Windows 7 on Samsung Q45: Utopia?
I have bought this nice laptop about two years ago. And when Windows 7 came to a finalized state, I wished to replace my anemia Vista by this new system from Redmond. The installation ran like a charm; and everything seemed to work properly; till i try the function keys. I realized that absolutly no function keys were working. And for a laptop, it’s deadly to not be able to adjust sound level and, even worse, the screen brightness. So it became a ‘sticky’ laptop for a while on my desktop, untill i found a way to install all proper drivers and all necessary Samsung software to return my laptop to a travel usage. Samsung dedicated software I looked for any software compatible Windows 7 on the Samsung support web site. Of course, there are not! My model is too old (at least for marketing) to get some upgrade. So, I turned to other new models supporting Windows 7, and selected the Q320 (the higher Qxxx model available to this date). I selected some Samsung software that I need (I zapped others as they have actually minor interest to me).
As these new package are dedicated to Windows 7, you don’t have to use the famous “Vista SP2 compatibility on setup.exe” tip to make it run properlly. So, once installed, and one reboot later; I was pleased to see the sound, network functions keys perfectly working. All but brightness 
. What’s the heck with this function? Damn, It was too easy. Then, I tried to check the Intel VGA driver, and install the latest release…for nothing . I’ve tried several minors release without success. I spent many times on searching thru blogs and documentations untill i read this:
The ACPI layer
Windows supports two ways to integrate brightness control: Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) miniport device driver interfaces (DDIs) and Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) firmware control methods. ACPI control methods are the preferred implementation solution for new platforms.
The ACPI layer is a new to Windows 7. Hum…maybe the new Intel VGA driver use the ACPI protocol, and no more the WDDM? I have to look backward for a previous branch release of the video driver.
The Intel VGA Driver masked avanger!
So, the last issue is to find the right driver compatible with my motherboard AND the samsung EDM. Unfortunatly, the 8.15 branch release of VGA driver doesn’t work support WDDM anymore on this motherboard? I gave a try to the the v7.14 branch. I’ve downloaded and installed the higher version of the 7.14 branch.
One reboot later (see below for details), Bingo !!!. It finally works, at the end 
. NOTE: I had difficulties to remove the v8.15 video driver release. To do so, firstly, I’ve uninstalled the driver first, but not rebooted yet! Secondly, I’ve installed the v7.14 release before rebooting. And that way, I made it!
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Last… do you think, here:
http://www.samsung.com/it/support/detail/supportPrdDetail.do?menu=SP01&prd_mdl_cd=NP-Q45/E00/SEI&srchword=NP-Q45
… I can find my solution?
E
@Emanuele
your link brings me no where. but i’ve already posted a direct link to the needed drivers. did you try them?
but i see now, that somehow the link broke posting here. but using link 2 you can find them.
click me to download MMC Reader[Ricoh] Driver
Dear Thomas, thanks a lot for your help!
And please, forgive me… if I posted so many times. I did not correctly follow the instructions that you suggested a troublefixers.com. That guide suggested to look for drivers at: http://www.pcidatabase.com... and it worked!
As I found the vendor (Ricoh) there were many different devices (by ID) with the link to an executable, this was mine:
http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp45001-45500/sp45112.exe
Now all my devices are detected and installed!
Thanks again to you, Thomas, and to Jean-Michel and everybody that replied to such useful post!
Emanuele
Yes! This tip is great! My Q45 runs Win 7 SP1 and after I change the driver ‘Brightness control’ works perfectly! Thanks a lot!
@Thomas: Thanks for helping other readers to have their Win 7 properlly run on their Q45.
You are all welcomed
Thank you very much from Spain, I was desesperted, nobody gave me a solution until I saw this page, and my q45 works perfectly with w7 now,
Muchas gracias.
thank you very much To Mr Jean-Michel Paris from indonesia…>>>>>> TERIMA KASIH BANYAK untuk Bapak Jean-MIchel Paris dari Indonesia
Jean-Michel Paris,
Thank you very much from Russia!!!!!
hello!
yesterday I installed windows7 on my samsung q45. All drivers are ok but the webcam doesn’t work. I’ve installed the q320 drivers but it doesn’t work at all. It says me that there isn’t any camera installed.
What can I do?? can you help me please???
thank you!
@Francesca
Please check your “Device Manager” for already installed and probably unknown devices – devices with an explanation mark or question mark and if there is anything odd there, please post it.
done. there is Vega USB 2.0 Camera installed. it say that it work it really doesn’t….
@Francesca
“that it really doesn’t”… what? work?
is there any sign in front of it?
what happens if you open the properties of the cam and manually update the drivers? if necessary…
there isn’t any sign in front of it. I manually update the drivers but it say me that the right driver for the device is already installed.
I also tried to install the VGA v7.14 but he say me that the sistem doesn’t support it.
with what apps did you try using the cam at all?
with skype..
I don’t know how but after installing easy display manager the cam works again!
thanks for your help and patience!!!