Windows 7 Converts?

[supernova1965]

I have been using Windows 7 for a year now and I am impressed.

Before I go on I will say that I am and have been a died in the wool LINUX lover made even more so after VISTA:P:screwy:. But I just think someone else took over the development of Windows 7 the only problem I have found is with the 64bit version it wont work with unsigned drivers you can get around this but only by hitting F8 on every boot and disabling driver signing. I will be upgrading my computers from XP to Win7

[Bloodbean]

Hi Warren,

I'm in the same boat as you, hated Vista, love Linux (Ubuntu being my fav) and have been using Win7 x64 for the past few months. It does seem like a different team designed it compared to Vista! I've converted all my machines except one laptop as I haven't tried my QHY5 camera and PHD guiding on Win7 yet. I think I'd have difficulty finding 64 bit drivers for it.

Troy

[supernova1965]

You can use 64bit Vista drivers with win 7 if that helps

My fav Linux is Sabayon 4.0

[AdrianF]

I have been using win7 and I started the PC today and got a message about being the victim of software piracy and another message in lower right corner saying this version of windows is an illegal copy I have lost everything on the HD fortunately I have backups of everything. Not impressed one little bit at the moment. Now deciding on vista 32 bit or 64 bit. I hope my spelling is ok as I am sending this messge from my iPhone and I have big fingers.

I took a photo of the screen claiming victim of piracy if I can figure out how to attach the photo to a post from the iPhone I will attach it. The software was downloaded from Microsoft download site.
Just tried to reinstall win7 and stops installing at 90% and I have to hit the reset switch to get out of it.



Adrian

[Bloodbean]

Where did you get your copy of Win7 from? Is it a RTM version?

Troy

[supernova1965]

No it is RC Build 7100 I downloaded it from Microsoft along with quite a few Codes for installation.

[Jules76]

I don't mean to be harsh, but Beta software comes with certain risks. While the RC is feature complete, it is still Beta and will have it's fair share of problems so data loss is always possible. You get what you pay for. :)

[leon]

Bloody hell not another one.

Leon

[Harpspitfire]

i was at a computer shop yesterday and asked the tech about Win7, he told me if i want it, buy a Win7 computer when available, he suggested i dont upgrade from XP- i dont know much about this stuff, i only use a comp for mail, web search, and AP- XP as it is works out fine for me

[supernova1965]

If you buy a new computer now or bought one within the last year you will get a free upgrade to windows 7 but microsoft recommends that you don't upgrade but do a clean install of windows 7. If you are not buying a new computer you can purchase a upgrade version for $ 200 AU, still a clean install its just that you need a previous version's disc to do the install. Yeah Julian I feel the same about Beta software but I have to say this version and the beta one before it is as bug free as I have ever seen a windows product even after the service packs are released. After the version I am using runs out in october next year I will be purchasing at least 4 copies of WIN 7 as it is a big improvement over XP. Vista doesn't even rate a mention in the mix. Yes data loss is possible but I am so confident in it that I am using it for work. I work in the IT industry as a computer installer and maintenance and trouble shooter.

[hayez]

I've been running build 7100 (32 bit) for a couple of months now on my laptop and Media Centre and it's been great. The only bug is on the laptop it doesn't like the old sound chip (old laptop that I've put extra RAM in for Windows 7) but I can live with that and if I had a tinker I could probably fix it - but I'm a bit lazy. I tried to get a copy of RTM but no luck so far but at the moment I'm fine on the 7100 build running without any problems on old hardware.

[mithrandir]

Does that price allow an upgrade from 32 bit XP to 64 bit win 7?

If not I think I'll run 64 bit linux and put XP in a VM.

[toryglen-boy]

i will wait until its offically released, before i pass judgement.

:)

[supernova1965]

To the best of my knowledge it would contain both 32bit and 64bit versions but you need to confirm this as I am not 100% sure on this. There is also talk that microsoft are going to offer the upgrade to students at tafes or schools and universities a $30 upgrade option unconfirmed at present

[dpastern]

Microsoft, of course, does this to try and lure the TAFE and universitie's students from exploring Linux. It is really nothing more than the software giant taking advantage of its monopoly in the industry, and making sure that new generations do not learn of alternative operating systems. The thorn in Microsoft's side is currently Apple though, it's doing what Linux could not do - taking market share.

Dave

[Octane]

Dave,

The majority of university students don't need Linux. Most just need word processing software.

All computing science faculties run some variant of UNIX; typically Solaris, so, they do get exposure to other systems, if it's relevant to their studies.

Regards,
Humayun

[MrB]

Do we actually need to have the disc, or just the reg key?
Most laptops(dunno about desktops) sold in the last few years pre-installed with OEM Vista never included a disc, just a recovery partition.

[dpastern]

True, they might not need it, but a lot of the youth in college etc are experimenting with other operating systmes, such as Linux. I think you'll find most Universities are using Linux, not Solaris in their computer subjects these days ;-)

Dave

[Benny L]

I've only just upgraded to Vista 64bit and I have had a much better run with Vista than XP 64bit.. kept getting BSOD under the XP o/s

I'll have a look at windows 7 when the next version of windows comes out and all the teething problems are fixed :P

[Tandum]

I've already spruced Win7 here -> http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=49810

However, I have found tonight that ccd inspector does not see images coming from maixim and I don't know how to make that work as there are no error messages at all :(

[AdrianF]

I just got my Win7 working again. Not sure what happened but I think the HD died as I couldnt format or install anything on it, bought a new HD and everything is OK, now all I gotta do is reinstall everything. As for the error "A victim of software counterfeiting" I do not know. When I can retrieve the photo off my iPhone I will post it here. I still think Win7 is good.

Adrian

[AdrianF]

After using Win7 for about 6 months I turned the PC on and I got this error message. The install had been registered with Microsoft.

Adrian

[bobson]

Adrian,

That copy of win 7 is not full version but beta, which means its for evaluating purpose given to you only. When that evaluation time expires, obviously you can not update that copy anymore and therefore the message. Of course there are many ways people go around this issue and continue using it, but thats beyond this forum.

[AdrianF]

Ok I understand that but I was using build 7100. I started out using beta version but then updated when RC1 was released.

Adrian

[bobson]

Interesting...
Is your PC battery OK? I mean time and date is correct?

Just found this forum and it talks about wrong time, on the bottom of the page there is solution (maybe):

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/3191-windows-update-validation-error.html

[supernova1965]

when you said that you updated did you do a clean install or did you do an upgrade its the only thing I can think of that may cause the error. I am sure you would have done a clean install you seem to know what you are doing from what you have said so far as far as I can tell.

[AdrianF]

Good one maybe that is/was the problem. I had to replace the HD because I couldnt do anything with it, no format nothing. Maybe the problem with HD was coincidental. I will replace the battery tomorrow.

Adrian

[bobson]

Adrian,

It wouldn't be bad to read terms and conditions, its possible that new hard drive is the reason, I mean new installation. Microsoft might think you are trying to install it on more than one PC, or redistributing it. Since once installed it has to be activated on-line, and they have you there already activated after installation with everything (CPU number, motherboard and so on) the same but different hard drive...just a thought, if other things fail to fix the problem.

[supernova1965]

Unfortunately for you, You can install this distro on up to 3 Computers per Product Key. So that is not the cause for this error sorry to give you this news. I am completely at a loss as to what caused this problem.

[Tandum]

http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/2009/09/30-windows-7-for-students/

Get a .edu email and get win7 for US$30.

[AdrianF]

The error was before I reinstalled everything. The PC was ok when I shut it down and when I restarted the PC the next morning that was the error I got. Whatever the reason Win7 is now up and running normally now after reinstalling on another drive. I replaced the battery on the Mainboard reset all the parameters and everything is OK.

Adrian

[AdrianF]

Once Win7 is released officially I will be able to purchase Win7 at a very low cost here in Oz. As an engineering teacher I get software on whats known as a "work at home" licence not sure of the cost at this time but I paid $48 for Vista Ultimate.

Adrian

[Rod66]

I've had Windows 7 Ultimate (the official version) installed for a few weeks now and I must say its very very sweet. Installation is a little problematic though. I resisted the urge to ever go to vista (rightly so as it turns out) so I've been on XP for a while now. You can not upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 without it doing a wipe of your XP drive. That's right folks, Microsoft in their wisdom don't offer a clean upgrade path.
You could upgrade XP to vista then vista to windows 7 - but who's going to try that?
What I eventually did was grabbed 100Gb of partition space on one of my drives - I have several 1TB drives on my pc, turned that into a windows 7 drive and installed there. I also turned the machine into a dual boot - which windows 7 makes it pretty easy to do. So now I can boot into windows XP or Windows 7 and windows 7 still sees ALL my other drives and I didn't lose anything.

As an operating system, so far its the cleanest booting and fastest booting out of the Microsoft Operating systems. In fact so easy was the install I'm still looking over my shoulder wondering where all the bad experiences went...

[supernova1965]

Apparently Microsoft don't even recommend an upgrade from Vista either as far as I can tell they want a complete break from vista's file systems and believe that an upgrade from vista will bring problems into the new install and I think they are right anything that has any part of vista in it can only cause problems.

[kustard]

In my experience when upgrading from one O/S to the next, it is always best to follow three simple steps:

1. Backup your data.
2. Format your hard drive.
3. Install new O/S, do not go the upgrade route.

No matter how hard they try, the upgrade path is never without problems.

As for Win7, I've tried it and it pretty clean and as others have pointed out the main issue will be getting signed drivers and some older hardware to work.

I'll be sticking with XP though at work as we can't run Vista with some of our engineering CAD tools and development MCU tools. Heh we even have an old Win98 box for some of the programming rigs.

[supernova1965]

I have Sim Earth (DOS) running on windows7 without having to do anything except install it. When I tried the same on Vista I couldn't even install it.