I just bought a second hand Alienware 14 gaming laptop as my next imaging and processing computer. The @&$/ has Windows 8 on it!
I am trying to roll the OS to Windows 7 but hitting a few hurdles. I am following the instructions from the Alienware support page from Dell, but looks like I don't have a win 8 pro http://en.community.dell.com/owners-...746/t/19536476
My next move is to install a SSD in the mSATA slot and install a fresh Windows 7 there and boot from SSD before reformatting the HDD.
Has anyone else had a similar experience, particularly if you have/had an Alienware laptop before?
Thanks!
Bo
I thought about it Stu,
My thinking is to have win7 on SSD and then get win 10 on HDD to make sure every program will run properly.
My current HP runs 7 and everything works.
Bo
You should probably check what version it first shipped with as if it came with Win8 then I doubt you'll be able to get drivers for Win7 for that laptop. Dell is good with updating their drivers too so if I were you I'd go forward, at least to Win8.1. I think 8.1 was a free upgrade from 8 but I guess you've missed out on a free upgrade to 10.
I don't understand the love many seem to still have for Win7 - sure it's better than Win8 but compared to Win8.1 or Win10 it was so slow, bloated, and unstable in my experience.
Guess I heard too many Win 10 not working with older programs and drivers etc.
I am happy to upgrade straight to win 10 if the following can all work properly.
EDMOD (works)
PHD2 (works)
Backyard EOS
Stellairum scope and Stellairum
Maxim DL
Images Plus camera control and processing
Photoshop 6
Registax 6
Deep sky stacker
SharpCap
I am quite sure most of them work in win10 but don't want to be stuck.
Maybe I am just over cautious
Bo
Guess I heard too many Win 10 not working with older programs and drivers etc.
I am happy to upgrade straight to win 10 if the following can all work properly.
EDMOD (works)
PHD2 (works)
Backyard EOS
Stellairum scope and Stellairum
Maxim DL
Images Plus camera control and processing
Photoshop 6
Registax 6
Deep sky stacker
SharpCap
I am quite sure most of them work in win10 but don't want to be stuck.
Maybe I am just over cautious
Bo
I can confirm the following work on Win10 for me:
- Stellarium - haven't tried Stellarium Scope on 10 but can't imagine it wouldn't work as EQMOD works (and it works fine on 8.1).
- Registax 6
- DSS
- SharpCap
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Looks like I will need to spend $150 to buy a copy of Windows 10, missed the free upgrade offer....
I read an article a couple of days ago saying you could still get it for free, I tried yesterday with an old Dell OptiPlex I have here running Windows 7 pro, and it worked, cost nothing and activated, so worth giving it a try, nothing to lose...
It may pay first, to check that you can get Win10 drivers for all of your hardware (astro gear), and that they are compatible with 64-bit architecture.
Windows 10 up and running, no major hassles so far, just updated a few Alienware drivers.
Will start installing and testing astro programs soon, wish me luck...
Col, mine is an Alienware 14, lots of grunt, 16 GB of RAM
I plan to install a SSD next and then migrate the OS over. If I manage to get a Win 7, I will install it on the HDD so I have dual OS to boot from, that's the theory anyway....
Bo
Windows 10 up and running, no major hassles so far, just updated a few Alienware drivers.
Will start installing and testing astro programs soon, wish me luck...
Col, mine is an Alienware 14, lots of grunt, 16 GB of RAM
I plan to install a SSD next and then migrate the OS over. If I manage to get a Win 7, I will install it on the HDD so I have dual OS to boot from, that's the theory anyway....
Bo
That's new 
