[jcastle]

I plan to install 7 on a spare hard drive left over from my dead PC. This would seem like a safe option. Going back to XP would be just switching back to my other hard drive.
As for a previous commentators suggestion of switching to a Mac; The bank I use has a couple of mac's for customers to use while waiting. There are a couple of things about a mac I just don't like. I prefer a 2 button mouse, and the scroll ball did some crazy things that I couldn't live with.
I am considering a switch to Linux. I have tried it and think I could live with it.

[YoctoYotta]

Just a couple pointers contrary to the article. First, PowerISO works like a charm for loading up disc image files in Windows 7, and a rather old version at that.
Sceond, Homegroups is much better than previous implementations of sharing, as it makes it very simple to share between specific PCs on your network without automatically opening up your shares to everyone. Yes, it was possible before, but not without a good understanding of permissions. Now, you just go into a control panel screen and enter a password.

[trancethomas]

Hows it going jcastle? If you are planning a switch to Linux, great choice. I have been a user of Linux and Windows for several years now, and I can tell you that if you are looking for a Linux distro that just works out of the box, and is user friendly from a Windows convert, go with PCLinuxOS. Their 2009 release will be out soon, and that is by far and away the best Linux distro for someone who is switching from Windows.

[hawhite]

I am just wondering, what specifically would make people happy? The more articles and comments that I read concerning this beta and frankly many of Microsoft's other products; the greater the feeling that I get that there is no way that people will be happy with anything that is done.

[TheMurph]

@Zorvan
I'm glad to hear that your computer was also able to install Windows 7 in the same amount of time as mine. That's an interesting note, as I would have expected a slower machine to take a bit more time with the install than a typical Power PC configuration. Had I spare parts on hand, I would have gladly tested this fact myself. The point was more to look at the installation times for both Vista and Windows 7 to see if there would be any huge differences between the two.
I had no problem getting the Internet to work, in the "I could access Web sites and go about my daily browsing" sense. Trying to combine this activity with a download through another program and a transfer from my NAS box broke Windows 7. The connections didn't just drop out, the entire operating system chugged to a crawl. I realize Windows 7 is a beta client and that we should expect these things to happen. I just thought it was worth mentioning, especially given that Windows 7 -- unlike Vista -- installed working drivers for my network adapter upon installation of the operating system. Obviously, these drivers are not yet up to snuff. But I don't blame the operating system. I merely note that the included drivers didn't seem to function as well as those straight from the motherboard manufacturer. That shouldn't be much of a surprise.
A lack of understanding of Windows 7? I think it's painfully obvious from the length of the article that I spent a good deal of time mucking around the OS. You'll notice that I'm not blaming Windows 7 or Microsoft for the issues I faced. I'm just talking about these issues in the context of working with the beta for the first time. I trust--and hope--that any issues regarding SPTD layers (which can be tricky in an OS) or software like iTunes (which has never been fully stable on 64-bit operating systems; I can't even burn CDs in the latest version of iTunes 8 for Vista x64) will be fixed in the final. I actually like a lot about Windows 7. But I'm not sure it's enough of a boost over Vista to make me want to fork out another $150 for the final version.

[dagunny]

It was a good article and gave good insight to problems that may be faced at installation time. Thanks! Saved me some errors in my installation. I did get the PowerISO (free download not full copy) to read existing .iso files (thanks to YoctoYodda for the insight) and that makes life easier for everyone. I think Microsoft should include a utility with their Windows 7 product for that purpose. They had Virtual CD for XP but that broke in Vista. Anything to make life easier for those doing the dirty deeds. I was also able to get Symantec's Corporate x64 client 10.2.1.1000 running under the x64 version of Windows 7, so some virus protection exists. To burn a CD/DVD I was able to install the Dell version of Roxio Creator 9 and that worked for taking an .iso file to DVD/CD. Acronis Echo 8163 works so with these 3 products you can play, break, and reload the original image without fear. My test box was a Dell Precision T7400 with two Xeon Quad-cores and 16GB of RAM and 4x1TB drives. My next comparison is getting SAS to run and comparing I/O and how the OS runs with a like Vista x64 and XP x64 engine on the same platform and to try out how Windows 7 handles the RAID.

[Yaldrup]

Microsoft needs to get the REAL Vista Service Pack 2 right. Particularly, Microsoft needs to get the speed of Vista very close to the speed of the upcoming Windows 7. Why? Because there have been many late adopters of Vista, and there will be more late adopters before Windows 7 is released. Most of those late adopters are not going to jump at the first release of Windows 7. They will wait for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 7 Service Pack 2 before purchasing Windows 7. If Microsoft were to release a Service Pack 2 for Vista that fails to produce the kind of speed increases seen in Windows 7 betas, the amount of customer dissatisfaction would be enormous.
With regard to Windows user interfaces, the best user interface is produced by user's changing Vista's user interface to an XP-style interface, disabling all sidebar gadgets, and simply using Vista's transparency to beautify the XP-style interface. It's too bad doing this has been left to the end user instead of being recognized by Microsoft as the obvious interface default.

[glassmaster]

The consumer computer market has become another auto industry. Yet another new OS? Needed and useful advanced innovation, or planned obsolescence for long-run profit? That's the question.

Why can't Microsoft come out with ONE really fantastic OS and just stay with it instead of coming out with a so-called "new" OS every 3 or so years, then charge an arm and a leg for it? While it's true new computer hardware performance improves in time, and software needs to be re-designed to accommodate these advances, why can't they be the innovators (as they used to be) and develop a standardized-kernel OS for a one-time price, then offer free (or low-cost) goodies that can be downloaded and added to the basic OS per what the consumer wants and needs over time?

Times and economics have changed since the early computer innovations of the 1980s and 90s. The economy is at a trickle and being compared to the Great Depression. The public has become jaded. Gone are the awe-struck reactions to -- and jumping to purchase of -- those early tech advances. Now's the time to come up with something new that'll fit the times. We're already moving into the 2nd decade of the new century for cripes sakes.

The U.S. auto industry failed, then stood there in front of Congress with their hands out because they kept selling crappy, gas-hogging cars while ignoring the big picture the past 40 years. I hope the computer tech industry doesn't do the same.

[Yaldrup]

I want to add to my earlier comment that the two items I mentioned with regard to Vista (slow speed, and difficult navigation via an unfamiliar and poor user interface) are the biggest reasons for slow sales of Vista. Microsoft has the opportunity to correct the problem with Vista Service Pack 2. It will probably correct the speed problem, and it will probably not correct the interface problem. Similarly, the Windows 7 betas address the speed problem but do not address the interface problem. Although I have corrected the interface problem myself, doing so was time consuming. For me, the bigger problem is the speed problem. For the average user, however, the bigger problem is the interface. Everyone used XP for years and knew how to navigate within it. That was a strength that Microsoft threw out the window.

[TechieXP]

Did your system have some hiccup with the booting? Bec I didnt have the problem of the installation starting again just bec I leave teh CD in. 2 things that can cause it. if you have your system set to boot from CD first and one of your buttons are stuck...it will cause this. 2nd...if you have CD set to boot and you have no other drive to boot next...check bios...if you have CD 1st, make sure you have HDD second or floppy second and hdd 3rd. if you have only one device it will always choose that device and never look for another.

Drivers...its a beta...all drivers aren't going to be on the disc yet. However, I dont know what board you have...but my Asus also has a SoundMax integrated card and 7 installed it just fine. However it didn't install it as a SoundMax device by name...it used th generic version of the driver which used the ADIxxxx which is who makes the device. MS drivers are never retail, they make generic versions which support only the basic function of the device. Also Windows 7 uses Vista's WDDM driver model...meaning Vista's drivers will work in Windows 7...whichs means there wont be many drivers that will have to be recoded.
An its a beta, if u wasnt expecting issues then you shouldnt have install it. you said yourself its a beta...so why were u expecting everything to work correctly.

My advice...dont waste time dual booting Windows 7 Beta with Vista. Virtual PC by MS or Virtualbox which is open-source are both software you can use to try out the beta with screwing anything up. Its a beta and isn't design to be used as your main OS. you'd be stupid to do so...key word is BETA. A virtual machine may not show the full speed of the said software, but you can play with it with breaking anything.

Software is best tested when RCx (release candidate). Since you should install software now, even if you install directly on hardware you really cant test speed. Every version of Windos i ever used was fast on a new install. Even it a virtual pc it is fast enough for testing as long as you have a good spec'd system. If you install it on a drive, learn to use your bios or open you case and disconnect teh drive that has a previosu Windows install. If you dont and you want to remove teh beta you will need to know how to edit teh Boot.ini if you dual boot with XP and EasyBCD if you dualboot with Vista. Either way it is technical and if you're not you'll only have more problem. If you plan to test on a second partition on the same drive...don't. Bec reoving means you can only do it one of the 2 ways and it is a hassle. Also you can't upgtade a beta...so when the next beta comes out you will have to format ad install teh new one. and when RT is out and you're running a beta you cant upgrade it either. Saveyourself tie an headache...and potentially trashing an OS install that is working good...because you will break it. And safe mode and system restore won't be able to help you.

[don544]

So how old is VISTA?
And why should i even dream of forking out dollars ,yen or gold for more MS?

[TechieXP]

The install reasonable time is 20-25 minutes. However, the speed of your hardware isn't always the issue. The issue is what hardware you ahve and how much. I was using 7 on VMware...i now installed it to a drive. However it took 28mins...and i have a quadcore and i am sure i have a faster chipset then you. But I also have more hardware. My MB is riddled with features including dual nics and sound esata 3 USB hubs and each having 4 usb connections. I also have 2 video cards, 4HDD and 2CD/DVD, a floppy drive that also has the flash memory drives builtin. And I have again Quadcore Q6600 w/4GB of RAM and my videocards are PCIe.

Also during installation, tie speed of your DVDROM is more important and how fast or large your cache is on the drive itself. A DVD drive with cache is faster then one without. Speed of HDD's matter 7200 vs 5400, speed of your ram.

[NoSmokingBandit]

Ugh...
This was hard to read. It seemed like the author went into windows 7 with the intent to dislike it.

[auutumn]

I created a 30GB partition and I've had little problems with Win7. I presume and dearly hope that installation time will decrease before/at launch; I also hope the process is streamlined a little more.

I had trouble with installing drivers for my motherboard (nVidia 680i) and sound card (Creative x-fi Titanium).

Trying to install the software for LogMeIn (free) didn't work as it terminate prematurely.

Some other annoyances and tweaks exist so I'm hoping MS addresses the driver issues and really listens to customer feedback.

[TechieXP]

no one said you have too.

[Bruceslog]

When I activated Win7's Home Netowrk, I remember Reading that It Told Me that it can ONLY CONNECT TO OTHER WINDOWS 7 Computers.

[ozlaw]

I read the same about only being able to connect to a Windows 7 network. Actually untrue. I finally got my laptop with Windows 7 to connect to the internet, via my home network based on a Vista machine, by doing a clean install as opposed to an upgrade. The only problem I am having now is that for some reason Windows 7 is unable to find a workable driver for my laptop's hardrive (a common Seagate Momentus 7200.2). There was no problem with the drive, however, when I installed Windows 7 as an upgrade. Anyone with a problem similar to this? If so has anyone found a workaround driver. In Device Manager the drive shows up but has the yellow question mark and will not start due to driver incompatibility. For now I am using an external DVD drive but my laptops DVD will not even open when the open button is pushed. Laptop is a modified Sony Viao VGN-AR520E (T7100 to T7500, upgraded harddrive (4,200 to 7,200.2) and 4gb of DDR2, PC2-5300). Sharing issues we encounter as related to the article might be better than arguing Apple vs. Windows as no one is going to change anyone else's mind, at least that one readers opinion.

[Bruceslog]

Have you tried the Seagate website for a Vista driver ?

I don't know if SOny would have one since that isn't the hard drive that Sony put into the laptop to begin with.



And my reply about the Win7 Home server above was in response to another poster who couldn't get it to connect to his XP network...

Sounds like you might have found a work around though.

Good work !

And let us know if you find a driver for that Seagate hard drive that works !

[MadHatter]

Wow. I just want to say that "opiniator"'s comment on this article has to be one of the most informative, yet simple takes on the new Win7 I've read yet. And to be completely honest, one of the most unbiased as well.
So, if you ever come back to this article. Here's a thumbs up for you "opiniator".

[Dom2354]

What a bunch of frilly panty wearing girls, and just like a girl you feel free to have a thought and write it down and send it to somebody to make yourself feel something, hope it isn't smart.
LOOK the one thing all you mooks have in common is that you all wrote your comments on a PC running MICROSOFT SOFTWARE well guess what so am I Windows 7 and I was able to get all the drivers and software I needed for an O/S that is in a BETA edition.
And for all you yahoo's who think you know something about computing anytime you install a beta O/S do it on a hard drive that doesn't have the O/S you are currently calling your primary one on it. See it's people like you that made elctro shock therapy acceptable.
Now for all you genius's who say that Vista sucks and XP is so great. I bet 100% of you moron's are the same people that said XP sucked in it's first 2-3 years and wanted win 98 back. Oh ya thats right when XP first raised it's perfect head no one liked it either and cried and complained about software not working with it and how clumsy it was and now 8 yrs later it is Gods gift to computers. Why don't you people just shut up learn Vista and in 6 more years you will be saying Don't get rid of it.
OK that's enough from me I'm now going to watch real porn on my beta ver of an O/S that will surly suck until I put in enough time to realize that I'm the slow one but I will catch up and enjoy what I can't right now. Here's to all of you catching up and watching PORN.