HOT: Windows 7 Information

If your machine came with Windows XP find out how you can manage your hard disk so as to install Windows 7 along side XP. If you're able to partition the disk you can then install Windows 7. And to me this is the best option. But mind you, Windows XP should be installed first. Though if Windows 7 is installed first you can still install XP but you have to dig out some processes before making the XP appear.

It is up to each manufacturer whether they want to participate in the program, the exact dates of participation, and how the free upgrade will be administered. Usually, though, a voucher will be included with the computer that can then be redeemed for an upgrade DVD from the manufacturer sometime after Windows 7 is released.

John

know if Win 7 will work on HP Mini 2140 notebook, and do HP usually participate in the update program?
Thanks
Mike7P

The 2140 can run Windows 7 better than Windows Vista, and HP has always been good about participating in upgrade programs. Thus, I would expect them to offer free upgrades starting next month, most likely including the 2140 in the offer.

John

i just saw an ad in the newspaper of a Dell laptop (XPS 13) with the offer of free upgrade to Windows 7

Yes, despite what Windows announced about the upgrade not being available in Europe, I've seen several manufacturers offering it on their websites.
Confused!!!!
Regards
Mike7P

The European Union ruling against Microsoft has forced Microsoft to release an edition of Windows 7 without Internet Explorer installed, branded Windows 7 E. Because Windows Vista includes Internet Explorer, but Windows 7 E does not, you cannot perform a direct upgrade, requiring a clean install instead. However, you should still be able to order Windows 7 (non-E) upgrades in Europe to avoid the issue, and Microsoft has publicly stated that they are working on a patch to enable Windows 7 E upgrades as quickly as they can, hopefully to be available around the time of Windows 7's official launch.

Hope this helps,
John

registered for the upgrade offer on an Acer and HP, they both are doing it through some third party company - the same one, I also had to upload a scanned copy of my reciept to speed the process. What I am finding is more of the cheaper computers are now coming with Vista Basic so they do not have to offer the upgrade - so it's buyer beware if you plan to buy a computer and want to get Win7. If you buy and XP netbook or a Vista Basic computer there won't be an upgrade offer and even some Vista Premium computers at certain manufactures aren't offering it on older stock.

I would like to give you a straight answer about this, for the Professional and ultimate, remote PC connection, Home group, Work group, Public group are offer, sharing of files has been improved and it is easy to share file with XP and Vista also.

Anyway for me I decided to go Professional but found that I will have to spend another 15 dollars or so per computer. Microsoft did not advertise that it is required to play DVD if you don't have the Ultimate version that is also not available to the consumer at 50% reduction like their special introductory price for premium and professional and you lost bit locker also with premium and professional version of Windows 7 on this they have been consistent with Vista but the comparison stop there.

If you are in gaming and work same time you will be forced for old game i.e. that work in Vista to probably go dual boot for direct access to the hardware that most of the games are requiring.

Ultimate Vista to Pro is not possible but if you could do it you will see that outside the lost of the codec?s for the DVD, you are gaining in reliability or at least more possibility for Backup, domains access etc and network.

If you are in productivity and do not care or only play the most recent games Windows 7 might be what you are looking for. For my case I am satisfy with windows 7 with one disappointment, most or all of my RPG games that were working in Vista will not work correctly without many intervention and tweaking from me and even so it is not full proof when you try that way.

All my programs i.e. MS Office 2007, live office access old printer and their feature are working the way it should or even better then in Vista Printer made by Brother bought 3 years ago MFC-5440CN work now better under windows 7 then in XP or Vista so go figure.

If you want to know will 7 be better and more friendly, YES it is will all my software that are productivity work I could give you a yes with maybe a odd one that will not work but for that you still have virtualisation that is possible if your hardware support it or you could go with sun virtualisation if you hardware does not support it to have XP mode in windows 7.

For a working point of vue 7 will be better then XP or Vista, games maybe not as they involve many proprietary security feature etc that look for specific pointer that might stop you from using then on windows 7.

On my own Workgroup network the sharing is no problem in order to share the files back and forth with other version then win 7 and back to my PC also. You might have to relax the sharing default i.e. version earlier then Windows 7 for example for the workgroup sharing as the home group sharing is only available to other Windows 7 version but you could still share the conventional way, meaning XP style way in Windows 7 for the one that are not Windows 7, it just mean they won't be part of your home group sharing, because Windows is trying to reduce risk of intrusion in your PC to the maximum, but if this is only your workgroup the risk became almost none existent and it apply more in a public setting or semi-public setting or public setting were you should choose the default wizard setting for public network anyway.
If anyone here have a better explanation please feel free to add and point me to what I am missing here as I am just answering without more search or reading but just from my own experience with other windows version on my Workgroup setup, for your info I have in my home XP to Vista all home premium and the Windows 7 is the RC Ultimate, PS you are going to need necessary codec at around $12 to $15 dollars per PC to get the necessary codec to play the DVD for version that is under the Ultimate one so that you are aware even if you are not asking for that point specifically.

Well I guess for you it is Apple, they are the only one on the market that claim they are perfect or close to the perfection and I guess for you it will be a all in one solution.

By the way on my PC Win 7 all the application of Google work fine if you wonder.

Did you try the upgrade advisor first before that great post of yours?

So in a sense yes, no for basic as a direct path, anyone here care to elaborate?

Very well done I must add.

I totally agree with you about 7 working great for productivity point of vue. For the consumer it might be different but it is getting there or it is there if the consumer accepts that most of the advanced games will not work in many cases on 7. I know I try it.

I have 4 PC desktop ranging from XP to Vista and 7 Release Candidate that I am using right now, a old laptop Toshiba XP Home Premium edition and desktop of my son?s friends also and trough in the mix a Windows Home Sever that work very well to back up all my pc including the 7 edition in addition to offer a central point for files sharing and streaming media.

As you are working in a business environment, you might be interested also by windows home server as you have less than 10 or should I said 10 PC or less will be protected with protection that go from bear metal restoration to a full working station without need of an IT person.

Look at this also before you get back to us this might be the greatest peace of mind you ever have.

Take Care,

Michel

Lock tight.

You want and open commercial OS it is windows for OS and hardware. You want to do just what it is offer in Apple it is MAC without worry but without freedom of changing your configuration unless pre approved by apple,

What are you trying to say here and for you govern VLC player as always work for me since Windows 98 and if you need to change your modem, open the box and change it, try that on a Mac air? Or seal box I mean seriously you get what you are paying for.

Get a MAC Pro to have some possibility or go Windows and accept that you must know what you are doing.

Computers are not appliance yet even if apple tries to make you believe it. What do you want an Itouch the size of a desktop or a sealed box that won't let you install or change the hardware configuration so that you could resolve the fax problems..

On my "Itouch" I can't add a microphone as it wasn't there in the first place but on my desktop I can. Do you get my point, if you want a toaster that is on and off go with the all in one solution and don't bother us with fact of life.

Sorry for your modem at $15.OO dollars at best buy but oh no! Can you add me a speaker on my Itouch.. No well. You get what you spend for not the other way around.

And I did not ask for your opinion.

Ouin is my answer.

With that you will know what you need for drivers and program that might not work or need some tweaking.

Yes it is ok to upgrade from OEM without the DVD in first place, yes in a clean installation it will let you do it, but you will lose your "C" partition do a full OS backup first using the software provided from Toshiba, make sure you have all the drives needed after running the upgrade advisor and the FAC of Toshiba will help you on this.

Yes you can use and upgrade to make a clean install as long as your installation of Vista is genuine on your Laptop the upgrade DVD will see it and because you probably won't partition your small HD of your laptop, you have to understand that this will have to be clean install or nothing. I suggest that you read about this on other forum that explain the step by step and how to backup first in case you might want to go back or later if needed t reinstall 7 without a DVD of Vista in the first place, meaning reinstallation of Vista first and after go back to 7 in your case probably as you don't seem to have the DVD OEM available with you

See this How to uninstall Windows 7; http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971762

Good luck