- Blind-sysadmins - lists.hodgsonfamily.org

Need imaging options
by Barry Toner 04 Nov '09

04 Nov '09

Folks, I've a laptop here who didn't' like Win 7. No big deal I've an XP Image that I made with Acronis True Image Home 11.0. I can't get narrator to run let alone a screen reader, (even System Access won't install), I suspect because of a display driver. Sounds there and Narrator will run at the log-on screen. So, I ordered a IDE/SATA/USB pack. Thinking no problems, connect to drive to a desktop and re-image on there, then put the drive back in the laptop with XP back on it and all will be good. Failed because the little adaptor I had to connect onto the other end of the IDE controller that I connected to the laptop HD so I could plug the standard 3.5 IDE HD in seems to be broke, because the drives not powering up. Whither data is connected or not. What a jigsaw eh, when you can't see the miserable screen. So, options options please. I can't also remember the name of that adaptor that lets me use the 3.5 IDE HD power source so I can order a replacement one. I think it might have been simpler to have just bought a laptop drive hd enclosure, but this cable pack is going to be handy for other situations. I've a deadline of 15 Nov to get this laptop re-imaged back to XP. Cheers all! Barry. Barry Toner BCS Belfast Branch YPG Representative & Disability Group <http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=nav.10444> http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=nav.10444 Contact me @ Professional: barry.toner(a)bcs.org.uk Personal Email: barry(a)barry-toner.co.uk MSN/Live: djpaddy(a)djpaddy.co.uk TWITTER: dj_paddy Skype: djpaddy Mobile: (UK) +44 (0) 7921 611 253 US (MA) +14132418572

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Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help
by Frank Ventura 20 Oct '09

20 Oct '09

Andrew, thanks. I am going to give this a try soon. I will let the list know how it works. Frank -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org on behalf of Andrew Hodgson Sent: Sat 10/17/2009 5:41 AM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hi, I think that would work, though for some odd reason MS didn't used to support SBS installs in a Vmware environment, but I know a lot of people doing it. Vsphere 4.x does support SBS 2008, not sure about the workstation offering. Thanks. Andrew. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Frank Ventura Sent: 17 October 2009 03:09 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Andrew, could I merely create an empty virtual machine in VMWare (workstation or fusion) and then use the SBS sbsanswerfile.xml on a thumb drive, boot with the ISO SBS image in the virtual CD drive and have it go through a full install completely unattended, or am I missing something important? Frankie -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Hodgson Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:37 AM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hi, Yes you can combine the two files. I have some sight so just RDP the server with magnifier (though the 2008 magnifier is not grate). I will try installing the latest WE (I used the 7.0 version originally). Andrew. Andrew Hodgson Senior Systems Administrator/Projects Engineer Direct Line Tel: 01432 852332 Email: andrew.hodgson(a)allpay.net Please do not print this email unless absolutely necessary. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Shugart Sent: 14 October 2009 00:22 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hi Andrew: Out of curiosity, what version of Window-Eyes were you using with SBS? If you haven't, give 7.11 a try, if you're running into the issue I think you are it should work now. For now, do you just plug speakers into your server and admin it that way? When I did a test install of SBS 2008 in VMWare Workstation VMWare created an autounattend.xml file which got through the Server 2008 install, then I used Narrator to answer the prompts of the SBS specific setup. I've wondered if you could combine a regular autounattend.xml file and the SBS specific file (forget what its called) to complete setup in a fully automated fashion. Some of the info in the first part of setup and the SBS specific part (such as computer name and timezone) would seem to conflict so don't know how that'd be handled in the various unattended files. Ryan -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Hodgson Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 9:31 AM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hi, I am using SBS at home because it is a good way of getting the various components in one box. In SBS there is an unattended install script maker, that allows you to answer all the questions and then if you put the file on the root of a USB drive, it will pick it up and go through the rest of the install, to the point where you log into the console. The only bit you need to do manually is the first stage which is like a Windows 2008 server install. There are issues with Windoweyes and RDP (well there was when I did this originally) on Windows 2008. The install will take a very long time to complete initially. Remember to also move the Exchange DB (and Sharepoint DB if you use it) off the c: drive. On my system I have 100GB to the c: drive and the rest is a data partition. I wouldn't want to give less than 100GB to the SBS partition. Thanks. Andrew. Andrew Hodgson Senior Systems Administrator/Projects Engineer Direct Line Tel: 01432 852332 Email: andrew.hodgson(a)allpay.net Please do not print this email unless absolutely necessary. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Frank Ventura Sent: 13 October 2009 16:05 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hello all, I was wondering if Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 can be installed without any sighted help. I know once it is finished copying files to the3 HD it asks you a series of questions about your company, domain name, date, time and country etc. Can narrator somehow be run to complete these taks? Or is there some means of creating an unattended installation of SBS 2k8? If this is possible, at what point can Narrator be invoked and how so? I really appreciate3 any information. thanks Frank -- allpay achieved PCI DSS and ISO 27001 certification in 2008 Registered in England No. 02933191. UK VAT Reg. No. 666 9148 88. Telephone: 0844 225 5729, Fax: 0844 557 8350. Website: www.allpay.net Email: enquiries(a)allpay.net This email, and any files transmitted with it, is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the allpay Information Security Manager at the number above. _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.14.20/2440 - Release Date: 10/16/09 18:39:00 _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.14.20/2440 - Release Date: 10/16/09 18:39:00

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Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help
by Frank Ventura 19 Oct '09

19 Oct '09

Andrew, could I merely create an empty virtual machine in VMWare (workstation or fusion) and then use the SBS sbsanswerfile.xml on a thumb drive, boot with the ISO SBS image in the virtual CD drive and have it go through a full install completely unattended, or am I missing something important? Frankie -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Hodgson Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:37 AM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hi, Yes you can combine the two files. I have some sight so just RDP the server with magnifier (though the 2008 magnifier is not grate). I will try installing the latest WE (I used the 7.0 version originally). Andrew. Andrew Hodgson Senior Systems Administrator/Projects Engineer Direct Line Tel: 01432 852332 Email: andrew.hodgson(a)allpay.net Please do not print this email unless absolutely necessary. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Shugart Sent: 14 October 2009 00:22 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hi Andrew: Out of curiosity, what version of Window-Eyes were you using with SBS? If you haven't, give 7.11 a try, if you're running into the issue I think you are it should work now. For now, do you just plug speakers into your server and admin it that way? When I did a test install of SBS 2008 in VMWare Workstation VMWare created an autounattend.xml file which got through the Server 2008 install, then I used Narrator to answer the prompts of the SBS specific setup. I've wondered if you could combine a regular autounattend.xml file and the SBS specific file (forget what its called) to complete setup in a fully automated fashion. Some of the info in the first part of setup and the SBS specific part (such as computer name and timezone) would seem to conflict so don't know how that'd be handled in the various unattended files. Ryan -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Hodgson Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 9:31 AM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hi, I am using SBS at home because it is a good way of getting the various components in one box. In SBS there is an unattended install script maker, that allows you to answer all the questions and then if you put the file on the root of a USB drive, it will pick it up and go through the rest of the install, to the point where you log into the console. The only bit you need to do manually is the first stage which is like a Windows 2008 server install. There are issues with Windoweyes and RDP (well there was when I did this originally) on Windows 2008. The install will take a very long time to complete initially. Remember to also move the Exchange DB (and Sharepoint DB if you use it) off the c: drive. On my system I have 100GB to the c: drive and the rest is a data partition. I wouldn't want to give less than 100GB to the SBS partition. Thanks. Andrew. Andrew Hodgson Senior Systems Administrator/Projects Engineer Direct Line Tel: 01432 852332 Email: andrew.hodgson(a)allpay.net Please do not print this email unless absolutely necessary. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Frank Ventura Sent: 13 October 2009 16:05 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hello all, I was wondering if Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 can be installed without any sighted help. I know once it is finished copying files to the3 HD it asks you a series of questions about your company, domain name, date, time and country etc. Can narrator somehow be run to complete these taks? Or is there some means of creating an unattended installation of SBS 2k8? If this is possible, at what point can Narrator be invoked and how so? I really appreciate3 any information. thanks Frank -- allpay achieved PCI DSS and ISO 27001 certification in 2008 Registered in England No. 02933191. UK VAT Reg. No. 666 9148 88. Telephone: 0844 225 5729, Fax: 0844 557 8350. Website: www.allpay.net Email: enquiries(a)allpay.net This email, and any files transmitted with it, is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the allpay Information Security Manager at the number above. _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.14.20/2440 - Release Date: 10/16/09 18:39:00

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Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help
by Frank Ventura 13 Oct '09

13 Oct '09

Hello all, I was wondering if Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 can be installed without any sighted help. I know once it is finished copying files to the3 HD it asks you a series of questions about your company, domain name, date, time and country etc. Can narrator somehow be run to complete these taks? Or is there some means of creating an unattended installation of SBS 2k8? If this is possible, at what point can Narrator be invoked and how so? I really appreciate3 any information. thanks Frank

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two unrelated issues that are driving me crazy!
by David Mehler 09 Oct '09

09 Oct '09

Hello, I'm glad it's Friday, because i'm contemplating getting a drink if i make it through this day. I've got two unrelated issues that are driving me up the wall. One is i need to get it fixed, because i need it to work, the other is this worked before and it's making me pull my hair out now that it isn't! Ok, enough ranting. Here goes. First of all i hate fresh reinstalls even though i know they are necessary, even with backup images it seems as if i take a week or so afterward ironing out bugs. My first one comes in the form of vmware server. In a slight aside i found Vista performance unacceptable on this machine so it went back to xp pro, i need to find 2 more gigs of ddr5700 ram for this machine. Ok, vmware server, install it and reload the virtual machines from backup. They go in to c:\Virtual machines the default place where server looks for them. I log out of the admin account and log on as my user who is in the power user's group and i try to open a virtual machine so i can then start it. Slight problem i get a permissions denied message, with no intdication if it's a device, filesystem, user right, i had this working prveiously, and i can not remember what i did i thought i would have noted it down, apparently i missed that one. My second problem and this is occurring for administrator and my user i can not for the life of me get my view settings to stick. This is going past iritating and getting in to downright annoying given the fact that i go in to some folders and they're in icon view, others are in list views. Here's what i did i can't figure where i missed a step. I went in to my computer though not in to any drive, went to view, toolbars and unchecked address bar. I then went back to view twice more, the first to go through the explorer bars options and ensure they were all off they were, i like running with a clean screen, and the second was to take that folder from icon view where it was, to list view. I then went to tools, folder options, ensured folders were set to classic and ton the view tab turned off the hide extensions for known filetypes option. I then hit apply and ok, settings looked good so i went back in to tools, folder options view tab and applied those settings to all folders, ok-d all the way out and closed the my computer window. I then went back in, first folder the my computer window worked fine, went to the c: drive, it was back to icon view, i do not understand why these settings are not taking. If i could figure out where in group policy these settings are or create a template i'd force them by doing it that way, but that seems like using a steam roller to kill a problem. I am open to suggestions. Thanks. Dave.

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ANSWER: "Windows 7 + PCI Simple Communications Controller +Compaq 6910P"
by George Bell 02 Oct '09

02 Oct '09

My problem has been solved! And if there's any danger that you might end up installing Windows 7 on a Compaq laptop (maybe even other makes, for all I know) then I suggest you file this message in a very safe place. I make no apologies for forwarding the entire reply I received from the Intel Business Communities Forum. The answer staggered me, as I had already attempted to install this, but not in the way described here. No sir - I RTFM'd first! My mistake there! George. -----Original Message----- From: David Hollway [mailto:webadmin@intel.com] Sent: 02 October 2009 14:52 To: George Bell Subject: [Business PC Section] New message: "Windows 7 + PCI Simple Communications Controller +Compaq 6910P" George Bell, A new message was posted in the thread "Windows 7 + PCI Simple Communications Controller +Compaq 6910P": http://communities.intel.com/message/69305#69305 Author : David Hollway Profile : http://communities.intel.com/people/david.hollway Message: -------------------------------------------------------------- +> I apparently require drivers for the PCI Simple Communications Controller.+ Hi George, As this laptop uses the Intel GM965/PM965 chipset, the unknown "PCI Simple Communications Controller" device is likely to be the Management Engine Interface. This is a component of the chipset that controls environmental monitoring (fan speeds, voltages, etc). On machines with Intel vPro technology, it also runs the Active Management Technology firmware to provide out-of-band management capabilities. You can verify whether this is in fact the case by checking the PCI Vendor/Device codes - double-click the entry in the Device Manager, click the "Details" tab, and from the "Property" drop-down select "Hardware Ids". The entries in the "Value" field will give you the vendor and device codes. If you see something like "PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A04..." then the vendor code is 8086 (i.e, Intel) and the device code is 2A04 (i.e, the Management Engine interface). That said, a driver should be readily available for this device. I presume that the HP driver you refer to is the one found at this link? http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.j sp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=3357377&prodNameId=335 7378&swEnvOID=2096&swLang=13&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=ob-58326-1 It links to this particular file: ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp38001-38500/sp38313.exe This is the Vista x86/x64 driver for the MEI device. *Update -* since I started to compose this response, I have managed to obtain a Compaq/HP 6910p notebook and I've just installed Windows 7 Ultimate on it. Yes, it seems that the "PCI Simple Communications Controller" is the MEI, as I thought. I have used the 32-bit x86 build of Windows 7 - if you are using x64 then the outcome might be different. I ran the SP38313.exe file and it does, indeed, give an error "this operating system is not supported". But! ..this is caused by a check in the Setup utility, which doesn't recognise Windows 7. *However,*++ the EXE file, when run, unpacks its contents to C:\SWSETUP\SP38313. Under that folder are the actual driver files that you need - in the \HECI subfolder, in the case of 32-bit Windows (the .sys file is the driver; the .cat and .inf are the descriptor INF and security signature). The following sequence allows installation of the driver: * go to Device Manager, double-click on the "PCI Simple Communications Controller" entry * in the device properties dialog, click on "Update Driver" * select "Browse my computer for driver software" * when prompted, enter the path to which the SP38313.EXE driver files have been unpacked - typically, C:\SWSETUP\SP38313\HECI. * click Next. In my case (I've tested it and written down what I did, step-by-step), this resulted in the message "Windows has successfully updated your driver software", and a new "Intel(R) Management Engine Interface" entry in the System Devices category of the Device Manager. As I said above, I haven't tested with the x64 version of Windows 7, but a similar principle should apply - just use C:\SWSETUP\SP38313\x64 as a path rather than \HECI. Let me know whether this helps. Good luck! -------------------------------------------------------------- To reply to this message visit the message page: http://communities.intel.com/message/69305#69305

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ANSWER: "Windows 7 + PCI Simple Communications Controller +Compaq 6910P"
by George Bell 02 Oct '09

02 Oct '09

My problem has been solved! And if there's any danger that you might end up installing Windows 7 on a Compaq laptop (maybe even other makes, for all I know) then I suggest you file this message in a very safe place. I make no apologies for forwarding the entire reply I received from the Intel Business Communities Forum. The answer staggered me, as I had already attempted to install this, but not in the way described here. No sir - I RTFM'd first! My mistake there! George. -----Original Message----- From: David Hollway [mailto:webadmin@intel.com] Sent: 02 October 2009 14:52 To: George Bell Subject: [Business PC Section] New message: "Windows 7 + PCI Simple Communications Controller +Compaq 6910P" George Bell, A new message was posted in the thread "Windows 7 + PCI Simple Communications Controller +Compaq 6910P": http://communities.intel.com/message/69305#69305 Author : David Hollway Profile : http://communities.intel.com/people/david.hollway Message: -------------------------------------------------------------- +> I apparently require drivers for the PCI Simple Communications Controller.+ Hi George, As this laptop uses the Intel GM965/PM965 chipset, the unknown "PCI Simple Communications Controller" device is likely to be the Management Engine Interface. This is a component of the chipset that controls environmental monitoring (fan speeds, voltages, etc). On machines with Intel vPro technology, it also runs the Active Management Technology firmware to provide out-of-band management capabilities. You can verify whether this is in fact the case by checking the PCI Vendor/Device codes - double-click the entry in the Device Manager, click the "Details" tab, and from the "Property" drop-down select "Hardware Ids". The entries in the "Value" field will give you the vendor and device codes. If you see something like "PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A04..." then the vendor code is 8086 (i.e, Intel) and the device code is 2A04 (i.e, the Management Engine interface). That said, a driver should be readily available for this device. I presume that the HP driver you refer to is the one found at this link? http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.j sp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=3357377&prodNameId=335 7378&swEnvOID=2096&swLang=13&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=ob-58326-1 It links to this particular file: ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp38001-38500/sp38313.exe This is the Vista x86/x64 driver for the MEI device. *Update -* since I started to compose this response, I have managed to obtain a Compaq/HP 6910p notebook and I've just installed Windows 7 Ultimate on it. Yes, it seems that the "PCI Simple Communications Controller" is the MEI, as I thought. I have used the 32-bit x86 build of Windows 7 - if you are using x64 then the outcome might be different. I ran the SP38313.exe file and it does, indeed, give an error "this operating system is not supported". But! ..this is caused by a check in the Setup utility, which doesn't recognise Windows 7. *However,*++ the EXE file, when run, unpacks its contents to C:\SWSETUP\SP38313. Under that folder are the actual driver files that you need - in the \HECI subfolder, in the case of 32-bit Windows (the .sys file is the driver; the .cat and .inf are the descriptor INF and security signature). The following sequence allows installation of the driver: * go to Device Manager, double-click on the "PCI Simple Communications Controller" entry * in the device properties dialog, click on "Update Driver" * select "Browse my computer for driver software" * when prompted, enter the path to which the SP38313.EXE driver files have been unpacked - typically, C:\SWSETUP\SP38313\HECI. * click Next. In my case (I've tested it and written down what I did, step-by-step), this resulted in the message "Windows has successfully updated your driver software", and a new "Intel(R) Management Engine Interface" entry in the System Devices category of the Device Manager. As I said above, I haven't tested with the x64 version of Windows 7, but a similar principle should apply - just use C:\SWSETUP\SP38313\x64 as a path rather than \HECI. Let me know whether this helps. Good luck! -------------------------------------------------------------- To reply to this message visit the message page: http://communities.intel.com/message/69305#69305

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Windows 7 warning
by George Bell 02 Oct '09

02 Oct '09

I know some of you are involved with company laptops, so you may wish to read on. Having installed Windows 7 (RTM) on a couple of systems and been extremely pleased with the vast improvement in performance, I decided to install it on a Compaq 6910p laptop. It had been running Vista Business, so on the face of it, SHOULD have been O.K. for W7. Naturally I ran the Windows 7 Compatibility checker (Albeit still in Beta) and was delighted that it came up with a clean bill of health. Since I was performing a clean install, I fully expected to have to update a zillion drivers, and indeed spent quite a few hours doing just that. But one has defied all attempts. It's the "PCI Simple Communications Controller". This is vital for the Wireless modem, if nothing else, and I really do want wireless working. Call Compaq, whose initial attitude was, "We don't support Windows 7", but when pushed and reminded that Microsoft say Vista's drivers work with W7, they pointed me to a download. However, seems the Intel drivers see W7, and tell you words to the effect of "This operating system is not supported". And for goodness knows what reason, Compatibility Mode is not available. Needless to say I've spent quite few hours now researching this on the Internet and have drawn a blank - even on Intel's own user lists. So be warned. George.

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Windows 7 warning
by George Bell 02 Oct '09

02 Oct '09

I know some of you are involved with company laptops, so you may wish to read on. Having installed Windows 7 (RTM) on a couple of systems and been extremely pleased with the vast improvement in performance, I decided to install it on a Compaq 6910p laptop. It had been running Vista Business, so on the face of it, SHOULD have been O.K. for W7. Naturally I ran the Windows 7 Compatibility checker (Albeit still in Beta) and was delighted that it came up with a clean bill of health. Since I was performing a clean install, I fully expected to have to update a zillion drivers, and indeed spent quite a few hours doing just that. But one has defied all attempts. It's the "PCI Simple Communications Controller". This is vital for the Wireless modem, if nothing else, and I really do want wireless working. Call Compaq, whose initial attitude was, "We don't support Windows 7", but when pushed and reminded that Microsoft say Vista's drivers work with W7, they pointed me to a download. However, seems the Intel drivers see W7, and tell you words to the effect of "This operating system is not supported". And for goodness knows what reason, Compatibility Mode is not available. Needless to say I've spent quite few hours now researching this on the Internet and have drawn a blank - even on Intel's own user lists. So be warned. George.

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o.t. vista, private please
by David Mehler 30 Sep '09

30 Sep '09

Hello, I'm assuming we have some vista users with screen readers? I'm having a time and that's polite getting vista optimally going, if that's possible. If anyone is good at it please reply off list i've got several unrelated issues. Thanks. Dave.

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