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Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

As of today I have installed the official (Legal) copy of Windows 7 Ultimate (x64).

I installed a new hard drive and pushed the OS onto the same hardware that I have been running with Vista Ultimate SP2 (x32).

First impressions:

1. It looks just like Vista except for the wallpaper and taskbar. I suppose it is a bit cleaner looking on some of the dialog boxes.
2. It has a lot less prompts than Vista
3. Installation took 20 minutes for a fresh clean install
4. When downloading through any browser (Chrome/Mozilla/IE) the downloads seem to burst and then flatten out. I was able to download the 58MB ATI graphic driver in 3 seconds. That is insane.
5. I have only needed to reboot for one product update, Adobe Design Premium CS4. No Microsoft update has required a reboot and I have chosen to do all Windows Updates.
6. Windows seem much more robust. They feel like they aren't interconnected as much. For example when I move one around it doesn't seem to impact any other's performance. This was not the case with Vista.
7. RSAT does not work yet. This might matter to Knyte and none of the rest of you would give a shit.

Title: Titlating Joined: Dec 17 2007 Posts: 5042

So in english it's good then?

Posted: Aug 07 2009 01:33 pm

I can't wait to upgrade to this, Vista is fucking KILLING me these days ( it wasn't so bad at first).

I didn't realize it was available commercially yet.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Optimist With Doubts wrote:

So in english it's good then?

Aye. I will be replacing all of my Vista installs as I have time to do so.

It isn't a direct replacement for XP though. XP is faster. That is because it is meant to run on weaker hardware. Older machines belong on XP, no doubt. Anything with a Vista sticker will run better with 7 though.

Posted: Aug 07 2009 03:52 pm

sweet. thanks for the heads up GP. and keep us up to date as well w/anything new you might discover

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

Sweet ass, I need an operating system for my desktop and windows 7 seems to look like it will work the best

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Aero Shake is pretty cool, a nice way to clear out the other Windows without clicking.

Also "Snap" is cool too, a very easy way to get a Word Document and a web page side by side. Or an HTML editor and Website. Very cool.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Whats-new-with-the-Windows-desktop

Posted: Aug 07 2009 04:13 pm

GPFontaine wrote:

Aero Shake is pretty cool, a nice way to clear out the other Windows without clicking.

Also "Snap" is cool too, a very easy way to get a Word Document and a web page side by side. Or an HTML editor and Website. Very cool.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Whats-new-with-the-Windows-desktop

wow, these features are actually pretty cool. especially the desktop background slideshow. i really like that. its totally useless, but still a neat feature

Docinsano's Channel 63 · Posted: Aug 07 2009 04:19 pm

I have the Release Candidate and have been using it for the past 3 months or so with no problems. I can recommend it.

Joined: Jul 28 2009 Posts: 34

I'm glad to hear it's working well. I know my brother has vista and isn't a huge fan.

I was going to upgrade to windows 7 but I just switched to Mac instead.

Posted: Aug 07 2009 09:17 pm

It's fun how Windows always likes to zig-zag between good and bad, 95 was meh, 98 was amazing for it's time, 2000 was crappier than Vista(IMO), XP is/was godly, Vista was lacking and annoying, and now it seems 7 is going to be amazing.

Joined: Apr 09 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3112

Is 7 as much of a RAM hog as Vista? I kept reading how Vista would give up memory to other programs that needed it, but it always seemed to hold on to that 500 megs with all of its might.

Posted: Aug 07 2009 10:08 pm

Eh, not really too worried about RSAT, as I've always used VNC Server to remote manage.

I want to upgrade to 7, but I need to backup all my files on my current Vista build, and not looking forward to it.

Posted: Aug 07 2009 11:44 pm

Knyte wrote:

I want to upgrade to 7, but I need to backup all my files on my current Vista build, and not looking forward to it.

This.

Its going to be arduous and lame.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Installing Adobe Design Premium CS4 took longer than the OS install. I can totally see why a person wouldn't want to do a fresh install.

As for memory management, it is better than Vista. Significantly. I don't have a number to give, but I can tell you that by going to the 64 bit version of the OS I have gained back 1/2 a gig of RAM since my previous installation was a 32 bit OS recognizing only 3.5GB of my 4GB installed.

For those who have less RAM I have read reports that say 7's memory management is improved over Vista.

It is important to note that the RTM is more feature full than the RC as far as having all libraries and source files installed. This means that it is slightly less robust than the RC. Still it is a lot better than Vista.

I still have yet to crash the system in any way.

Posted: Aug 11 2009 10:48 am

Andrew Man wrote:

Knyte wrote:

I want to upgrade to 7, but I need to backup all my files on my current Vista build, and not looking forward to it.

This.

Its going to be arduous and lame.

Good news. Microsoft released a handy chart which shows your upgrade paths to Windows 7. And, in some cases you can upgrade without losing any files, programs, or setting. (Which is true in my case, going from Vista Ultimate x64 to Windows 7 Ultimate x64)

Posted: Aug 11 2009 09:11 pm

Well, it works. I started the upgrade, left to run some errands, came home and thought it failed. My computer was sitting at the desktop. Same icons, same widgets, same wall paper, only the taskbar looked different.

Sweet.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Knyte wrote:

Well, it works. I started the upgrade, left to run some errands, came home and thought it failed. My computer was sitting at the desktop. Same icons, same widgets, same wall paper, only the taskbar looked different.

Sweet.

Too bad you don't know how long it took.

Posted: Aug 11 2009 10:49 pm

I would say about 45 minutes to an hour.

Posted: Aug 11 2009 10:49 pm

I was only gone for about an hour and it was about 15 minutes in when I left.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

That is pretty damn quick.

Did you happen to check the size of files on your hard drive before and after? It is supposed to be a smaller footprint, but I don't know if that only happens with a clean install.

Also, which upgrade path did you do?

Posted: Aug 12 2009 09:54 am

I didn't check the size of the files. But, I do know my Windows 7 disc was only 3.2 GB, which is smaller than the Vista discs.

I upgraded from Vista Ultimate x64 to Windows 7 Ultimate x64.

The only issues were Windows 7 told me about 3 programs that were known to have campatibility issues with 7 (Daemon Tools, Symantec AV, and something else.)

Also, I had to download my nvidia graphic drivers and re-install them. (Even though they already seemed to work in 7, as Aero glass was running) I didn't have access to the nvidia desktop setup, so I couldn't re-enable my SLI. Found the newest drivers, installed, enabled SLI, done. Also, I damn near shit myself when after I installed the drivers, I didn't even to reboot the computer. Not after the install, not to setup the 2nd card, and not after enabling SLI. I could get used to this.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Symantec just does an upgrade and will be fine. I had to read up on that to make sure ahead of time. Works like a champ though as long as you have a 64 bit version.

The nVidia drivers required a reinstall or the control center required it?

Did you have to reboot for anything? Only Adobe seems to force me to.

Posted: Aug 12 2009 02:50 pm

Nope, no reboot needed. Like I said, I think the graphic drivers were moved over just fine, as I had Aero Glass enabled, and was in my native 12x10 resolution when 7 first booted. I just didn't have my quick bar link. (ie Right-Click on the desktop and having "Nvidia Control Center" in the drop down menu.) So, I reinstalled the drivers. (Which was fine because I was about two releases behind, anyhow.)