Know this about a Windows 7 Upgrade

[jcrandall]

I've been running 7 Pro for about a month.

I've been very impressed with the XP mode - if you have the hardware to support virtulization it works great, just like another machine in a window.

The backup feature in 7 Pro is pretty well done as well, it does what Ghost used to do for me, make a full system image after a clean install / driver setup, and was even easier. Did the whole thing right in Windows w/o rebooting and tested afterwards to work great.


For those upgrading from Vista Home Prem to 7 Pro, consider doing the home premium upgrade to 7 then the "anytime upgrade" to pro from within windows 7. It costs about the same (at retail prices) and would let you avoid the clean install (I think - not tested, but it should). For those that already bought Pro, sorry.

 

[vurbano]

Win7 working great on 2 laptops here.

 

[TheForce]

There would have to be a very compelling reason for me to "upgrade" a working trouble free OS on an existing computer with all applications running properly. I'm well past the stage in my life where I just have to have the latest. As such, I will jump to win 7 when it's time to jump to a knew machine and it comes installed. This is what I did with Vista. That doesn't mean I may not take a peak at a new OS but then I would do it on a clean install as I experimented with a spare hard drive on my laptop. While win 7 seemed to run fine, I didn't test any real pro applications like video editing or Photoshop CS4.
I'm still having issues with Snow Leopard and these issues aren't unique to me as they are well recognized bugs that Apple is denying exists. Sure glad I have my Tiger drive ready to go if I need a working bug free Final Cut application.

My point is this- When in Beta you get what you ask for but when it is released you are getting a slap in the face because it is supposed to be ready for prime time. The truth is you are an early adopter which means you go into expecting it to work but pressure to release is too great so you are about ready to pay money to get screwed. IMO, that is worse than beta.

It's OT but have you seen the spike in swine flu a week after they release the first vaccine? It's no different in that industry. At least the win 7 Early Adopter version won't kill you. It will just make you sick!

 

[grydlok]

Yeah, absolutely.

One other piece of information on the original topic: once I realized Pro was out, I pulled one of the two copies of Home Premium I have, and the setup did work - but it told me to deauthorize itunes, and uninstall Windows Mobile Device Center, the ATI Catalyst Control Center, and three or four other things -- some of which were specific to the desktop's configuration; ofcourse if I do what they suggest, I'll need to be able to find the original install software. That will probably slow me down upgrading for a bit, as I am not sure where half of that stuff is.

You do know that it actually doesn't upgrade the os but creates a folder called windows.old, where all the vista/xp system files, apps, or documents are stored. Once you are finished you would still have to go back and re-install every app you had running.

 

[teamlazyboy]

You do know that it actually doesn't upgrade the os but creates a folder called windows.old, where all the vista/xp system files, apps, or documents are stored. Once you are finished you would still have to go back and re-install every app you had running.

that's only when you do a full install without deleting the partitions and formatting

also: most Vista Drivers work fine in Win7

 

[RandallA]

Upgrade path.

Starting with Windows Vista Upgrading to Windows 7

Business Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate
Home Basic Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate
Home Premium Home Premium, Ultimate
Ultimate Ultimate

 

[d777jj]

What printer do you have? Just because there are no drivers to download doesn't mean the printer isn't usable in WIndows 7. For example, HP hasn't released a driver package for the OfficeJet 6500, but Windows 7 comes with a basic printer driver for it that allows me to print. If I want to scan, I either go into an XP virtual machine that has the entire driver package installed, or do a web scan.

I have an HP 3310 and was able to install my Vista HP program for it by right clicking and using "troubleshoot compatibility"

 

[rockymtnhigh]

I have an HP 3310 and was able to install my Vista HP program for it by right clicking and using "troubleshoot compatibility"

I am still struggling with my HP Laser Jet M1552; it is connected to my wife's machine which is on Vista 32 Home Premium. I added the x64 drivers to it, and although when I try to connect to it from my Win7 laptop it says it is there, and accepts the printer, the printer is in a constant ERROR state - even though the actual printer is fine.

I am sure some of this has to do with having 32bit and 64bit OSes. But geez, what a pain.

 

[meStevo]

There would have to be a very compelling reason for me to "upgrade" a working trouble free OS on an existing computer with all applications running properly. I'm well past the stage in my life where I just have to have the latest. As such, I will jump to win 7 when it's time to jump to a knew machine and it comes installed. This is what I did with Vista. That doesn't mean I may not take a peak at a new OS but then I would do it on a clean install as I experimented with a spare hard drive on my laptop. While win 7 seemed to run fine, I didn't test any real pro applications like video editing or Photoshop CS4.
I'm still having issues with Snow Leopard and these issues aren't unique to me as they are well recognized bugs that Apple is denying exists. Sure glad I have my Tiger drive ready to go if I need a working bug free Final Cut application.

My point is this- When in Beta you get what you ask for but when it is released you are getting a slap in the face because it is supposed to be ready for prime time. The truth is you are an early adopter which means you go into expecting it to work but pressure to release is too great so you are about ready to pay money to get screwed. IMO, that is worse than beta.

It's OT but have you seen the spike in swine flu a week after they release the first vaccine? It's no different in that industry. At least the win 7 Early Adopter version won't kill you. It will just make you sick!

Unlike your problems with Apple's OS, Windows 7 is the best MS OS in ages and could have gone RTM 9 months ago probably. The beta versions were just that solid.

 

[grydlok]

that's only when you do a full install without deleting the partitions and formatting

also: most Vista Drivers work fine in Win7

no it's on the upgrade version as well. The Full install wipes everything.

 

[diogen]

...I didn't test any real pro applications like video editing or Photoshop CS4.
...The truth is you are an early adopter which means you go into expecting it to work but pressure to release is too great.

Specialized applications always struggle while changing operating systems.
Vegas, CS3/4 are not really in this category. Both, Vegas and CS4 work fine under Win7 (32bit) since b.7201 (first I tried).
It can be time consuming to set it up in a new environment but that is not synonymous to being unstable. Even if experience tells you it is likely.

Having said that, there is no obvious advantage to run those apps under Win7 as opposed to Vista.
I'd certainly stick to the setup that is working now, no doubt about it. Especially considering additional time and $$$ needed.
But there is no objective data (that I know) that Win7 is less stable than Vista for these apps.

Diogen.

 

[mike123abc]

In the MS intro I went to MS said they kept the windows version the same (6) so that programs would think they were installing on Vista. This way the apps would not complain that they did not work with a new version of Windows...

 

[TheForce]

Both, Vegas and CS4 work fine under Win7 (32bit) since b.7201 (first I tried).

diogen: What is your basis for saying that? Have you tested it under all uses? I'd be willing to bet you haven't. Here is a typical scenario that happens in these robust applications:

People used FCP on Leopard and everything worked. Then they upgrade to Snow and discover that everything in FCP works EXCEPT, capture in HD. Capture in SD works fine. Apple has no solution other than to reinstall everything backwards to Leopard. Then wait for the next upgrade of FCP at a huge price. I find Apple employees and Machead cultists are the worst offenders of lies about product perfection.

I upgrade my Vegas to Vista 64 and both Vegas 32 bit and Vegas 64 bit seem to work great. However, Vegas 64 bit doesn't recognize half my 3rd party plugins. Worse, it is said that these plugins will never work in 64 bit version of the application. So, now I have to edit part of a project in 32 bit Vista and finish it in 64 bit to achieve the Plugin as well as the speed of 64 bit application and the hardware.
Diogen, I believe it is irresponsible to make blanket statements like you did. You are not the only one who does this. I am not picking on you but the practice is pervasive in the industry. Unless you have tested and verified everything possible which is a near impossible task, you will have to eat your words. Someone out there will be doing something that slipped through the beta cracks and that something is critical to them. They will feel they were lied to.

What people complain about is that the beta doesn't find these things. I've done my share of beta testing and know all too well that the testing is not 100%. Lucky if it's 30%. Stuff always slips through the cracks but what makes things worse, far worse, is claims that stuff works perfectly when the industry has not tested it but just assumes.

Bottom line is if you want to be on the cutting edge, you better not be doing mission critical stuff.

 

[diogen]

diogen: What is your basis for saying that? Have you tested it under all uses?
...However, Vegas 64 bit doesn't recognize half my 3rd party plugins.
...Diogen, I believe it is irresponsible to make blanket statements like you did.

First, I said nothing about 64-bit Vegas, haven't used it, period. Same about FCP.
Second, of course I haven't tried it under all uses. Can you say you did? Encoding is my hobby, not job.
Third, yes, blanket statements are bad. Sorry, if I made one (don't think so). Here is an example of another one (no offense):

When in Beta you get what you ask for but when it is released you are getting a slap in the face because it is supposed to be ready for prime time. The truth is you are an early adopter which means you go into expecting it to work but pressure to release is too great so you are about ready to pay money to get screwed.

I don't understand why this wagon circling...
You have something that works to your satisfaction. Stick to it. I always do.
Why going to all the trouble to undermine other options? Wile having NO proof...

Diogen.

 

[JonUrban]

I did a W7 Ultimate clean install on my HP laptop and it was a breeze once I got all of the drivers installed. I had most of them on a USB drive before I did the installation.

So far, it's great!

 

[rockymtnhigh]

After doing a complete image with Acronis True Image, I did the WIndows 7 Home Premium upgrade on my Vista Quad core desktop. Windows encouraged me to uninstall the Adobe Catylst Control Center, and unauthorize my machine from itunes. I followed their recommendation and did the install. I then walked away from the machine and was not prompted for anything for 3 hours. The upgrading of files and settings took a long time(I suspect it was indexing every file for the next Windows search function), but once it finished all I had to do was plug in the key, confirm time zone, and specify the type of network, one more reboot, and it was up and running.

So far, all programs are working, and there has not been as much as a hiccup. I setup the homegroup network, and entered the password on my laptop and now have total access between both machines.

 

[Jim S.]

After doing a complete image with Acronis True Image, I did the WIndows 7 Home Premium upgrade on my Vista Quad core desktop.

Home Premium? Is it using all four cores? I know it will only support a single CPU socket, but I've also heard that it will only support two cores.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Home Premium? Is it using all four cores? I know it will only support a single CPU socket, but I've also heard that it will only support two cores.

All four cores are still active, and yes, Home Premium. But Vista Home Premium also supported all four cores. I can see them all in the Windows Task Manager under performance. You can see it in the attachments I created using the new Windows Snipping tool.

 

[Foxbat]

Physical memory
Total: 6143 MB
Free: 57 MB

Really. 6 Gigabytes of RAM and Windows 7 sucks down all but 57 MB? Really.

I see the caching; I see the 3 GB "Available". So, what's the difference between "Available" and "Free"?

Also, I assume you went with the 64-bit version of Win7.

 

[highway2]

I'am a beta tester for windows 7. I use a dual boot on my laptop. I have been
using it for about six months with no problems. The other operating system I'am
using is XP third edition.