Windows 7 or XP

that_guy (Tony) · #1 12-01-2010, 09:41 PM

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 (Andrew) · #2 12-01-2010, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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 (Andrew) · #3 12-01-2010, 10:20 PM

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 (Tony) · #4 12-01-2010, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 (Warren) · #5 12-01-2010, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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

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 (Tony) · #6 12-01-2010, 10:54 PM

ill just stick with 7 and get rid of stuff

mithrandir (Andrew) · #7 13-01-2010, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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...

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 (Chris Malikoff) · #8 13-01-2010, 12:53 PM

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...

floyd_2 (Dean) · #9 13-01-2010, 01:52 PM

Quote:

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...

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 · #10 13-01-2010, 08:05 PM

Quote:

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

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 (Andrew) · #11 13-01-2010, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 (Chris Malikoff) · #12 13-01-2010, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 (Andrew) · #13 13-01-2010, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omaroo

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

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

marki · #14 13-01-2010, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithrandir

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

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 · #15 30-01-2010, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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...

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 (Chris Malikoff) · #16 30-01-2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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...

Not a bold statement - just the plain truth.

JohnH · #17 30-01-2010, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Not a bold statement - just the plain truth.

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 · #18 30-01-2010, 12:46 PM

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 (Martin) · #19 30-01-2010, 12:57 PM

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

leon · #20 30-01-2010, 02:02 PM

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