Windows 7 on Vostro 1000

Does anybody have Windows 7 running on the Vostro 1000.?
If yes, what are your experiences?
Did everything work after install ?
Do I need to install the 32 bits or the 64 bits on the Vostro 1000

 

I'm running Windows 7 on my Vostro 1000 in a virtual box. It runs flawlessly, but without optimized video.

 

I'm presently playing with the RC version of Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on my Vostro 1000 with 1.5 GB of ram. So far, it has not been a great experience, which I believe has more to do with the seeming limited driver support than the operating system itself. Unlike the Ubuntu install I did last year, this has been a much tougher install. So, here are the details of my limited experience so far:

1. After popping in a new drive, ran the install from DVD, which took a really long time (in comparison to XP). After the install was complete, Windows 7 managed to find and install the majority of the hardware. There were two exceptions: the video drivers showed up as 'generic' and a 'base system device' showed up under 'Other Devices'.

2. To get the video driver installed (for the onboard ATI IGP 1150 express) I ended up installing Catalyst 8.12, which is pretty old but apparently still has support for this old chipset. Downloaded the drivers from http://downloads.guru3d.com/Videocards---ATI-Catalyst-Windows-Vista_c31.html When installing the drivers, I did a custom install of Catalyst, and made sure to only select the drivers. I skipped the north bridge option.

3. I screwed up the install of the video drivers the first time (which prevented me from being able to boot) and since I didn't have a backup or restore point, ended up reinstalling Windows again. I would recommend making restore points frequently.

4. From what I've read online, the unknown device is the SD card reader built into the laptop. However, I popped in an SD card and had no problem reading it, so it's still unknown. I'll have to take screen shots of the device manager window and do a comparison between Windows 7 and XP soon.

5. Internet Explorer has been reporting error after error (both 32 and 64 bit versions that come installed). So I ended up installing Minefield (64 bit Firefox), which has been trouble free so far.

6. Suspect that the video drivers that I installed are probably not the best version to be using, since I often see bright pink or cyan background colors appear briefly when some windows take a second to load.

7. Getting connected to my router was fairly easy, though.

8. I normally disable the touchpad when a mouse is connected, (which is pretty much 99% of the time), but since I couldn't install the Dell software to disable the pad, it's getting really annoying with the accidental brushing o the pad as I write.


Haven't loaded much software, since I normally try to resolve base issues on an OS before going any further. But so far, it's been a bit of a disappointment when an OS does not fully support hardware that's basically less than 5 years old, and from a major hardware vendor such as Dell. Just as disappointing is the lack of 64 bit drivers/software from Dell's support site. The Vostro may have been 'designed for Windows XP', but it is running off a AMD 64 Athlon X2 CPU. If you do end up installing Windows 7 RC, I would recommend installing the 32 bit version, so that at least you might be able to get away with installing software designed for Vista.

Bottom line, I'm probably going to have to buy a replacement for this laptop if I want to run Windows 7 effectively in the future (which I do), but the good thing is, someone in my family will be inheriting a perfectly good laptop running Windows XP.

 

Hi All!!

I just got the RTM and it runs great on my Vostro 1000.

I got the same driver issues but I resolved them pretty quickly.

Here are my solutions.

1) "Base Device" detected in Other Devices is indeed Ricoh MMC Reader. I got the following drivers and they fixed that problem. http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=ob-58981-1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&os=2093&product=3672499
Windows 7 then adds Ricoh MMC under "Disk Drives" and Windows Update even finds an updated driver which you might want to install (or not)

2) For ATI Xpress1150 I have found out that these drivers work. 8.12, 9.1 and 9.2. They can be found on the AMD website easily.

3) The only thing that's left for me now is to find out if "Fusion for Gaming" workswith Windows 7. I'm using "Game Booster" right now and it does work but it's not as good as AMD's tool IMHO as AMD tools does not just close/restart services but also offers some hardware tweaks.

EDIT: I'm using Windows 7 Ultimate x64 FYI.

UPDATE:I just installed FIFA 09 and found out that the picture is not stretched to full screen while im using 800x600 res on ATI version 9.2 drivers. Im not sure if its the drivers or smth else. I’m testing it further and will let you know. For now just stick to 8.12. I’ll comment here after testing is done

UPDATE 2:I have fnished testing various setups and it is the drivers that was preventing the image in lower resolutions to be strech to full screen. It is therefore my conclusion that drivers 9.1 and 9.2 work fine on higher or full resolutions but at less resolutions they do not stretch the picture to full screen. Hence, if you are gamer stick you 8.12 under Windows 7 for X1150.

 

I am surprised that Win7 64-bit works at all on the notebook,
as Dell did not offer Vista 64-bit for this item, here in Germany, in late 2007, just WinXP and Vista 32-bit.

I have another problem:
I once installed Win7-32bit RC successfully, then I installed W2k, for a special test, after that I am still able to install Vista-32bit.

But when I try to install Win7-32bit RC again, "it does not complete the configuration" (modal window at the end of the installation). After clicking on the modal window, the notebook reboots and tries to continue this step again and again, but does not finish. Any suggestions ?

Again Formatting the harddisk with W2k did not help.

Sincerely
Rolf

 

My experience has been amazing... it's like this machine was made for Windows 7, even though I purchased it two years ago!

The ONLY thing I have to install separately is the ATI drivers...nothing else except my choice of software. I've used both the ATI 8-8 and 8-12 releases with perfect results. I did have some problems with the 9.x releases but I also had the same ATI 9.x problems in Windows XP Pro.

Windows 7 installs drivers for everything else. Everything works... SD media bay, sound, LAN, Wireless.

Also, be aware that there are two versions of the Vostro 1000. I believe I have the original version. My left, down, and right arrow keys are lower than the rest of the bottom row. I've seen another version of the Vostro 1000 with a keyboard which has all of the bottom row keys even at the bottom. I mention this because I have 4GB installed and working perfectly even though the specs state a max of 2GB RAM. In 64-bit, I have all 4GB available. In 32-bit (any windows version), I have 2.6GB available.

My machine works perfectly with either Windows 7 32-bit or Windows 7 64-bit. I've been using Windows 7 RC since it became available. Not a single problem.


Very happy with my Vostro 1000 and with Windows 7

-Tom

 

Hi guys,

I'm new to this forum so I apologize before hand if anything is out of the norm. I own a Vostro 1000 myself and just installed windows 7 on it. I seem to be having some problems and I was hoping to get some help/info. I'm not very computer savvy so bear with me.

Everything is running fine, except for my screen. Here's what I mean: Everything looks stretched, as if it's being pulled from both sides. I have tried changing the resolution, but it only gives me two options. One at 1024x768 (currently being used) and another at 800x600, which makes everything look giant AND still stretched. It also allows me to use only one of the screen saver options, which is the one listen under "photos". I get a message reading "The screen saver can't run because it requires a newer video card or one that's compatible with Direct 3D." Some of the games like solitaire and free cell don't work either and won't open.

I could really care less about the games or screen savers, my main problem is staring at a stretched internet page or whatever program I have open. Is it my video card tat needs to be changed, or am I missing something obvious? I would appreciate any feed back or help, thank you.

-Vic

 

A bit late here, but I'm looking at some thing for my 1000, you need to install the catalyst SW mentioned above to get the native LCD resolution.


To all other vostro 1000 owners running win 7, I have no issues with x64 right now, but want to know what you have listed for ide/ata/atapi controllers.

Win & installed standard dual channel pci ide controllers, but I want to know what specific driver might be available for possible ACHI, the drive is SATA.

Can anyone assist?

My specific model is a PP23LB.

PC wizard shows the board as a Dell 0WY383, chipset as an ATI RS482.

Drivers for the ATI video are already in.

Thanks!