Gateway T series owners (T1616 T-1616 T1620 T-1620) going to Windows 7

To those thinking about jumping to Windows 7..

Go for it.

It's a smooth transition.

I have a Gateway T-1620. excuse the subject, I just formatted it that way for easy search for potential curious owners.

I did a clean install.

Windows 7 starts with no unknown devices. However just a generic graphics drivers for our obsolete hardly supported X1270 Ati graphics.

Unfortunately the latest Catalyst drivers available does not support our graphics chipset.

The latest drivers are here:

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownlo...spx?type=2.4.1&product=2.4.1.3.7&lang=English

It works fine in Windows 7. Havn't noticed any compatibility issues or warnings.

A big issue that might arise for people is the sound.

Windows 7 is installed with drivers already for our sound card, BUT you will not have any advanced features. Most importantly the SPDIF output option.

We have sigmatel IDT sound. You can try here to build a working INF to install the latest drivers:

http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/144-idtsigmatel-support/

The last posted drivers on Gateway's website for our T series works fine in Windows 7. You will get all functionality back.

The HDMI audio driver is installed by the Legacy ATI drivers package you downloaded above. However, if you want the latest and Win7 compatible for sure, you can download it at realtek.

 

How long ago did you do this?

I have the same laptop as you and I'm thinking of moving to Windows 7 as well.

Now that you've at least had it for a few days, how is the speed?

As far as drivers, should I just go ahead and go the Gateway website and download the other drivers for the T1620 or should I just let Windows 7 do it for me?

I look forward to doing this within the next week or so.

Let me know what you think!!

Also, you mention something about HDMI output. I NEED that! It DOES work, right??

 

Speak of the devil, I just put 7 on a T-1625, and as he said it does go smooth. BUT and this is a big BUT, I had to find drivers for the GPU. The laptop I axed tonight came with Vista 32bit and the EXACT same driver from gateway for vista works just fine.

Be careful about just going to the GPU manufacture's website for your drivers in a notebook. Many times, notebook producers have either extra code or drivers added so that their drivers work only.

Just a heads up.

 

How long ago did I do this?

The date that I made the thread.

I'm using the laptop as we speak. Everything is great. Speed is well. Windows 7 does "feel" faster. The OS itself just feels better overall.

As I mentioned, its the Graphics that is no longer supported by the new Catalyst drivers.

But the "latest" drivers were dated 11/20/09 IIRC, and for Vista. Its working well with 7 without any problems from what I see.

If you don't need the advanced features of the sound, then you can stick to the Windows 7 drivers it installs from the get go.

Again it just mainly is the GPU.

Oh, and if you want the hotkeys to work, its only just registry entires. You can get it on the Gateway site.