Windows 7 help please.

[beelzibus]

Hi, forgive me for making my first post here a possibly simple to answer question, but I have tried to search and for some reason couldn't make any sense.

A couple of years ago I (rather prematurely) bought 8527, and an 8547 less all the sensors for my young son. I'm an afol and am well versed with Technic building and figured we could both enjoy the NXT. In a very short time I became frustrated with the (to me) seemingly restrictive nature of the NXT set up, the lack of ability to connect up PF motors directly to the brick, and the limited number of input and output ports. My boy was just too young at that stage.
Now a couple of years down the line, my boy has become interested so today we started refreshing ourselves with it all.
In the intervening period I have changed Laptop, my current OS is Windows 7, and It seems to not like either NXT CD.
Before I get disheartened again what's the simple solution?
Thanks in advance.

[h-g-t]

I use WIN 7 and NXT-G 2.0 runs on that with no problems.

Your disks may have been damaged, but you can download a copy here - http://service.lego.com/en-us/HelpTopic ... ionID=2655

Updated drivers and firmware are here - http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/suppor ... fault.aspx

Procedure for updating the firmware here - http://www.educatec.ch/doc/FAQ/FAQ.LEGO ... e=en&cl=en

There are convertor cables to use PF motors with the NXT, seen them on ebay (as well as a lot of NXT motors).

You can make your own (at your own risk) but I am not sure if these cables have all the same functions -

http://www.rjmcnamara.com/2011/12/lego-pf-to-nxt-cable/
http://thenxtstep.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/motors.html

Mindsensors have announced a new device which allows you to run a PF motor from the NXT and adds rotation sensor as well - http://www.mindsensors.com/index.php?mo ... tion=62:62

[mightor]

You can see what they look like here: http://botbench.com/blog/2012/05/22/min ... dewheel-m/

I've got plans to make something fun with them this weekend (it's a long weekend in the Netherlands) and I'll be sure to post a video about it. So be sure to keep checking back

- Xander

[spillerrec]

While it is not that obvious, the PF extender cable also acts as a PF to "RCX" adapter, so you can use that in combination with the NXT to RCX cables. I couldn't find the products in the Lego shop anymore though.

[inxt-generation]

...I couldn't find the products in the Lego shop anymore though.

Yeah, they changed it from a theme to a category. Here is where it is now: http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Power-Functions-ByCategory

[h-g-t]

Can't find them on the LEGO sites, but they are available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Converter-Cables- ... B003BCD3BM

and ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lego-Converte ... 3a73c0245f

[beelzibus]

Hi, well thanks very much for all the replies, I tried again with the NXT 2.0 disc and this time it all loaded straight away. No idea what went wrong the first time.
Thanks for the pointers about the converter cables, I had actually bought a couple when I first bought the NXT's to connect the NXT to the old style motors, but the link to make ones up to connect NXT to PF motors is handy.
My boy is now driving me bonkers wanting to play constantly with the NXT. Best I get cracking watching the various tutorials and learning how it all works.