Attn: Black Magix....computer question

[oruacat2]

I'm having trouble installing my Windows 7 upgrade software - have you heard of many folks having this problem?

As you probably know, it's a 2-disc setup - the first checks for compatability, makes sure you have enough memory, processor speed, RAM, etc, then the second disc is the actual install. Well, I can't get past that damn first disc. It tells me that I have all the required hardware, then it forces me to upgrade another program that I have installed - the Microsoft DigitalPersona, which I think handles among other things this fingerprint scanner/reader that all the new machines have these days. No worries, I think, naively - I upgrade to Digital Persona 4.1, I get a message verifying that to install I need to restart the computer, so I do that, but that stupid first W7 disc doesn't recognize the upgrade. I'm in an endless loop where the W7 disc demands that I upgrade the Digital Persona, the Digital Persona tells me it's upgraded, but then the W7 disc doesn't recognize it, etc, etc, etc, until I'm about ready to put my fist through this infernal contraption.

Any thoughts? Can I just completely UNinstall the DigitalPersona and upgrade to Windows7 without it? I survived many online years without a fingerprint reader, I'm sure I could live through a few more.

Advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Kenny D

[freethrow]

Not BlackMagic here but I think I can give you some decent advice. I have installed and upgraded many pc's over the years and what I have found is that it is almost always a better option to start with a clean install rather than upgrading an existing in place operating system.

I assume you have Vista or XP currently installed? Though I have not done this yet with the Win7 release product I have done it with all other former versions of windows. I would hook up a new or known good empty drive as your boot drive or C drive and then boot off your Win7 DVD. At some point during the install it should ask you about your previous OS and you should only have to pop it's CD/DVD into the same CD/DVD drive until it gets past confirming that you have a previous version of windows and then put the new Win7 DVD back in. The install should then carry on normally. If your Win7 isn't an upgrade version which it may not be if this was free from your manufacturer you shouldn't need your old OS CD/DVD.

I am assuming that you checked with your laptop/desktop manufacture to confirm that they have Win7 drivers needed? It could be that they have some and not any for the fingerprint scanner? Since that isn't a major component I doubt that would cause an install fail? It just may not work when all is said and done? Also they may have no specific Win7 drivers but the Win7 DVD may have all that you need?

Of course this option means reinstalling all your apps and moving data but the data moving isn't hard if you hook your original drive up as a second drive or an external drive attached to a USB port. That requires an external device or enclosure that allows you to hook up your drive to it of course but moving data is quick and pretty painless that way.

They big advantage in the fresh install is that loads of crap that build up over time that slows you down is eliminated and only what you need/want is installed. If you don't have an empty hard drive you can get a 500 gig Sata or IDE drive for $75-$100 and not much more for one in an external case. In that case you can swap out your existing drive with the new drive easily enough. Just be sure the new drive in the case matches your current SATA or IDE drive interface.

Worst case would be having to install your current operating system on the new drive and then installing the upgrade before installing any new apps. If you do it that way I wouldn't install the finger print software. Just install the bare minimum of your current operating system without installing your manufacturers toys and drivers.

Hope this helps

[oruacat2]

Thanks freethrow - you'd be a great help if I wasn't so computer illiterate. lol
If this were just a silly game or something I'd just plow right ahead, but I get a bit nervous messing around with the actual OS of the entire machine.

One thing though - that first W7 disc says that I have all the required pieces necessary to run the new OS - except for that stupid Digital Persona thing. Any guesses on how much the Geek Squad or some other professional would charge me, and would it be worth the piece-of-mind that comes with a professional install?

KD

[Black Magix]

Oddly enough I just bought the Windows 7 upgrade kit....can't say I received two cd's though O_o I received two copies of windows 7, one is 32 bit and one is 64.


I'm not sure on your situation as I'm not infront of your machine but to uninstall the digital persona...go to

If your running WINDOWS XP
1) Click start > run
2) type "Appwiz.cpl" without quotes and press ok
3) wait for the list of programs to populate
4) find the digital persona program and click on it
5) click the uninstall button the appears after clicking it
6) rerun windows 7

If your running WINDOWS VISTA
1) click start
2) without clicking anything type appwiz.cpl and press enter
3) see steps 3-6 above


That should help.

For a geek squad install, your looking at about 50-150 dollars if I was anywhere near town, I'd do it for you for free though :(

[oruacat2]

Thanks, man.
I've got a couple of buddies who do this stuff for a living, but if I turn to them for help I risk shattering the myth of my own greatness. lol No, actually they work "real job" daytime hours while I work 5pm-3am "bar hours", so we rarely cross paths anymore.

Oh, I only received the 64-bit version - I guess because they asked me specifically which version I wanted.

[freethrow]

I can't remember who exactly it was, maybe Best Buy, that were running an ad the day of the Win7 release that they would install it free for those that had bought systems there and had the upgrade coming. Sorry that is probably not your case but if it is you may check with them? I'm sure that means that installing apps and data moving isn't included with that though.

I imagine that they would normally charge $150-$200 but maybe more to do it. I again would advise installing to a new drive so there is a bit more charge needed for the drive if you do not have a good usable one already. The process to install the OS, all apps needed and restoring data etc from the old drive and installing needed updates etc is normally around a 3-4 hour process. If they bill by the hour instead of a flat rate it could be more? You might want to give them a call because they may have a flate rate deal of some kind or even a lower rate than normal for upgrade situations?

Too bad you didn't live closer to Louisville because I do this all of the time. I have temporary drives to use to set it all up and move your data to the temp drive and once all is in great shape I image my temp drive over your own drive so it is an exact copy and then stick your drive back in. Many folks purchase the temp drive to put on their shelf as a disaster recovery should their own drive fail. This way it only takes ten minutes to get you back up and running with that drive. You would only lose what data you hadn't backed up since the image was created.

My normal charge for the entire process is under $200, usually $150 if there isn't too much data and apps to deal with. And I can supply a brand new 500 gig Western Digital drive with a 3 year warranty for $60.00 and not that much more for a Terabyte drive. Add another $30 if you want that drive in an external case so you can hook it up to your pc to back up your files to it now and then.

You might want to call around to your local computer repair places and see what deal they may have. The Geek Squad can be pretty expensive when things are beyond their normal package services from what I understand. A smaller shop may do you better?

[misterbluecat]

I would uninstall the DigitalPersona software and attempt to upgrade without it. Once you have upgraded then try reinstalling the software. If you still have problems with it, I live in town and would be more than happy to take a look at the machine if need be.

[OldCatFan]

Did you get this working? I can do a GoToMeeting and take a look at what you have and help get it ready for the upgrade. Let me know and I will PM you with the GoToMeeting info and conference bridge number.