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    Windows 7 on Inspiron 1420?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by discovery, May 13, 2009.

  1. discovery

    discovery Notebook Guru

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    Hi there !

    Has anyone tried windows 7 on inspiron 1420? how is it running? is there any benefit apart trying something new? a user experience description would give some insight before becoming unnecessarily brave ... :D

    cheers
     
    discovery, May 13, 2009
    #1
  2. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    Windows 7 performs better than Vista on my Studio 1535. Give it a try, you've got nothing to lose.
     
    Mastershroom, May 13, 2009
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  3. JohnByeBye

    JohnByeBye Notebook Evangelist

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    Windows 7 is awesome. I haven't installed it on my inspiron 1420 but I did install on my desktop and a relative's inspiron 1520. Keep in mind that the beta version will expire in August and you cannot currently download it from the Microsoft website.

    EDIT: Scratch that, they have since released a "Release Candidate" that expires in June of 2010.

    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx
     
    JohnByeBye, May 13, 2009
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  4. toolbox123

    toolbox123 Newbie

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    The release candidate version will expire in June 2010 but it will give out warning by shutting the computer down after 2 hr of operation starting Mar 2010.
     
    toolbox123, May 13, 2009
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  5. BlackHawk7

    BlackHawk7 Notebook Evangelist

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    So does this mean that Win7 can release anytime in between that timeframe, or does the final retail version HAVE TO come out once the RC is expired fully?
     
    BlackHawk7, May 13, 2009
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  6. JohnByeBye

    JohnByeBye Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm guessing the former. In order to stop the computer from shutting down after 2 hours you will have to purchase a non-expired key, I.E. purchase windows 7.
     
    JohnByeBye, May 13, 2009
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  7. kkl1014

    kkl1014 Notebook Consultant

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    Running it on mine and it is great. The only problem I've had so far is with HP printer drivers.
     
    kkl1014, May 13, 2009
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  8. JohnByeBye

    JohnByeBye Notebook Evangelist

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    Are you using the 32-bit or 64-bit version? I downloaded the 64-bit version but I don't want to install it until classes are over for the quarter. I am also dreading finding Inspiron 1420 64-bit drivers. Ugh.
     
    JohnByeBye, May 13, 2009
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  9. kkl1014

    kkl1014 Notebook Consultant

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    I'm using the 64-bit version. Most of the drivers available on the Dell support site are compatible with 64-bit. Windows Update is very efficient and effective with searching for the appropriate drivers on its own however. Doing a clean install, everything worked right out of the box with the exception of touchpad drivers. Wireless and wire connection drivers worked immediately and it downloaded the video drivers and others automatically.

    If you need 64-bit touchpad drivers, you can use the ALPS drivers for the Studio series laptops. I'm using those and have had no problems with scrolling, etc.
     
    kkl1014, May 13, 2009
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  10. JohnByeBye

    JohnByeBye Notebook Evangelist

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    Cool thanks! :)

    I also found this thread for drivers for future reference:

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=162981
     
    JohnByeBye, May 13, 2009
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  11. discovery

    discovery Notebook Guru

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    so, is there any issue with the battery duration or speed? Should we keep vista in this laptop or we can jump to win 7 right now?

    my laptop is for work and i use just office, photoshop and firefox. can i use win 7 as my main os in this laptop? i don't like vista at all....
     
    discovery, May 14, 2009
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  12. kkl1014

    kkl1014 Notebook Consultant

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    You should be able to just jump right into Windows 7. Battery duration is a little better than in Vista. However, if you're using your laptop for work, you should consider that HP is generally bad with their printer drivers and their Windows Vista drivers aren't compatible with the RC of Windows 7.
     
    kkl1014, May 14, 2009
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  13. discovery

    discovery Notebook Guru

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    ok, that is a good news. Thnx kkl1014.

    My main problem is speed. Although I have 3gb memory here, vista is a bit slow on my laptop than my xp on the other system I had (just 2 gb memory). I know that these are two different systems but my laptop has better hardware.

    Is win 7 more responsive and faster than vista on this system, inspiron 1420?

    If not, I can survive with my Vista setup and wait for a Sp2 which might improve something in the future....
     
    discovery, May 15, 2009
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  14. JohnByeBye

    JohnByeBye Notebook Evangelist

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    Windows 7 is at least 2x faster. I am using the 64-bit version and it loads very fast. It also uses less resources.
     
    JohnByeBye, May 15, 2009
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  15. discovery

    discovery Notebook Guru

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    @JohnByeBye

    Thnx man for your feedback. Out of curiosity. May i ask, why did u install the 64-bit version when the 32-bit can use all of your 3gb memory?

    Did you want to install a particular program in it?
     
    discovery, May 15, 2009
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  16. JohnByeBye

    JohnByeBye Notebook Evangelist

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    The main reason I installed the 64-bit version is because of performance. The memory bandwidth is basically doubled because of the 64-bit bus width. Compared to the 32-bit Vista I had installed before, Windows 7 64-bit uses 500MB less RAM.
     
    JohnByeBye, May 15, 2009
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  17. discovery

    discovery Notebook Guru

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    hmm...interesting. do 32 bit programs like office 2007,adobe cs3 make good use of the 3 gb memory on seven rc1?
     
    discovery, May 16, 2009
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  18. JohnByeBye

    JohnByeBye Notebook Evangelist

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    Office 2007 uses very little RAM, maybe 300MB, I have not yet installed CS3 on this computer but I've never been a heavy photo editor so RAM usage was never an issue.
     
    JohnByeBye, May 17, 2009
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  19. discovery

    discovery Notebook Guru

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    thnx man for your feedback. I might very tempted to install win7 on my inspiron 1420 now.
     
    discovery, May 17, 2009
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  20. tissle

    tissle Notebook Enthusiast

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    Running Windows 7 Since the leaked Beta.
    Currently using post RC build 7127.

    Everything works well.
    Windows Update finds most drivers.

    Although, I got updated drivers for some parts.

    Got the latet Richo Driver, nVidia Driver (Latest Dox), and intel chipset drivers.
     
    tissle, May 18, 2009
    #20