Even as Windows 7 was making its way through the Milestone releases, the operating system was praised for its consistent level of stability. At the same time, users running the Beta release of Win 7 were able to test drive hands-on a platform that didn't feel like a Beta at all. The quality of Windows 7 Build 7000 even managed to convince Doug Holland, developer at Intel Corporation since March 2007, working in the Mobility group. Holland indicated that Windows 7 Beta was very stable, compared with previous pre-release versions of Windows.
“While I do believe that Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 are very stable operating systems (...) in evaluating the stability of the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 operating systems, I compared them to previous beta operating systems and not to systems that had achieved the RTM (release to manufacturing) milestone,” Holland brought clarification to reports having him declaring the Beta of Win 7 as “incredibly stable.”
Monday, February 9, 2009
Intel Releases Windows 7 Graphics Driver
In an effort to avoid compatibility problems that plagued the launch of Windows Vista, Intel (NSDQ: INTC) is giving developers a jump on its Windows 7-based product line.
The company has released a pre-production version of Windows 7 drivers for graphics chipsets. The WDDM1.1 graphics driver is designed for "enabling the full Windows 7 experience," Intel said, noting that the driver is the result of ongoing collaboration with Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT).
"As a result of the collaboration, OEMs and beta users can stay in step with Windows 7 prereleases for smooth product development," Intel said.
Drivers allow hardware components to communicate with a computer operating system. Windows 7, the successor to Windows Vista, is expected by industry observers to be released in late 2009 or early 2010.
When Vista launched in January of last year, many hardware makers -- including Intel -- didn't have fully compatible drivers ready. The problems marked the beginning of a slew of bad press for Vista that ultimately led many businesses and consumers to reject the OS.
To avoid a repeat of those problems, Microsoft earlier this year ordered computer and other hardware makers to begin testing their devices on Windows 7 as soon as the first beta version becomes available.
Hardware makers that don't comply with the edict won't qualify for Microsoft's Windows Logo certified compatibility program for Windows 7 or Windows Vista. "Beginning with the first beta of Windows 7 all Windows Vista submissions must include a complete CPK with test logs from Windows 7," Microsoft said in a 61-page bulletin to its hardware partners.
CPK refers to a process control method used in software development.
The company has released a pre-production version of Windows 7 drivers for graphics chipsets. The WDDM1.1 graphics driver is designed for "enabling the full Windows 7 experience," Intel said, noting that the driver is the result of ongoing collaboration with Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT).
"As a result of the collaboration, OEMs and beta users can stay in step with Windows 7 prereleases for smooth product development," Intel said.
Drivers allow hardware components to communicate with a computer operating system. Windows 7, the successor to Windows Vista, is expected by industry observers to be released in late 2009 or early 2010.
When Vista launched in January of last year, many hardware makers -- including Intel -- didn't have fully compatible drivers ready. The problems marked the beginning of a slew of bad press for Vista that ultimately led many businesses and consumers to reject the OS.
To avoid a repeat of those problems, Microsoft earlier this year ordered computer and other hardware makers to begin testing their devices on Windows 7 as soon as the first beta version becomes available.
Hardware makers that don't comply with the edict won't qualify for Microsoft's Windows Logo certified compatibility program for Windows 7 or Windows Vista. "Beginning with the first beta of Windows 7 all Windows Vista submissions must include a complete CPK with test logs from Windows 7," Microsoft said in a 61-page bulletin to its hardware partners.
CPK refers to a process control method used in software development.
Intel techie: Windows 7 is ready for prime time
Here's yet one more piece of evidence you're likely to see Windows 7 launch in 2009, before the announced 2010 launch date: An Intel techie calls Windows 7 "incredibly stable" and is already using a version of it as his primary operating system on his own PCs.
Doug Holland, an Intel developer, writes on his blog that
I have now been using the Windows Server 2008 R2 beta and Windows 7 beta builds for some time and have found them to be incredibly stable. I am now using the Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta "Aero Enabled" Workstation as the primary OS on both my personal notebook and desktop and would do so also on my corporate notebook if our IT department allowed.
This is very good news for Microsoft, because Intel made big news in 2008 when it announced that it wasn't going upgrade to Vista, and would instead stay with Windows XP.
At the time Microsoft, to say the least, was not pleased. The news had to especially gall Microsoft because Microsoft had launched its ill-fated Vista "Junk PC" suit on behalf of Intel. Documents in the case show that Intel pressured Microsoft into putting "Vista Capable" stickers on PCs with Intel 915 chipsets, even though PCs with those chipsets couldn't run Aero or other parts of Vista.
Doug Holland, an Intel developer, writes on his blog that
I have now been using the Windows Server 2008 R2 beta and Windows 7 beta builds for some time and have found them to be incredibly stable. I am now using the Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta "Aero Enabled" Workstation as the primary OS on both my personal notebook and desktop and would do so also on my corporate notebook if our IT department allowed.
This is very good news for Microsoft, because Intel made big news in 2008 when it announced that it wasn't going upgrade to Vista, and would instead stay with Windows XP.
At the time Microsoft, to say the least, was not pleased. The news had to especially gall Microsoft because Microsoft had launched its ill-fated Vista "Junk PC" suit on behalf of Intel. Documents in the case show that Intel pressured Microsoft into putting "Vista Capable" stickers on PCs with Intel 915 chipsets, even though PCs with those chipsets couldn't run Aero or other parts of Vista.
AMD Overdrive On Windows 7
You can try this compatibilty fix find it on amd forums You can use AMD Overdrive successfully in Windows 7! The link below is a copy of AMD Overdrive (2.15) that has been extracted from the installer package. Just copy the files over to the relevant folders and the program will run perfectly. It seems to run without copying over any of the windows folders so that step may not be necessary.There doesn't seem to be any compatibility issues beyond the superficial ones imposed by the installer.
Use this at your own risk... AMD has NOT officially released AOD for Windows 7 so this may have unexpected consequences. I take no responsibility for issues that may occur as a result of using AOD in Windows 7.
Use this at your own risk... AMD has NOT officially released AOD for Windows 7 so this may have unexpected consequences. I take no responsibility for issues that may occur as a result of using AOD in Windows 7.
Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2
It's lovely to see how ATi/AMD ***s over customers with Windows 7 support. In Beta Catalyst driver pack is support for Mobility Radeon HD2000 and higher. Why not X1xxx series? Im forced to use old "aero-choppy" WDDM 1.0 driver model in Seven. I hoped there will be support for this OS at least, because ATi ***s over Vista support and "WE" laptop users with ATi graphics ca just suck nuts because we are forced to use crappy mobility modder to get our GPUs to work with "is it even compatible" latest drivers.
ATi/AMD came with crappy slow Phenoms and they even dont want to stick with their customers in driver support.
Motto: Buy our cheap and fast graphics and you will get no support (I think that this is the same situation like with S3 Graphics).
My next GPU will be from nVidia (i hate those guys) because I have guarantee to get support for my card.
ATi/AMD came with crappy slow Phenoms and they even dont want to stick with their customers in driver support.
Motto: Buy our cheap and fast graphics and you will get no support (I think that this is the same situation like with S3 Graphics).
My next GPU will be from nVidia (i hate those guys) because I have guarantee to get support for my card.
AMD: Erster Windows-7-Grafiktreiber
AMD hat auf seiner hauseigenen Homepage heute einen ersten, öffentlichen Grafiktreiber für Windows 7 online gestellt, was den Verdacht ein weiteres Mal erhärtet, dass Windows 7 schon im Sommer nächsten Jahres kommt. Trotz des frühen Stadiums werden bereits eine Reihe von Grafikkarten unterstützt, namentlich die HD 2000-, 3000- und 4000-Serie - sowohl Desktop- als auch Mobilelineup - sowie die AMD-IGP-Chipsätze 780G, 780V und 790GX.
Der Treiber wiegt in der 32 Bit-Version rund 48 MB, in der 64 Bit-Version knapp 53 MB.
Den Release Notes lässt sich entnehmen, dass der Treiber unter anderem noch kein OpenGL unterstützt sowie sämtliche Funktionen entweder gar nicht funktionieren oder nur sehr instabil, weswegen dem Download auch folgender Hinweis beigefügt ist:
"Note: This driver is provided as is and is not supported by AMD. It has not completed full AMD testing."
Microsoft wird voraussichtlich noch in diesem Jahr die erste, öffentliche Beta von Windows 7 herausgeben. Spätestens dann sollte auch ein entsprechender Nvidia-Treiber parat stehen.
AMD presentation talks about Windows 7 in '09
Would Microsoft release Windows 7 next year? The rumor mill has been grinding away about the possibility these past few weeks, and AMD has just added fuel to the fire. As PC Watch reports, AMD showed an interesting slide during its presentation at the Cutting Edge IT & Electronics Comprehensive Exhibition (CEATEC) event near Tokyo.
Under the title, "What to Expect in 2009," the AMD slide lists a number of items: the move to 40nm process technology, the arrival of the OpenCL general-purpose GPU API, widespread use of GDDR5 memory, consumer GPGPU applications, "HD+" televisions, and... Windows 7. To be more specific, the slide says "Windows 7 and DirectX 11" on one line.
PC Watch doesn't say much on the subject, so it's not fully clear what AMD was referring to there. Perhaps the firm let slip Microsoft's release schedule, or perhaps it's just talking about getting drivers working with pre-release versions of the OS. Judging by the context, though, it certainly looks like AMD expects Windows 7 to come out next year.
A 2009 launch sounds plausible, too. Microsoft has apparently been cutting fat from the OS by removing apps like Windows Mail, Windows Photo Gallery, and Windows Movie Maker. Also, recent reports have claimed Microsoft's internal calendar sets the Windows 7 "gold" date in early June. According to ZDNet's Ed Bott, Microsoft would have to trim the OS's beta cycle to get it out before next summer, but that schedule "would be downright leisurely compared to the one Microsoft followed for Windows XP, which was launched in October 2001, only 20 months after its predecessor, Windows 2000."
Under the title, "What to Expect in 2009," the AMD slide lists a number of items: the move to 40nm process technology, the arrival of the OpenCL general-purpose GPU API, widespread use of GDDR5 memory, consumer GPGPU applications, "HD+" televisions, and... Windows 7. To be more specific, the slide says "Windows 7 and DirectX 11" on one line.
PC Watch doesn't say much on the subject, so it's not fully clear what AMD was referring to there. Perhaps the firm let slip Microsoft's release schedule, or perhaps it's just talking about getting drivers working with pre-release versions of the OS. Judging by the context, though, it certainly looks like AMD expects Windows 7 to come out next year.
A 2009 launch sounds plausible, too. Microsoft has apparently been cutting fat from the OS by removing apps like Windows Mail, Windows Photo Gallery, and Windows Movie Maker. Also, recent reports have claimed Microsoft's internal calendar sets the Windows 7 "gold" date in early June. According to ZDNet's Ed Bott, Microsoft would have to trim the OS's beta cycle to get it out before next summer, but that schedule "would be downright leisurely compared to the one Microsoft followed for Windows XP, which was launched in October 2001, only 20 months after its predecessor, Windows 2000."
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