Windows 7 - Will it be the best of Microsoft?

[sohum]

Thought it was a few more days until it was released?

Windows 7 will be physically retailed starting October 22nd (next Thursday). However, drivers and such have (to have) been developed in advance so that everything "works out of the box". I'm surprised that it took Nvidia up to just about a week ago to release Windows 7 compatible drivers--my ATI onboard graphics had native Windows 7 64-bit drivers released almost 3 months back.

Can someone confirm that I will have to format my HD to install the full version rather than the RC.

I'm sure there are theoretically ways to trick the installer into thinking that RC -> retail is a valid upgrade path, but the general recommendation is that you do a clean install when you install any operating system. Personally, the one time I upgraded (Windows Vista Business 64-bit -> Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit) it took a long time for the process to complete (almost 3 hours or so) and once it was done, all the problems with my Vista operating system (programs not functioning correctly, etc.) were inherited by 7. So I would do a manual back up of all your data, make a list of all the programs you need and do a complete HDD wipe and start afresh.

 

[aussie1st]

That's why I didn't install many programs in Windows 7. It helps that most of my installed programs on Vista work with the click of an icon on Windows 7.

 

[barmyarmy]

Yeah well it's a new computer so I didn't have anywhere else to put the programs I needed. Data isn't a problem with my Blu-ray writer

 

[aussie1st]

Well if you have installed your programs on a separate hdd you can leave the programs installed just they won't be in registry and you won't have the add/remove option. But best to just reinstall it all.

Do you actually use your blu-ray writer? I've found the external hdd, usb drives and the 4 hdd I have on my PC are more than enough these days.

 

[barmyarmy]

Well if I had an external HDD and 4HDD I probably wouldn't!
I've only got 2 HDD; my 500GB Windows one and a 120GB one from my old computer.

 

[aussie1st]

Haha yea all these hdd are so helpful, I thank the guy that built my PC.
If you haven't already, you could turn that 120GB hdd into an external one unless its in your PC already, then you could store software you download and programs. I did a format a week ago so having all the software on hand was helpful.

 

[Hitterman]

May be Win 7 is good but after using XP for around 7 years and also Vista, I still prefer Windows XP.

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

I can't even stand XP now after using Vista for so long. 7 looks so much better, its unbelievable...

 

[SaiSrini]

I can't even stand XP now after using Vista for so long. 7 looks so much better, its unbelievable...

I agre. After using Vista on my laptop and after using Windows 7 beta and RC's, I am not able to withstand working on Windows XP. And so, I immediately removed it from my desktop and installed Windows 7 RC on it (even though I had do some upgrades to my hardware to make that happen). XP is well past its expire date. There is almost nothing in XP that Windows 7 doesnt offer

 

[MattW]

If you are a uni student:
Windows 7 AU Online Store - Student Registration
Windows 7 UK Online Store - Student Registration

Just ordered a copy of Windows 7 Professional (same price, you just need to tick a box later on in the ordering), which is downloading now. Considering how hooked I am on the RC, that's $50 I'm gladly spending. Hopefully XP mode will work on my computer (I've heard something about needing hardware virtualisation), but all of my software works fine (though a couple of things need Compatibility Mode) and likewise with hardware (after a bit of fuddling around with drivers for my TV card).

Will be a long time before the download finishes though, so I can get some backups done while I wait.

 

[aussie1st]

Dam if only they did one for NZ I might have been able to use my Auckland Uni email which I still have access to.

 

[jkartik]

i'll still prefer XP mainly because i've been using it for 8 years now..its not funny ! besides, theres nothing tempting enough in windows 7 that would make me want to switch to it...add to that, am not a big fan of an OS hogging over 1GB of ram just to look pretty.

and 20GB of installation ??

XP does everything i want,its hugely backward compatible and since TAOC is been programmed in XP, makes it even harder !

 

[SaiSrini]

1GB of RAM is too small these days. We are hearing 8GB-12GB of RAM these days coming out with newer computers. Also 20GB of installation might sound big but as again with RAM, hard drive spaces have been increasingly astronomically and the prices are shrinking down. 250GB is the norm these days. When Vista came, the specs looked too huge because at that time, these werent the in thing. But when Windows 7 is releasing today, its perfectly fine to have that kind of minimum requirements.

If you are planning to buy a new PC, I am pretty sure you wont opt for XP over 7. That would be so silly.

 

[jkartik]

and since my PC is over 2 & 1/2 years old....its not really IDEAL for me.

 

[barmyarmy]

@Matt - your processor needs to support virtualisation and then you need to enable it in bios (I also had to flash bios). Only pro and ultimate as well. Works great for me though.