Windows 7 Stinks!

[catilley1092]

At the very least, everyone should have a Driver CD for their computer. I made a post above where they can be obtained. Your computer manufacturer can provide this as well, some may charge for it. It is a important disc to have. They have helped me on a couple of occasions.

 

[darrel]

Hello Veedaz, yes it is a HP presario V5000 CTO Notebook PC

 

[Veedaz]

Well your Windows 7 Home does not have XP mode and HP does not have (7) driver support for your compaq presario V5000 CTO Notebook PC, all you can do I'm sorry to say is try the Vista drivers.

EDIT: what chip set is your MOBO ?

 

[Nibiru2012]

darrel,

Try this that I got from the HP website. Also, in Device Manager, does your sound hardware show a yellow yield sign type icon or anything like that?

What version of Window 7 are you using, 32 bit or 64 bit?

The Microsoft Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) Bus Driver for High Definition Audio has to be installed first before installing any audio drivers.

This one is, I'm sure you've checked it, by the top of the keyboard on the right... is your Volume Mute button turned on or off?

From HP:

No sound from built-in speakers when all external speakers and the headset are disconnected
Before troubleshooting sound problems with external speakers or headsets, confirm that sound is audible from the built-in speakers on the notebook. Disconnect all external speakers and headsets, and Perform a simple sound system test . Troubleshoot the sound problem to identify the root cause by performing the following actions.

• Check the volume and mute settings
• Test the sound devices
• Perform a simple sound system test
• Verify that the sound device is enabled

Once you have verified that the sound works properly, connect the external speakers to check the sound. If there is still no sound or low sound, verify that the speakers are powered speakers. Older style passive speakers are not compatible. Please see Resolving Sound Problems with External Speakers and Headsets for more information.
If these issues do not apply, or if there is still no sound, please see Resolving Sound Problems when Unplugging a USB Device or Receiving An Error Message for more information.
Back to top

Check the volume and mute settings
If sound is not audible, it is possible that the sound control is turned down or set to mute. There are separate sound controls for the hardware devices (speakers / head sets) and the individual applications (Windows sound / QuickPlay / Windows Media Player). For example, if the speaker is turned on, but the application is muted, you will not hear any sound. You should open the sound volume mixer and check the different settings.

NOTE: If the volume for an application, such as Windows Media Player, was adjusted using the volume buttons or slider controls on the notebook case, the system will use that volume setting, even if the master volume control is adjusted to a higher setting.

To check the volume and mute settings, follow the steps below.

1. Double-click the sound icon
   
   in the task bar, and then select Mixer . All of the active sound applications display.
   Figure 1: Volume Mixer
   
   
2. Confirm the volume for the device in question is not set to mute. The icon at the bottom of the volume control displays the universal no symbol when a device is muted. Click the icon to toggle between mute
   
   and sound
   
   .
   
   NOTE: Because each sound device has its own mixer control, click the icon
   
   to enable sound for muted devices.
3. Drag the slider bars to the highest volume settings, and then test the sound again.

The sound should now be restored. Adjust the volume to a comfortable setting. If sound does not restore, please see the Test the sound devices section of this document for more information.

NOTE: If the computer has a feature where you can slide your finger along a graduated strip above the keypad to change the volume, the capacitive touch mute button may become stuck in the muted position and prevent the playback of sound. To resolve this specific issue, download and install the latest BIOS for your particular computer model.

Back to top

Test the sound devices
When the external speakers are disconnected, the sound device named Speakers must be selected as the default and must be enabled .

NOTE: The notebook speakers will not work if Bluetooth Speakers or Digital Output is selected as the default sound device.

If the sound for the notebook speakers was not restored after performing the Checking the volume and mute settings actions, test the sound devices by following the steps below.

1. Double-click the sound icon
   
   in the task bar, and then select Mixer to display controls for all of the sound applications.
2. Click Start , type Sound into the search field, and then select Sound from the list when it becomes available.
   Figure 2: Playback Sound Window and Mixer Showing Multiple Sound Devices
   
   
3. Verify that the Speakers sound device is set as the default device, and is enabled.
   
   NOTE: If the Speakers sound device is not listed, right-click anywhere on the Playback tab of the Sound window, and then select both the Show Disabled Devices and the Show Disconnected Devices options.
4. If the Speakers sound option is Disabled , right-click Speakers , and then select the Enable option.
5. Right-click Speakers and then click Test . Sound should be audible through the notebook's speakers.
6. If sound is not audible, click Configure to verify the operation of the individual speakers.

The sound should now be restored. If the Speakers sound device is still not working properly, please see the Verify that the sound device is enabled in Device Manager section of this document.

Perform a simple sound system test
To perform a simple sound system test, follow the steps below.

1. Double-click the sound icon
   
   in the task bar, and then select Mixer to display controls for all of the sound applications.
2. Click Start , Control Panel , and then select Sound or Hardware and Sound .
3. From the Sounds tab, select any option under Program that has the Sound icon next to it, such as Asterisk, and then click Test . Sound should be audible through the notebook's speakers.

If sound is not audible, please see the Check the volume and mute settings section of this document.

Also your soundchip is a Conexant Audio chip.

 

[Nibiru2012]

The following is from Conexant's website:

PC Audio Support – Windows® 7 Conexant develops audio solutions that are used in a wide range of products including personal computers. We provide customized audio drivers to our customers, which include major computer manufacturers globally. At the request of these manufacturers, Conexant does not provide end-user support or drivers for PC audio products. If you have an issue with the audio configuration in Windows 7, please contact the manufacturer of your computer.

That sucks now doesn't it?

The HP website shows Audio drivers for the Vista 32 bit but not for the Vista 64 bit.

 

[Simon]

I am starting to agree with Gareth to be honest. In fact; I just typed in `Windows 7 sucks`in google, which was what led me to this forum.

After three months on this OS I am certain I will reinstall 98`just as soon as I can relocate my CD:

First of all there aren`t really any windows anymore, so the OS should really be called `Unintuitive Lists 7`. I realize that planned obsolesence is very lucrative when you`ve been handed a monopoly but this borders on false advertising.

Let me give you an example of why this is annoying: Let`s say you are downloading addons for a game or audio files. Instead of opening 2 windows, one containing unzipped files and one containing the extracted contents, a quick and intuitive way of doing things in all previous versions. Instead you are now stuck with the download frame and the horrible, awful, contemtible and hugely annoying main interface `window`, where files must now be copied from one cramped list on the right to an even more cramped one on the left. To add to my enjoyment these lists frequently collapse so I have to fiddle through them over and over again to get to the correct sub-directory. Once for every file so far, I`ve probably missed something `intuitive`though.

To top it off it`s slow and frequently crashes from Firefox forcing restarts. This might be due to other things of course, but in my experience any problems you encounter with a PC has a 75% chance of being caused by Lists, err I mean Windows.

On a positive note I really like the toolbar mouse-overs, but no way near enough to keep using 7 a day longer than necessary.

 

[TorrentG]

First of all there aren`t really any windows anymore

???

Of course there are.

 

[TorrentG]

This might be due to other things of course, but in my experience any problems you encounter with a PC has a 75% chance of being caused by Lists, err I mean Windows.

No, not even 1 single error at all. Windows doesn't cause any errors whatsoever.

 

[clifford_cooley]

Hi Simon - Welcome to w7forums

Let me give you an example of why this is annoying: Let`s say you are downloading addons for a game or audio files. Instead of opening 2 windows, one containing unzipped files and one containing the extracted contents, a quick and intuitive way of doing things in all previous versions. Instead you are now stuck with the download frame and the horrible, awful, contemtible and hugely annoying main interface `window`, where files must now be copied from one cramped list on the right to an even more cramped one on the left. To add to my enjoyment these lists frequently collapse so I have to fiddle through them over and over again to get to the correct sub-directory. Once for every file so far, I`ve probably missed something `intuitive`though.

This is one reason why I never used Explorer from the day it was developed.

To top it off it`s slow and frequently crashes from Firefox forcing restarts. This might be due to other things of course, but in my experience any problems you encounter with a PC has a 75% chance of being caused by Lists, err I mean Windows.

Perhaps you have an addon that is causing problems. You could try disabling all addons and then enable them one at a time over a period of time. This may lead to finding one that is causing issues.

 

[TrainableMan]

98 is not longer supported at all so if that's where you go, best of luck. For those going from XP a major change to Vista & now 7 is that Windows now has it's own Boot Manager. Something to be aware of if taking the leap.

I personally like W7 now, but it also took me a while and there are still things from XP I feel Microsoft should never have removed. I would suggest anyone buying new hardware should go with W7, preferably 64-bit unless they have a very good reason not too.

I would tell anyone working in XP with no issues to wait until they upgrade their hardware; you may notice a few bells and whistles but more likely you will also feel some growing pains.

 

[Digerati]

I didn't like the layout, how it worked, I couldn't find Windows Explorer files, I could only pin certain things to the taskbar, and on, and on.

So in other words, it is something new you are not used to and apparently did not take the time to learn it. Sounds like me when I was forced to switch from PeachText to WordStar, then again to Word - or when I got a new cell phone.

Out of curiosity, did you run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor before attempting to upgrade. And did you consider that XP was designed over 10 years ago when security was not a big issue because most home computers were not networked? Or that XP was designed to support software and hardware from the DOS era, 20 years ago?

Did you notice that DOS 5 took up a lot more space than DOS 3. DOS 6.22 was bigger yet? Then we thought Windows 3.0 was huge, until 95 came along. Same with 98, and then again XP. Is it really surprising Windows 7 takes up more space?

I will also remind folks that one of the main reasons Microsoft weighed legacy support over security with XP was because the huge user base (most corporate) did not want to retool again as they had to with Win95 from DOS. MS listened to them, then had to endure bashings from everyone for the next 10 years for XPs lack of security. So now, MS takes security seriously, and they get bashed for not supporting legacy hardware.

The security advantages alone make abandoning XP for Windows 7 well worth it. BUT, Windows 7 was designed to support today's hardware, not hardware designed to support a 10 year old OS.

 

[TrainableMan]

And did you consider that XP was designed over 10 years ago

XP, this new poster is talking about going back to unsupported 98 :lol: If 98 works for you, so be it. If you don't learn now you can wait and learn when you buy new equipment.

Did you notice that DOS 5 took up a lot more space than DOS 3. DOS 6.22 was bigger yet? Then we thought Windows 3.0 was huge, until 95 came along. Same with 98, and then again XP. Is it really surprising Windows 7 takes up more space?

RAM is now as much as 16 times larger on a single stick and compared to a 100mb hd you can get 20 times that in the same space so it's not surprising applications and OSes have grown as well.

As the famous historian Bob Dylan once said,

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

 

[Digerati]

Windows 98 is even less secure than XP, therefore it is even more imperative to abandon previous versions of Windows, including Windows 98. If you are still using Windows 98, you should not be connecting to a network that has Internet access. Period. Win98/SE/Me only support early versions of IE6 and Firefox 2. Most of today's anti-malware solutions require XP or greater. You cannot secure a Win95/98/Me machine against today's security threats regardless how conscientious a user you are. Yes, there are programs like KernelEX that allow some XP programs to run on 98, but they do so with limited functionality and do not protect all exposed vulnerabilities.

There's nothing wrong with keeping legacy hardware alive - I still have my Commodore 64 and I take some pride in that. But you still have to be responsible about it. Remember, infected machines very often are NOT a threat to the users of that machine. Rather, compromised machines are often turned into zombie machines by badguys, integrated into their bot armies and used in spam, DDoS, or malware attacks against the rest of us - all the while, the user is unaware his or her machine has been compromised.

Just because an old computer still works does not mean it is adequate for today's computing environment. Today's computers must also provide the necessary security to protect from threats from the Internet. Legacy hardware running legacy operating systems can't do it. So if you want to keep your legacy hardware and you want to connect it the Internet, you MUST keep it secure. If you can't keep it secure (and you can't with Win98), don't connect to a network that has Internet access or you expose the rest of us to threats, and that is just not being a responsible Internet user.

If you just want to hang on to that legacy hardware, or the budget just does not allow for new hardware, then at the very least, move to one of the free Linux alternatives. You can still take pride in keeping ol' Betsy chugging along, and relatively safe, for now. But note Linux is not 100% safe either, and will become a bigger target for badguys as it's popularity grows too.

 

[davehc]

"Huh? No I'm not!"

He is talking about Simon, Digerati.

 

[Digerati]

He quoted me so my mistake and apologies to TrainableMan. I have edited my above post accordingly. Thanks davehc. I think I will now go back to bed!

 

[TrainableMan]

Yes I was referring to Simon who dug up this old post. I don't think going back to 98 is a good solution and I would be amazed if Simon was serious. But people will do what is good for them until they are forced to change, either by their own desire or because an outside force compels them too (such as their old hardware failing).

 

[catilley1092]

I suppose it won't be long before my Win 2K install causes a stink. It ships with IE5, you have to manually find a "ie6 setup" link, install IE6, then you can begin to update. But it doesn't stop there. You also have to manually find "SP4 for end users express pack", its a small download (500KB), from there you can install SP4, and Windows Update will finish the rest. At least to where support ends, then you're (or I'm) on your own.

But, there's still AV's that still works with 2K, and they're plentiful, so does MBAM, as well as the latest versions of Firefox (3.6.11 & 4.0 Beta 6) and it runs fine on just 10GB of drive space. So as long as it's supported by recent browsers and security apps, and my ISP, which has it's own firewall, it's good to go.

And BTW, a great OS to view porn on. Never once have I been infected on this install, and it gets full scans with Avira & MBAM weekly. Mabye the bad guys don't care about the Windows versions that has less than 1% market share. I'll run it until it dies.

Cat

 

[TrainableMan]

I don't know how you do it but I'm sure some here know how you can take your Win2K and IE6 and the service pack and roll them into an installation routine. This procedure, called Slipstreaming, would normally be done for deployment in an organization to multiple machines but might be handy if you reinstall that a lot.

http://www.petri.co.il/windows_2000_sp_slipstreaming.htm

Another site recommended using the freeware tool nLite to create your installation DVD

 

[Nibiru2012]

And BTW, a great OS to view porn on. Never once have I been infected on this install, and it gets full scans with Avira & MBAM weekly. Mabye the bad guys don't care about the Windows versions that has less than 1% market share. I'll run it until it dies.

Gawd! You are incorrigible to say the least! LOL! Shame on you... bad boy, bad boy; whatcha gonna do when they come for you; bad boy bad boy.

Your wife must have the patience and perseverance of Job! (the biblical one not Steve)

Internet pornography is the new crack cocaine, leading to addiction, misogyny, pedophilia, boob jobs and erectile dysfunction, according to clinicians and researchers testifying before a Senate committee Thursday.

Boob Jobs? I thought that was Steve Jobs... LOL!



Read More http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2004/11/65772#ixzz13WuoHzkA​

 

[catilley1092]

I don't know how you do it but I'm sure some here know how you can take your Win2K and IE6 and the service pack and roll them into an installation routine. This procedure, called Slipstreaming, would normally be done for deployment in an organization to multiple machines but might be handy if you reinstall that a lot.

http://www.petri.co.il/windows_2000_sp_slipstreaming.htm

Another site recommended using the freeware tool nLite to create your installation DVD

What I'd really like to be able to do with that program is to put the SATA drivers in that's necessary for XP to start up & install on a SATA hard drive. It seems to be a good program.

Cat