you got a CD with utilities?

[Ryukai]

Originally Posted by TerryNet

Check out this thread. Post # 8 gives the official way to do a clean install with the upgrade DVD. I understand that if you do it that way a copy of your Vista will be made in old.windows, and you can update drivers from there if necessary.

See if Acer has eAudio management for download. Or maybe with your PC you got a CD with utilities?

So its basically only an issue having the upgrade version if I ever need/want to format and reinstall...I can't? Also what exactly does the copy of Vista in old.windows do? How would it help me update the drivers?

And unfortunately I didn't get a CD, but using eRecovery I can actually back up my drivers and utilities, though I did read that eAudio management doesn't work on W7 I'll sort something unless anyone knows a program that does its job.

Another question though, 32-bit or 64-bit? Don't actually know the difference so could someone help?

[TerryNet]

Towards the end of the second page of http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33384301..._and_gadgets// is the answer to "How would it help me update the drivers?".

[flavallee]

Windows 7 drivers:

NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS

http://www.nvidia.com/object/noteboo...6.81_whql.html

Realtek High Definition Audio

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Realtek_Hi...n_7_d5513.html

Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...=2259&lang=eng (32-bit)

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...18212&lang=eng (64-bit)

Broadcom Netlink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet

http://www.broadcom.com/products/tec...gabit-Ethernet

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[TheOutcaste]

Your Acer should have the ability to create a Recovery CD. Should be in the eRecovery Manager someplace. You'll want to burn that before you install Win7. You'll need that disk if you ever need to do a clean re-install later, as you'll need to re-install Vista to be able to re-install Win7 with the upgrade version.