Windows 7
Windows XP was dying a quiet little death on my computer. EVERYTHING was having driver issues, despite having the latest drivers. My internet continued to just randomly disconnect itself due to an issue of XP from back in 2006. Yeah. And turning Windows Update off? Completely shut off anything to do with the internet.
So I figured it was time to make the switch to Windows 7.
And so far, I genuinely do like the operating system. It's not nearly the ram hog everyone made it out to be, and due to the fact that I'm running 64 bit now as opposed to 32 bit, everything is running awesome fast.
But, the bad news. And it isn't even Window's fault.
See, I have a wireless network card from linksys. The WMP200 series. I only bought it brand new about 2 years ago.
Turns out, it was discontinued in June of 2010. To the point where they do not have install drivers for Windows 7. So I have two network cards that are utterly useless to me because I can't install them and can't get my computer to even acknowledge their presence.
Turns out, almost all of my internet troubles and driver conflicts were related to it. Cisco systems sent out an 'end of life end of service' update. It was basically turning that part of my computer into a tumor, tossing out issues left and right.
But hey, the good news is, I've still got a much better operating system, and now I can fix the actual problem. And I can get two brand new wireless network cards.
So how am I connected to the internet right now you might ask?
Never underestimate keeping perfectly serviceable parts around. Namely, the USB wireless sticks we were on before the cards. Thankfully, they're plug and play, no installation required, so I was able to use that to get all my drivers up to snuff.
Though there is one problem I do have.
I have NO idea how to open the new case of my computer. Not a clue. Oh well, it will be an adventure. Something for me to work on tomorrow I guess. Yaaaay.
So I figured it was time to make the switch to Windows 7.
And so far, I genuinely do like the operating system. It's not nearly the ram hog everyone made it out to be, and due to the fact that I'm running 64 bit now as opposed to 32 bit, everything is running awesome fast.
But, the bad news. And it isn't even Window's fault.
See, I have a wireless network card from linksys. The WMP200 series. I only bought it brand new about 2 years ago.
Turns out, it was discontinued in June of 2010. To the point where they do not have install drivers for Windows 7. So I have two network cards that are utterly useless to me because I can't install them and can't get my computer to even acknowledge their presence.
Turns out, almost all of my internet troubles and driver conflicts were related to it. Cisco systems sent out an 'end of life end of service' update. It was basically turning that part of my computer into a tumor, tossing out issues left and right.
But hey, the good news is, I've still got a much better operating system, and now I can fix the actual problem. And I can get two brand new wireless network cards.
So how am I connected to the internet right now you might ask?
Never underestimate keeping perfectly serviceable parts around. Namely, the USB wireless sticks we were on before the cards. Thankfully, they're plug and play, no installation required, so I was able to use that to get all my drivers up to snuff.
Though there is one problem I do have.
I have NO idea how to open the new case of my computer. Not a clue. Oh well, it will be an adventure. Something for me to work on tomorrow I guess. Yaaaay.