Windows 7 or XP

[that_guy]

I currently have windows 7 which has good features but takes up 100 gb of memory space and I have the xp install disc from previous laptop.. which is better?? and does anyone know how much memory xp takes

[mithrandir]

You mean 100GB of disc space. There aren't many computers that take 100GB of RAM. Is this they way it was when you bought it? Manufacturers put lots of "trial-ware" on that no-one in their right mind would want. You should uninstall everything like that you don't want.

XP will install in 4GB, but that is only XP - no applications.

And who is to say there are XP drivers for all the hardware on the new computer.

[Kal]

I have a fairly fresh W7 Pro install, with Win XP compatibility mode downloaded and installed as well (it is a downloaded addon). It takes up around 13GB of HDD space.

[that_guy]

sry, meant that got mixed up... what kind of trial ware?? and can XP use microsoft office 2007?? or is it for vista and 7 only...

[supernova1965]

I have windows 7 Ultimate and with all extra programs it only takes 15GB so I have no idea what is taking up 100GB of space:confused2: personally I would take Windows 7 over XP any day and I can pretty much say 100% you wont find all your drivers for XP

[that_guy]

ill just stick with 7 and get rid of stuff

[mithrandir]

I've only got Office 2003 on the XP laptops, but one of the other guys at work was chasing Office 2007 to get the Excel version with more columns, so he must have reason to believe it runs.

[Omaroo]

I agree - newish hardware - go with 7.

In reality, XP is now a dead operating system, so there are few real reasons to have to persist with it... :thumbsup:

[floyd_2]

We're using XP Pro SP2 and SP3 here and have 5 machines all using Office 2007 without issue. It takes just a little getting used to, but it's a good version and installs / runs fine under XP.

Dean

[norm]

I'm with Chris, stick with Windows 7. XP will loiter around for another 12months +, but industry will start making inroads in rolling it out when things start to pick up.

As others have said, just manually remove all the trial crud that comes with it.

Norm

[mithrandir]

That might be true in the home market. XP will last longer in the business world because of the number of applications that haven't been ported or the cost of porting - both in software and replacing hardware.

There are still servers running DOS 5 or NT 3.51 because the app won't run on anything newer.

[Omaroo]

That is certainly true Andrew. I have 50+ servers that I run virtualised instances of XP on that will remain until the hosts start dying, or I can do the due diligence on to move them off to Win7. Applications aren't the problem typically - it's drivers I have a hell of a time with.

We're always talking about this in reference to IIS members home systems here though.

[mithrandir]

There are enough complaints of astro software not running on Win7 because of drivers that I'm not holding my breath.

[marki]

Same old same old. They just get a OS properly sorted with good driver support and everything runs on it then they roll out a new OS and you get to do it all over again. I think I will stick with vista for the time being and upgrade to win 7 next year.

Mark

[JohnH]

That is a very bold statement - Can I really use 7 for imaging and guiding? I use a QHY5, PHD, AA4, The Sky6, ASCOM 5, a Canon 20D with IP and an Opticstar 145m plus Atik USB filter wheel and Belkin USB to serial devices (to drive the Canon shutter and connect to my G11G).

I would love to think I can run all that from 7 - has anyone switched over their imaging system yet? Can 7 use XP drivers - especially for USB devices via the compatability mode.

I am about to go for a new lappy for imaging only and the models with XP as an option are vanishing quite quickly...

[Omaroo]

Not a bold statement - just the plain truth.

[JohnH]

Sorry Chris and all if you think that was a dig at 7 or you - my questions are real - s0 perhaps I should have put this in a new thread.

My question is to those with exeriance of 7 with CCD/imaging software and guiding hardware/software - have you made it your main imaging platform, can you use XP drivers with it....my concern is new systems come with hardware that may not be supported in XP (eg SSDs/graphics) but the new OS may not support my old periperals (eg Canon 20D via IP and or AA4) without a series of upgrades ($$$)....just trying to understand is all...

[leon]

Mate as some of you guys know I have had some real dramas with XP of late.

It has always been good, but when it wants to play up it dose.

As I speak, it is doing some funny stuff, and I too wonder if I should upgrade to Windows 7.

Leon

[mill]

I am running windows 7 on a crummy old laptop and it runs all the imaging software you throw at it and more :)
If a program doesn't want to play nice it will be auto-magically reinstalled in compatibility mode and runs in its own separate memory space.
I tried lots of progs and they all work :thumbsup:

[leon]

Thanks Martin, that gives me some confidence to scrap XP and start again, which I might add I have done only some weeks ago.

Gees mate when you look back and see what you have lost it is very depressing.

leon

[Hagar]

I now run windows7 on my 64 bit observatory desktop and my dual core laptop and have only had a problem running one thing out of a huge list of software. The problem is with the PS star rounder plugin. I can live without it quite easily.

Go W7.

[Exfso]

I just bought a new laptop with Windows 7 home premium, it seems to operate almost everything that you throw at it. It is damn good at finding drivers and that is all good. Only thing if you want to run it in XP mode, you need a minimum of the pro version. I have just updated to that, cost $200 just for a key. Apparently all versions of 7 have the full monty on board, it just takes an appropriate key to activate them. Having not used Vista, I found it a bit daunting at first, but like all new operating systems, you will get used to it. I must say it appears very stable, thus far. (tongue in cheek). At this early stage, I reckon go with 7, it certainly looks to be the goods..I hope these arent famous last words....;)

[spacezebra]

Gotta like Windows 7:thumbsup:.

Cheers Petra d.

[AlexN]

I'm quite happy with Vista Ultimate at the moment... Running it on two desktops and my notebook, got XP on my EEEPC, Gentoo on my firewall/gateway and ubuntu on my file server...

Every OS has its place, As Chris said, it comes down to the hardware the system is required to run and the availability of drivers for that hardware... For and Astro-box, I think that something widely supported is the go... XP and Vista are both very good for astro work.. I'm yet to find a program that doesn't work, and have been through a ton of cameras that all work well under both....

[Manav]

Windows 7 Premium has support for Winxp compatibility, Ive just updated my desktop to it and am having no issues. Furthermore that stupid HDD paging issues seems to have gone away.

Mind you my astro laptop uses Vista and its been fine as far as drivers are concerned.

[OzRob]

I have just bought Windows 7 Professional on ebay. I hope it all works when the change-over is complete. I have decided to change because my xp is running like a dog and my xp disk refuses to work. I think it was time to update anyway.

BTW if you want to upgrade definately check out eBay. I got the OEM version for $179 for the pro version (which includes the xp compatibility module) including postage.

[Octane]

Rob,

You'll love Windows 7.

Incidentally, that's what the OEM version cost me when I had my new machine built a couple of months back.

H

[Brundah1]

G'day Doug,

Firstly I'm just dipping my toes in imaging!

Recently bought an Asus Eee Box 2Gb ram 320Gb HDD DVDRW, 6 USB2, Ethernet, supports 1900x1080 (1080p), Windows 7 Home Premium pre-installed and runs off 12VDC. Its ulta compact and can easliy mount on the back of an LCD. Also have a 22in LED monitor to the above spec and iRocks red illum keyboard. All up cost less than $800.

http://www.asus.com.au/product.aspx?P_ID=JEaDVvtKZ9hHhda2

http://www.viewsonic.com/products/desktop-monitors/lcd/x-series/vx2250wmled.htm

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=113_257&products_id=14794

IMHO the above is a better spec than a small laptop + large monitor and less load on a battery. Its also a lot less $$$ I'm calling it the "Super Astro PC".
The whole lot including a PSU will be all housed in a transport case, just 50mm wider than my wife's 14in Dell laptop bag! (Posting pics when finished).


Now before loading imaging software, I am interested in this discussion on Windows 7 or XP Pro for an imaging PC.

From your previous comments, you seem to be saying, Win 7 Home Premium is mature enough to switch over completely from XP Pro?

Perhaps you or others may be able to refine the above in relation to Atom powered laptops and Atom dual core Asus Eee laptops in particular?

My gut feeling from a bit of research is that it should be safe to skip installing XP in a second partition just for imaging. BTW I do have XP Pro 64 and Win 7 64 on my server PC - but this will not be used for imaging.

BTW thanks for your prev advice on QHY cameras, I have QHY8 + QHY5 + Meade DSI2. (Are there imaging Win 7 drivers for these?)

Cheers,

David

[Zaps]

The only Windows PC I run is used exclusively for astro apps, and it's running Windows XP Pro SP3.

Everything I use runs on it: MaxIm DL, PS CS4, CdC, SNPP6, TheSky6, Stellarium, etc.

Until those apps become Win7 only I'm sticking with XP because it works, and it plays nice with my existing hardware.

Maybe if/when that hardware dies and I upgrade to something new and shiny I will revisit the OS issue: But probably not.

Just my own 2c.

[supernova1965]

Well my job is installing new systems in businesses the size of Bluescope steel and they are all going over to Win 7 and I haven't installed XP in over a year in any Business

[allan gould]

All my PC's are running XP pro with service pack 2 . I don't put it on the Internet except to communicate via team viewer with a laptop inside via wifi and I don't let it update anything at all. This runs fast and reliable and I've never had a breakdown or dummy spit from any of my laptops. It has no bloatware with just astro software on it.

[multiweb]

I was a die hard XP user as well. I only updated to Win7 recently. I skipped Vista and all other OS in between. You'll love win7. It's as good a jump as XP was from 2000. Very robust.

[allan gould]

Marc
You may be right but at the moment if it ain't broke why fix it. I guess I'll only move to win7 or 8 when some program I absolutely need will not run in XP, but since they are all backwards compatible that may take a while. My wife has win7 on her laptop and yeah it's ok but I wouldn't redo my whole set up for a change in appearances. XP runs all my programs without a hitch so I don't see that win7 running in 64bit mode will make my guiding faster???
Processing images - yes that's a different kettle of fish. More memory and faster etc is better, but ATM I can plod along with PS3 extended in XP. Takes me so long to decide if I like a change to an image that the extra speed may be a moot point.

[multiweb]

Fair enough. If XP does the job no need to change. I'm just saying if you consider eventually moving up, Win7 is really good. It made a big difference for me, now I got used to it and wouldn't go back.