Today I finally obtained Windows 7 32 bit Beta bootable ISO (build 7000). Last night I tried to install the non-bootable bits, but it seems something went wrong when we were downloading them from the internal mirror, so I had to wait for today. Today I grabbed the ISO from a colleague and burned it. I was ready for the evening.
My plan was to install tonight Windows 7 beta 32 bits on my old Toshiba Qosmio F20 notebook. We used this notebook in Denmark, it was Vessi’s primary work machine before she got her MacBook, and it also was my primary gaming machine after that 🙂 . Since the notebook is quite old-fashion, I wanted to see how the process would go.
I decided to go on clean install, wiping out the old (and very crap-full) setup.
The basic install went trouble-free and after 25 minutes I had working machine with Windows 7. On first look, I was missing these drivers:
- Mass Storage Controller (WTF?)
- Audio
- Video
- Network (Wireless). My wired network was correctly recognized and setup
I started looking for drivers. Simple search led me to the page at Drivers Collection, containing Toshiba Qosmio F20 Windows XP drivers.
First, of course, I needed the wireless driver. I had to use USB stick to transfer it (phew, no worries with the drivers for the stick, though). The wireless driver, of course, did not work “directly”. When I ran it, the setup asked for authorization, and after that just ended 🙂 . Hmmm, let’s try the compatibility wizard? The wizard asked me a couple of questions, I told him that it worked before on Windows XP, Next, Next and then it started and completed successfully. The driver, however, did not fire immediately, so I had to restart. After the restart, of course, it did not work as well :).
I saw that there’s another version of this driver, this time for Intel-based wireless adapters. I downloaded it, and retried the procedure. However, this time there was no setup, just selected “Update driver”, pointed to it and then it started doing “stuff” for about 5+ minutes. Then it timed out.
I retried the process. Same thing. After that I noticed there’s an installation file there (IMDinst) and decided to start it. The first run complained that it’s not supported on this operating system. But I was very pushy and selected after that “Use recommended settings”. Then it started and… timed out after the same amount of time as before, but did not show any error. The last resort was rebooting and retrying.
Suddenly, I noticed that… my wireless switch (the hardware one), is set to… OFF! Damn! DAMN! How stupid is that?
Turned on the wireless switch, and retried. The same thing!
Last resort: restart and retry! And nothing.
My next step was to find the “Intel ® PRO/Wireless network driver” on the net. That hit on the Intel site, which ended up to a 188MB (!!) zip file, containing all drivers (or so they claimed). I just had to download the whole thing (impressive 1221KB/sec speed, thanks Megalan!), and then move it with the same USB stick I was using before. Now I had the VISTA version of the driver as well, so I was a bit more hopeful.
This time I decided to restart and run the package on a clean system. Then I tried the standard setup. And it failed. Now I started to get a bit angry, because I was close to my very last resort: manual install.
This huge, 200MB structure, had 4 set of drivers: 32 bit, 64 bit for both Vista and XP. Since I had 32 bit OS, my choice was only for these. I tried with VISTA driver first and I got a failure! Almost desperate, I tried the XP driver and… oh miracle! It worked.
So, in short, if you want to install the Wireless drivers for this Toshiba Quosmio F20:
- Download the drivers from Intel, nothing else.
- Unpack the driver, you have to see a structure like X:\FV 12.2.0.0_Gen_SW_155293\XP\x32. There are the drivers.
- Manually update the driver. In Device Manager, right click the unknown network driver, and manually point to this directory. Otherwise it will chose the wrong driver and it won’t work.
- And, FFS, turn off your wireless adapter before that!
Now, since my wireless card was already working, it was time for the rest.
The first thing you should know after installing a new Windows setup is: Windows Update! Windows Update helps both for fixing critical security glitches and also it installs the latest drivers’ versions, even some which are not included on the distribution image.
However, before running Windows Update, I decided to install AVG Antivirus. This is great antivirus for personal use, since it’s free for home user and it provides excellent protection and features in the free package. The download and installation took me only like 2 minutes. No restart was necessary, so I was ready to continue with Windows Update.
Windows update showed 4 important updates, all of them were drivers, which I needed in order to get all yellow exclamation marks away from my Device Manager:
- TV Tuner Driver
- Video controller driver
- Audio controller driver
- (Optional) LAN controller driver (not the wireless), which was already working but obviously there was update available
All 4 drivers were successfully installed and after the restart I got it all working and in excellent shape.
Windows 7 boots up in about 25 seconds (from right after BIOS until the login prompt). This is pretty quick, but of course the system is not yet loaded with stuff. We’ll see how it will go after a couple of months usage.
Then I saw that I still have one yellow (!) in the Device manager. This was Mass Storage Device, most probably my card reader. I downloaded the CardBus driver from DriversCollection and tried it. It worked like a charm, but again with manual (Update Driver from Device Manager) installation, I even did not try the standard setup.
My conclusion is that Windows 7 Setup was the best Windows setup I’ve ever experienced in years. Yes, it had its challenges, but none of them were unavoidable. And considering this is the most modern Windows operating system on an old hardware, and considering that all hardware at the end is working as it should, I account this as a definitive success.
I’d encourage every one, who is computer geek, to give Windows 7 beta a try. It will be available soon on the main Windows 7 site. I do not remember when was the official release date for it, but it should be really soon.
Happy hacking!
четох, че убива мп3-ойките – м?
#define “убива”?
Не съм пробвал, но специално ще си направя този тест? Какъв е case-a?
#define “убива”
ето този бъг:
http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/sanderberkouwer/archive/2009/01/09/windows-7-update-package-kb961367.aspx
Interesting!
I’ve heard that Microsoft want to make Windows 7 their ‘better’ OS – as quick as WinXP is, and as ‘nicely looking’ as Vista is… orsomething of the sort;-)
Vista was a failure, obviously. Millions of people and businesses run on Windows XP still, or have downgraded from Vista to XP. I like XP. It’s fast and pretty stable. I like how Vista looks but you need plenty of RAM and CPU just to run it… not nice.
I may try Win7 one of these days… I am curious… 🙂
Thanks for the excellent review!
Още малко инфо цитирана от страницата на M$ във връзка със същия проблем:
Instructions and Resources
MP3 files
When MP3 files are added (either manually or automatically) to either the Windows Media Player or the Windows Media Center library, or if the file metadata is edited with Windows Explorer, several seconds of audio data may be permanently removed from the start of the file. This issue occurs when files contain thumbnails or other metadata of significant size before importing or editing them. To avoid this, take the following steps:
To protect your MP3 files
1. Before you install this Beta release, back up all MP3 files that might be accessed by the computer, including those on removable media or network shares.
2. Install the Beta release of Windows 7; then install this update (KB961367).
If you do not want to install the update, you can avoid this issue by setting all MP3 files that might be accessed by the computer to read-only before starting either Windows Media Player or Windows Media Center or before editing MP3 metadata with Windows Explorer. To do this, in Windows Explorer, find the files, right-click them, click the General tab, and then select the Read-only check box. Once you have installed the update, you can safely reset the read/write status of your MP3 files to your preference.
I too have a Qosmio F20 and recently tried to install Windows 7 beta on it.
I got all the drivers installed in device manager, BUT noticed that I could not get the display to turn off properly after a certain amount of idle time.
The screen would go black, but the backlight still stays on. You can notice this if you turn off all the lights in the room.. the screen will still glow, even though it’s black.
I have found that it’s a nvidia driver problem.. upon removing the driver, the display will turn off properly. But with the nvidia driver, it won’t.
I wonder if you have the same problem as me.
How about the on screen brightness control thingy? Does it work in windows 7 for your F20 Qosmio?
A friend of mine brought his F20 to reinstall the OS, I tried vista ultimate X86 and almost everything worked (I find the power saver, configfree, password whatever…ect= garbage so didn’t care much that they’re not avaliable in toshiba’s website) except the darn on screen brightness control!! So, I reverted back to xp mce.
Thank goodness for Google and this blog entry. I’ve just managed to install the SD card drivers for my Satellite M100 under Windows 7, which I’ve been missing since upgrading 3 or 4 weeks ago.
The only missing driver I have is the Biometric Coprocessor (fingerprint reader), but I’ve never used/relied on it and probably still won’t.
Cheers!
I use Windows 7 only in my phone ( this link I have used http://rapid4me.com/?q=Windows+Mobile for this) By the way it is very good OS
Hi guys. I installed windows 7 RC. Im impressed with the performance. My computer now has 2 OS installed, Xp and 7. I love the new themes and actual interface. The only problem I encountered is the way windows groups the opened windows, When you open multiple windows for example IE, It will group the windows and represent it in your taskbar as Icons. I had problems because im used to pressing alt+tab all the time but with the grouped window with icons, Its really hard to find the windows that you already opened when it gets grouped. The grouped taskbar icons is somehow annoying but the good thing is that you can put it to the classic view just like how xp and vista represents the opened windows in the taskbar. You might have difficulties with the drivers as well but im sure the hardware manufacturers should be able to fix this once windows7 is out. It still has the UAC that keeps on asking if you would like to open the program. Overall windows7 is good but I think it will take a few months after the official release date and a service pack update to make it far better than XP.
Performance 9/10
Graphics and theme 10/10
Navigation 6/10 – I know, I need to get used to it
Compatibility 8/10
Hi guys. I installed windows 7 RC. Im impressed with the performance. My computer now has 2 OS installed, Xp and 7. I love the new themes and actual interface. The only problem I encountered is the way windows groups the opened windows, When you open multiple windows for example IE, It will group the windows and represent it in your taskbar as Icons. I had problems because im used to pressing alt+tab all the time but with the grouped window with icons, Its really hard to find the windows that you already opened when it gets grouped. The grouped taskbar icons is somehow annoying but the good thing is that you can put it to the classic view just like how xp and vista represents the opened windows in the taskbar. You might have difficulties with the drivers as well but im sure the hardware manufacturers should be able to fix this once windows7 is out. It still has the UAC that keeps on asking if you would like to open the program. Overall windows7 is good but I think it will take a few months after the official release date and a service pack update to make it far better than XP.
Performance 9/10
Graphics and theme 10/10
Navigation 6/10 – I know, I need to get used to it
Compatibility 8/10
I downloaded the software for your laptop on the site.
Schchen recommend! http://www.queentorrent.com
Does anyone recommand using Windows7 already? I tried to use it 3 months ago, but it was full of trouble still…
Normally it is best to wait untill a new version is on the market, because as long as that isn’t the case there will always be bugs and issues.I wait using Windows7 untill it is stable, I had my experience testing Vista when it was still named Longhorn, it’s nothing but trouble and you can’t install any programs cause software developers don’t have their progs compatible with a new version of Windows.
After kicking myself for “upgrading” to Vista from XP, I have been waiting and hoping that the next upgrade would be everything Microsoft promised Vista would be. This week Microsoft released Windows 7 for pre-order. If you are ready to be an early adopter you can purchase most upgrades for up to 58% off the eventual retail price. I am thinking of buying it now, but waiting a few months after the its released before I actually install it. I am hoping most of the bugs would be worked out by then.
That really Windows 7 are ‘better’ OS – as quick as WinXP is, and as ‘nicely looking’ as Vista?
Thank you
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Same problem of zolo:
“How about the on screen brightness control thingy? Does it work in windows 7 for your F20 Qosmio?
A friend of mine brought his F20 to reinstall the OS, I tried vista ultimate X86 and almost everything worked (I find the power saver, configfree, password whatever…ect= garbage so didn’t care much that they’re not avaliable in toshiba’s website) except the darn on screen brightness control!! So, I reverted back to xp mce.”
Any solution?
Hi there,
I have installed Win7 on a Qosmio F20 but I encounter a problem when the machine goes into sleep mode. Hibernation is fine but entering sleep mode results in the following error. When I attempt to put the system back on, I can hear the HDD working alright but the screen is blank and I see no image, that is, I cannot see the desktop at all. I have to shut down by pressing the blue on/off button and then to restart in order to enter win7. Any suggestions as what might be causing this and how I can put it right? Also none of the top quick buttons seem to work, that is, the brightness arrows and the rest. Thx for your input in advance.
I too have the F20 laptop. I installed windows 7 premium the day it was released. Most drivers were eventually found; but any of the speciality buttons at the top do not work. In addition, the special function keys. This is a problem since I use the laptop connected to a projector. I can not get the projector and screen to work together. Even though the nvidia control panel sees the projector and I have set the multiple screens settings to clone. On one projector I get both going black; and on another projector I get the projector on but the laptop screen black. I also have had a tv guide mapping problems. The channels match my satilite provider, but the programs within the guide are incorrect.
I av Toshiba qosmio F20 i installed windows 7 well n installed the drivers well they are working well but the problem is that there an error that pops out saying windows detected a hard disk problem u can start backing up the process then later replace the hard disk. What do i do to remove this error??
Thanks
I got exactly the same computer as you have and everything worked fine but i dont get any sound in the speakers or through headset. Devicemanager says the sound driver is OK and it can play sounds but nothing comes from the speakers. Ive reinstalled windows 7 but still same problem. 🙁
how are you?
if you donot mind plz send me how to install windows 7 on your laptop in photo because i have the laptop but i cannot enter the boot menu or bios setup at all
thanks alot
safhy555@gmail.com
Have anyone figured out how to fix Fn buttons, and Sleep problem. WinXP still works but it is very unsafe in 2019. Linux can be used, but it has same sleep problems. Have anyone tried Win8.1?