Why do windows 7 and nforce 4 hate me?

[munkle]

So I have a windows 7 home premium upgrade. I decided to install it on my x2 4200 939 a8n-e and leave it in demo mode to see how it goes if it worth using the key on that pc or saving it for another pc. Well all goes fairly well except the ethernet drivers are a little buggy (ok very buggy, there are no windows 7 drivers from nvidia, just standard windows drivers). My demo period runs out, so I decided to reformat and use the key because I like windows 7. Big mistake.

After reformatting I can't install drivers for my tv card and sound card which I could do before, I get random blue screens (ethernet driver). I have reinstalled windows 3 times, still have the same issues. I don't understand why it is like this now and wasn't like this the first time I installed. Nothing changed.

 

[Stoly]

There are nforce 4 drivers for vista on the nvidia page, they should work on 7

 

[Azhar]

Word of warning with nVidia ethernet driver though. When installing nForce, I would not let the ethernet driver install. nVidia has a bug that's been around for several years now that makes your gigabit ethernet connection 100Mbps no matter what router, switch or cable you're using.

It took me awhile to figure out how to get 1000Mbps. Even in network driver's property, Auto Negotiate will not detect 1000Mbps.

Here's the thread on this issue: http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=69195

My issue was resolved and noted in post #15.

 

[munkle]

There are nforce 4 drivers for vista on the nvidia page, they should work on 7

They don't I have already tried. If I install them and go to the device manager it shows that it is still using the windows driver, done it a bunch of times.


When the driver works it works just fine at 1000mbs, my problem is just getting it to work right.

 

[mwarps]

Sucks that you wasted a good key on ancient hardware like that (ok, ok, ok, I know it probably would work given proper drivers, but you're missing the slickness of 7 on modern awesome)... Worse comes to worst, get a known-good TV card and get a PCI enet and sound cards. All are cheaper than a new build or a new win7 license.

 

[Arainach]

It should work fine. I ran Win7 on my X2 4800+/A8N-SLI Deluxe machine for most of a year without issues (it's now running WHS)

 

[munkle]

Sucks that you wasted a good key on ancient hardware like that (ok, ok, ok, I know it probably would work given proper drivers, but you're missing the slickness of 7 on modern awesome)... Worse comes to worst, get a known-good TV card and get a PCI enet and sound cards. All are cheaper than a new build or a new win7 license.

My tv card worked in windows 7 before I reformatted windows 7 so I know it is good, they still make it for windows 7 and up date the drivers still. Sound card isn't made anymore but the drivers are via and they still update them fro windows 7. The windows 7 license was one of those buy 3 for $90 deals so it's not that big of a deal.

It should work fine.

If only the bolded word applied in this case. I reformatted 3 times just incase it was a bad windows install but still doesn't seem to work. I even tried some drivers off the net someone edited to improve for windows 7, still no go.

 

[Stoly]

They don't I have already tried. If I install them and go to the device manager it shows that it is still using the windows driver, done it a bunch of times.


When the driver works it works just fine at 1000mbs, my problem is just getting it to work right.

Yes there are, search for legacy drivers on nvidia page

 

[munkle]

Yes there are, search for legacy drivers on nvidia page

I didn't mean that they don't have them, but that they don't work.

 

[shamgar]

hey man i just found drivers for my nforce4 board with a socket 939, they work well, you should check out this page.
http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/nforce-drivers-f28.html

the guy explains (fernando) how nvidia messed up all of the drivers

specifically in this page: (read up on it)
http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/optimized-nforce-chipset-driverpacks-for-vista-32-64bit-t70915.html

same thing here (info)
http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/off-nforce-sets-15-53-for-vista-win7-whql-t73210.html

it says vista for the first link, but they are updated drivers for win7 as well.

try the "actual driver packs",
2. "NF4-7 Actual Driverpacks"
(newest Vista/Win7 nForce chipset driver combination for NF4-7 chipsets)

Changelog:
- updated and bug fixed: Ethernet driver (now v73.20 with correct INF file)
- customized: SMU driver v1.71 (now supports the related devices of all MCP chipsets)
- updated: HDAudio driver (now v1.00.0.63 WHQL)

Here are the download links to these actual Vista/Win7 Driverpacks:

32bit driverpack v7.2 for Vista x86 and Win7 x86:
Main download link (eSnips)
Mirror (MediaFire)

64bit driverpack v7.2 for Vista x64 and Win7 x64:
Main download link (eSnips)
Mirror (MediaFire)

Ethernet Driver (v73.20) corrected and customized by Fernando
SATAIDE Driver (v11.1.0.33) customized by Fernando
SATARAID Driver (v11.1.0.33) customized by Fernando
RAIDTOOL Application (v11.1.0.30) "Sedona"
SMU Driver (v1.71) customized by Fernando
SMBus Driver (v4.74) customized by Fernando
HD Audio Driver (v1.00.0.63) WHQL
optional IDE driver registry cleaner (made by TwL)
Installer (v7.57)

thats the one i just used on the socket 939 with an opty 175 and other stuff, it works well, stability tested with intel burn test v24 and prime 95 already, also stability tested with furmark 1.8.

i havent had any other issues, i used the latest ones so that way windows update wont bug me, you can use the older ones on that page, just try them out, this guy fernando really knows what hes doing.

let me know how it goes and i'll try to help. i wouldnt bother with nvidias page or drivers there bcs it looks like they are all jacked up and this guy fernando fixed all of the drivers

i hope this helps

 

[munkle]

hey man i just found drivers for my nforce4 board with a socket 939, they work well, you should check out this page.
http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/nforce-drivers-f28.html

the guy explains (fernando) how nvidia messed up all of the drivers

specifically in this page: (read up on it)
http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/optimized-nforce-chipset-driverpacks-for-vista-32-64bit-t70915.html

same thing here (info)
http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/off-nforce-sets-15-53-for-vista-win7-whql-t73210.html

it says vista for the first link, but they are updated drivers for win7 as well.

try the "actual driver packs",
2. "NF4-7 Actual Driverpacks"
(newest Vista/Win7 nForce chipset driver combination for NF4-7 chipsets)

Changelog:
- updated and bug fixed: Ethernet driver (now v73.20 with correct INF file)
- customized: SMU driver v1.71 (now supports the related devices of all MCP chipsets)
- updated: HDAudio driver (now v1.00.0.63 WHQL)

Here are the download links to these actual Vista/Win7 Driverpacks:

32bit driverpack v7.2 for Vista x86 and Win7 x86:
Main download link (eSnips)
Mirror (MediaFire)

64bit driverpack v7.2 for Vista x64 and Win7 x64:
Main download link (eSnips)
Mirror (MediaFire)

Ethernet Driver (v73.20) corrected and customized by Fernando
SATAIDE Driver (v11.1.0.33) customized by Fernando
SATARAID Driver (v11.1.0.33) customized by Fernando
RAIDTOOL Application (v11.1.0.30) "Sedona"
SMU Driver (v1.71) customized by Fernando
SMBus Driver (v4.74) customized by Fernando
HD Audio Driver (v1.00.0.63) WHQL
optional IDE driver registry cleaner (made by TwL)
Installer (v7.57)

thats the one i just used on the socket 939 with an opty 175 and other stuff, it works well, stability tested with intel burn test v24 and prime 95 already, also stability tested with furmark 1.8.

i havent had any other issues, i used the latest ones so that way windows update wont bug me, you can use the older ones on that page, just try them out, this guy fernando really knows what hes doing.

let me know how it goes and i'll try to help. i wouldnt bother with nvidias page or drivers there bcs it looks like they are all jacked up and this guy fernando fixed all of the drivers

i hope this helps

Those are the ones I installed the first time I installed windows 7 and they worked (kind of, no bluescreen but buggy, I would have to restart 2 to 3 times to get the nic to enable), I tried them again after a reformat still have the same problem as now. Not sure whats up with my mobo.

 

[Stoly]

I didn't mean that they don't have them, but that they don't work.

Ooops, anyway, I'm using 64bit drivers on my nforce3 mobo and they work.

BTW I'd stay away from the RAID/SATA/IDE drivers, the ones that come with windows are better and more stable.

Also don't install the firewall utility.

One more thing, the integrated sound on the mobo is probably realtek, you may want to try realtek drivers.

 

[munkle]

Ooops, anyway, I'm using 64bit drivers on my nforce3 mobo and they work.

BTW I'd stay away from the RAID/SATA/IDE drivers, the ones that come with windows are better and more stable.

Also don't install the firewall utility.

One more thing, the integrated sound on the mobo is probably realtek, you may want to try realtek drivers.

Yeah I should probably uninstall the ide drivers then.

I never used the firewall because the first time I installed in xp I got a bunch of bsod's.

The integrated audio is disabled in the bios, I am using a chaintech sound card, the company is out of business but the card uses a via audio chip and they still update the drivers for it.