Posted by MW/VA on 10/22/09 8:25am
Msg #308210

Media blitz on Windows 7

Anyone have an opinion on the new operating system?

Reply by AK/PA on 10/22/09 8:30am
Msg #308215

Haven't tried it yet but I sure hope it's better than Vista.

Reply by dlcva on 10/22/09 9:20am
Msg #308221

I was told by a computer geek that if u have vista that it would just like push it back into your computer and not run, that windows 7 will take over. That it is better then Vista and they worked out all the bugs.

Reply by John/CT on 10/22/09 9:14am
Msg #308218

Re: Windows 7

My son-in-law, a network specialist at a well-known IT firm, tells me that we should expect good things from WIN 7 ... and a wise decision to upgrade from Vista. Not recommended, however, for XP users.

Reply by wisconsin on 10/22/09 9:37am
Msg #308226

I will be replacing Vista with it today, my son already has

a copy of it and he loves it.

Reply by Art_MD on 10/22/09 9:54am
Msg #308230

Re: Windows 7 upgrade f/XP

There are a number of problems when you go from XP to W7. Some were taken care of after alpha/beta testing. NOT all.
Vista to W7 is quick, easy and basically bugless.

Art

Reply by John Schenk on 10/22/09 10:02am
Msg #308232

Re: Windows 7 upgrade f/XP

Dumb question, but if you go from Vista to 7 don't you have to wipe out everything on your puter to install the new operating system?

JJ

Reply by Art_MD on 10/22/09 10:19am
Msg #308234

Re: Windows 7 upgrade f/XP

NO.

From Vista to W7 insert disk type install. It basicaly does it all.
I've taken a few different approaches.
One real safe way, if you have lots of HD space is to partition the drive and do a "new install" of W7 on one virtual drive. Check that it boots up and sees all your hardware. Then you can gradually transfer from virtual drive to the W7 drive.
Do a total hard drive backup to an external drive. Then do a W7 upgrade on you internal drive. If anything goes wrong, you have everything on your backup drive.

Art

Reply by John Schenk on 10/22/09 10:20am
Msg #308236

Re: Windows 7 upgrade f/XP

Thanks! :-)

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 10/22/09 10:20am
Msg #308237

b n/m

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 10/22/09 10:50am
Msg #308244

Before you upgrade, my 2 cents worth ..

Go to the Microsoft site, download their scan tool and scan your computer to see if it will work properly with Windows 7. If you don't, you risk some of the same issues that people had during the
Vista fiasco. 99.9% of all the Vista issues can be traced to not enough computer, in my experience. Many of you current XP users will find that your computer will be rejected. In my by-monthly class I hold at a local senior center, most of the XP users' computers fail the test.

That being said, Windows 7 is a good program that the general public should like. I have been running a pre-release version for a while now and see no issues when you follow the rules. But then again, I ran the beta version of Vista and had no issues, either, because I followed the rules. The only reason I am dealing with 7 now is to be able to answer questions from the seniors. Windows 7 will be a lot more forgiving and has eliminated the features of Vista that may have been causing issues for some.

So here is what I recommend when considering whether to upgrade to 7 or not.

Download and run the scan tool from the Microsoft website. This is a MUST.

If you want windows 7, then I recommend the full clean install version over the upgrade. Those of you with XP will have to go this route.

Then when you reload your programs, do them ONE at a time and run each one before you go to the next. Then if there is a compatibility issue, you know where it is. Yes I know this is time consuming, but you get out of something what you put into it.

For the Vista users feel you want to use the upgrade to save time then at least make sure you have done the updates for Vista and every program on your computer that has an update available. Scan your computer for spyware and viruses. Defrag your hard drive. Back up your computer's essential files. Of course when you do this, you will probably find that all your computer issues will go away, and don't need to spring for 7, except that you "want" to.

Am I going to get 7 when my pre-release version expires? No, not right now, because I don't have any issues with Vista. I will reload it back on the computer I was running the test of 7 on. Why? Well, I don't want to pay for a new OS right now. Besides, I have turned off the most annoying and memory using features of Vista and guess what? That's about what 7 is.

Have fun, all.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 10/22/09 10:32am
Msg #308240

Just Purchased the Windows 7 Pro Upgrade Version...

...this AM & will be installing it in a few moments on the 2nd hard drive of my dual boot system. I'll let you know my experiences with it. My plan is to keep Vista on the 1st hard drive & using it as my primary OS until I'm comfortable moving everything over to Windows 7 for keeps.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 10/22/09 10:33am
Msg #308241

BTW...

...I also plan on installing the 64 bit version of Windows 7.

Reply by RickinVA on 10/22/09 10:38am
Msg #308242

Re: BTW...

From that commet, I assume you have a 64 bit mnotherboard, right?
My understanding is that the computer must be set up for 64 bit. If that's
incorrect, please let me know...

Rick

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 10/22/09 10:54am
Msg #308245

Your computer manual

will tell you if you have a 64 bit processor. You need that processor to take advantage of the 64 bit features.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 10/22/09 11:10am
Msg #308247

I'm Already Set Up with Windows 7...

...on the 2nd hard drive & it's what I'm using right now to converse on NotRot. The total process from start to finish only took 20 minutes! I had the same experience with the RC version of Windows 7 several months ago. As far as why I chose 64 bit, I checked yesterday to make sure my 'puter was "64 bit capable" & it is. There's a way to check your current computer to make sure it's compatible & MS gives you the directions from their web site.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 10/22/09 12:38pm
Msg #308257

So Far, So Good...

...I notice a significant increase in the Internet speed, moving from page to page. I'm downloading the new MS Security Essentials software to test it out as my AV/Malware/Spyware. I've seen mixed reviews on it, but will test it out for myself.

Reply by John Schenk on 10/22/09 2:10pm
Msg #308272

Re: So Far, So Good...

I did the compatibility scan and it says I have 886 MB of RAM and need 1 gig. My computer says I have 1 GB Ram. WTH

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 10/22/09 2:42pm
Msg #308278

What's Showing...

...is the amount of "free" RAM when it shows 886MB. I'm fairly certain you've got the minimum required of 1Gig, but I wouldn't want to lead you astray. Do some more checking on the Internet about minimum requirements for upgrading & pay attention to which version of Windows 7 you want. I believe the requirements vary from version to version.

Reply by John Schenk on 10/22/09 2:50pm
Msg #308279

Re: What's Showing...

Mine's 32 bit. 64 bit takes 2 gigs of ram.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 10/22/09 3:17pm
Msg #308281

I Believe There are Differences...

...in RAM requirements between the Windows 7 Home version vs the Pro & Ultimate.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 10/22/09 9:20pm
Msg #308332

Ram is cheap ....

no problem adding some more.

Reply by Art_MD on 10/22/09 10:44am
Msg #308243

Re: Just Purchased the Windows 7 Pro Upgrade Version...

Thats the safest way to go. Wouldn't hurt to temporariy disable any encryption mode temporarily.

Art

Reply by wisconsin on 10/22/09 4:04pm
Msg #308284

I just installed windows 7 ultimate this morning it took all

of 45 minutes from start to finish. I choose to do a fresh install instead of upgrade. I like it better than Vista already.