Windows 7

[Heber]

Just loaded this and got it running, eventually. If you think hell sounds bad...

 

[fremen]

Most likely you were one of the lucky ones who hadn't switched to Vista. For those of us who had, Windows 7 was more than welcomed.

For those with Win XP, I suggest sticking with it at least until you buy a new machine.

 

[rdale]

What troubles are you running into Heber? How new/old is your machine? Laptop/desktop?

There is a small host of things that you can safely remove from startup and or in Services.

 

[ChavaK]

For those with Win XP, I suggest sticking with it at least until you buy a new machine.

I am still using XP and I really don't want to change from it...but I also
need a couple of new computers. Not looking forward to W7 but I think
I am going to get forced into it...

 

[Heber]

No, I did not move from Vista! I went from XP which made it a clean install. It says that it will save things in a file windows.old. I looked in there and all that was there was few file shells and not much else - a total of about 6 folders and 4 files. So all the settings it said it would save it did not. It did transfer a couple of programs across that it ought not to have done but some 90% of the programs have to be re-loaded. Fortunately, I did a backup of all my settings etc etc. Be warned BACKUP every bit of stuff that is remotely important to you!

When I did the check before buying it passed 90% of my hardware. Now it has rejected a new web-cam, but has happily accepted an old scanner! My lap top is just about 1 year old. If you try to load some things you will a red warning comes up. You have a choice - press ahead or not. If you ask it run the program load the sign goes for a few moments and then comes back again. This went on 8 times last night - I gave up and through the offending item in the bin (not the laptop!).

It is sooooooooooooooo slow. It crashes IE8 regularly! Grrrrrrrrrr what a useless replacement.

 

[fremen]

No, I did not move from Vista! I went from XP which made it a clean install. It says that it will save things in a file windows.old. I looked in there and all that was there was few file shells and not much else - a total of about 6 folders and 4 files.

That's the problem. Rule-of-thumb: NEVER, EVER upgrade an OS. What you should ALWAYS do is backup your files to an external drive of some kind, format the machine and start fresh. Yes, it means more trouble now, but it's the best way to go in the long run.

As for being slow, it depends on the computer you're using. What does the Windows Experience index tell you?

 

[Heber]

I did it as Win7 recommended but, as I said, I did back up all the settings etc. I had to ensure they were saved because I have students files and their marks and papers on the computer - if I had lost them I would be in very serious trouble indeed! The point I was making was that it tries to convince you that it will save the necessary data - it doesn't.

What on earth is the Windows Experience Index thing? Not come across it yet whilst I have been setting it up ths morning. Ah, found it - I'll let you know.

 

[Heber]

Right, the CPU, RAM & HDD got 5 the Graphics card got 3. The laptop is only used for paper work, internet and email etc., not games or anything similar.

BTW over here the sales pitch about Win 7 was that it will wipe your whole drive clean (and they do warn people to make a proper backup) and then it will place the important stuff in a file called windows.old so that you could go to that file and get some of the things back again. In fact, win 7 invites you to go and get old stuff from windows.old except that in mine there was nothing there worth even having in a file. Given that it wipes the drive first, apparently, I cannot see how parts of some old programs remained on the C drive! It had none of my emails, or WAB file - it had none of my favourites or other settings etc - but I had a copy of them so I'm up and running! But that is not the impression Win7 publicity gives.

 

[fremen]

Heber,
With that sort of Windows Experience index, you should have a good performance. I know that Win7 recomends backing up the old OS and moving it to another folder. However, it doesn't usually work very well. Formats are always the best way to go in order for trash not to pile up.

As for IE 8, it IS horrid. I'd download Firefox 3.5 or Google Chrome if I were you. Benchmarks show they run circles around IE 8, and are more stable. Why MS hasn't been able to put out a decent browser yet is beyond me, but that's what it is.

Kol tov,
Fremen

 

[Heber]

Heber,
With that sort of Windows Experience index, you should have a good performance. I know that Win7 recomends backing up the old OS and moving it to another folder. However, it doesn't usually work very well. Formats are always the best way to go in order for trash not to pile up.

As for IE 8, it IS horrid. I'd download Firefox 3.5 or Google Chrome if I were you. Benchmarks show they run circles around IE 8, and are more stable. Why MS hasn't been able to put out a decent browser yet is beyond me, but that's what it is.

Kol tov,
Fremen

Yeah, I use Firefox 3.5 now - I've ditched IE8! I've done a degfrag etc and cannot see anything in the msconfig window that needs to be unticked. I'll give it a few days to settle and finish loading programs etc and then have a long hard look at its innards and see what might still be in the Registry that it thinks it ought to have. If program scraps were left floating around I expect there are bits and pieces here and there that set it running in circles!

 

[Heber]

Ah, right, found a few more 'files' but they are not very useful at all.

 

[ChavaK]

That's the problem. Rule-of-thumb: NEVER, EVER upgrade an OS.

I know nothing about computers, but some tech show I was listening to on
the radio said do not even attempt to upgrade from XP to W7.

I have been using XP Pro forever...if I switch to W7 am I going to have
a tough time getting used to it? I really dread the change and having to
relearn things...but I need new computers.

 

[fremen]

I know nothing about computers, but some tech show I was listening to on
the radio said do not even attempt to upgrade from XP to W7.

I have been using XP Pro forever...if I switch to W7 am I going to have
a tough time getting used to it? I really dread the change and having to
relearn things...but I need new computers.

I don't think you'll have such a tough time at all. But if you plan on upgrading MS Office and are currently using 2003 or below, then yes, it'll be rather painful to get used to the new interface. If that's the case, you might wanna check out Open Office. It's free, very stable, opens all MS Office files, and its interface is not that different from the old Office interface.

 

[rdale]

ChavaK, one option to make the transition a little easier... get a new hard drive, and swap that out with the one that's on it now. Then you just install Win7 on the new drive. You can get USB plugs to access your old drive as an external if you don't have room for two internal drives.

Re: relearning how things work in Win7... gotta tell ya... one day my wife saw the beta version of Win7 on my comp and she asked me to put it on her computer too... she has only been back in XP a couple times since installing it (her puter is setup to dual boot into XP or Win7). She and I really like it, once you understand the relatively few changes, it really grows on you pretty fast.

 

[ChavaK]

I don't think you'll have such a tough time at all. But if you plan on upgrading MS Office and are currently using 2003 or below, then yes, it'll be rather painful to get used to the new interface. If that's the case, you might wanna check out Open Office. It's free, very stable, opens all MS Office files, and its interface is not that different from the old Office interface.

Thanks for the recommendation.....will my software that works on XP work on W7?
I don't want to spend a couple of grand to replace it....

 

[ChavaK]

ChavaK, one option to make the transition a little easier... get a new hard drive, and swap that out with the one that's on it now. Then you just install Win7 on the new drive.

These will be new computers that already have W7 on in, so that should not be
an issue.

she has only been back in XP a couple times since installing it (her puter is setup to dual boot into XP or Win7). She and I really like it, once you understand the relatively few changes, it really grows on you pretty fast.

Good to hear....

 

[Mobiosity]

I loaded it on my good old laptop, used for surfing, mail and games. It took me an hour to find where to set up the wireless receiver. It did back up all my windows files in windows.old. I broke my own rule. The advice I always give users -- don't be an early adopter. Wait until at least the 1st sp before you install or buy anything. Oh well, I only spent $50 on it through an employee purchase program so it could be worse.

 

[fremen]

Thanks for the recommendation.....will my software that works on XP work on W7?
I don't want to spend a couple of grand to replace it....

Unless it's really old software (like 10 years old or something) it should work without any headaches.

 

[ChavaK]

Unless it's really old software (like 10 years old or something) it should work without any headaches

It probably is that old...I've put off buying new because of the cost.
I think it was originally for Windows 3.2 but it has always worked just
fine on XP. Hopefully it will fare well on Win7.

 

[Heber]

Unless it's really old software (like 10 years old or something) it should work without any headaches.

I'd say 4 years or older if it runs something - I've got to buy a new web cam (this one is one 9 months old), a new DVB-T (this one is about 3 years old) However, standalone software ie not for particular hardware, should be ok back to Word 2003 and, for some other software, a lot older than that. The problems are largely due to hardware drivers, not programs, as such.