shakran, you might want to try "migwiz," or Migration Wizard to transfer your XP stuff to Win 7. It will be on the Win 7 DVD that you burn. Worked pretty well. A little clunky, because it thinks you are replacing a whole computer, but it works fine.

yeah, i know about it. But I always install 100% fresh. Keeps the crap I don't use anymore from cluttering the system.

How to install Win 7 from a USB drive:

Guide: Install Vista/Windows 7 from a flash drive - [H]ard|Forum

I was running Vista on a 1.5 year old cheap laptop that came with it, only had 1 GB of ram (shared with onboard video card). It was a horrible experience, ended up losing wireless entirely, so I had it sent for repair (free thank god) and added a 2nd gig on there. The improvement wasn't that significan't.
I don't think it's Vista alone, but that PC was crap.

Windows 7 is a huge step forward, super stable, incredibly efficient even during heavy use. I'd recommend it to anyone moderately "advanced" who wants a free OS for a year that's better than anything Microsoft currently sells.

Win 7 Build 7127 32 bit has been leaked, 64 bit very soon.

Make sure whatever you download matches one of these:

The full ISO information for 32 and 64-bit is as follows:

0xF691687F 7127.0.090507-1820_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULFRER_EN_DVD.iso

MD5 Hash : 4045CB2A8E50B65ED9E1C2B8D6026B2F
SHA1 Hash : F2D615E674B64053D299CFA5E80B777269F0DFF2
CRC-32 : F691687F

0×460FAD4E 7127.0.090507-1820_x64fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULXFRER_EN_DVD.iso

MD5 Hash : F805A6595DDC6D12956588BB0F1B9B83
SHA1 Hash : 9BEB69BE3C2D113ECEB944145951A2123FBBBBF8
CRC-32 : 460FAD4E

If I've gotten the RC directly from MS, will it update itself?

tooth, no, it won't. You would have to do an upgrade or clean install.

I installed W7 last night and so far I like it. I don't see a lot that is all that different than Vista but I didn't have any problems with Vista (other than the annoying UAC).

One thing that is going to take some getting used to is the change to the new taskbar. The preview thing is cute and all but I kind of miss the quick launch toolbar.

kutulu, just pin whatever apps that you want to quick launch to the taskbar. Works pretty well.

A good website to check: Windows 7 Forums

Put me down as wanting the old quick launch bar as well. Here is my current quick launch setup:

Attachment 18965

My wife and I use the same computer and the upper icons are her programs and the lower ones are mine. How can I recreate this in Windows 7?

RickB, this may help: Windows Seven 7: Restore Quick Launch Toolbar | Windows 7 News & Development | Windows Tools, Help & Guides

Not sure if you will be able to separate the icons with a lower, and upper line of them like you want, though. Hope this helps. I kind of missed quick-launch at first, but as I'm the only one allowed on this computer, I got used to pinning items to the taskbar.

Call me OCD but I kind of like my "inactive" icons on one side and my "active" icons (programs) on the other. I don't like the dock on the Mac for the same reason.

And I have tried the ways to restore the quicklaunch bar but it's not the same.

Guess I'll have to learn to live with it.

so I got an email saying that the Windows 7 Beta will be expiring in August and that I should install the RC. I have the RC but I used my beta cd-key to install it, will I be okay?

I think it was an email sent out to all Betatesters. I got one of these too and I used the "RC" key, can't find the "Beta" key atm. to check if they are the same.
So you should be ok,

Yours
ZB

Is there an icon that gets you back to the desktop?

kutulu, there is a small rectangle on the bottom right. Click that. Is that what you mean?

I'm not at home so I can't check but based on some screenshots I think I see what you are talking about. I don't get the point of that change.

Another annoyance is that when you get the preview of your open program windows there doesn't appear to be an option to view all of them. I need to screw around with it more but it seems as if you can only choose one.

Win 7 Build 7137 has leaked, two weeks or so after 7127 leaked.

Info: Windows 7 Build 7137 Download Leaked | Windows 7 Center

Just upgraded to Build 7201 x64. Works great!

Just upgraded, gotta chase down a sound card driver I think.

Upgraded to build 7229 earlier today. Working great. dohrk, if I can help, let me know.

Thanks, I tried the vista driver for my laptop. It works fine.

I am rather liking win7 so far, still poking around, but I really like the rotating desktop pictures, it is a nice touch.

dohrk, see above for some good info. :thumbsup:

Figured I'd give 7 a shot so I downloaded the release client and it's awesome so far but I can't seem to dual boot it along with my old XP install. 7 is installed on a sata drive while the XP install is on a pata drive - there's only an option for one or the other within the bios and I never get to that OS selection menu.

Any way to sort this out without having to dig through the bios every time I want to switch operating systems?

Also, is there a significant difference between the release client and the (newer) other versions I see floating around?

Manic_Skafe, because of the way you installed 7 on a separate drive you don't have a lot of options here, unfortunately. Neither OS is aware of the other. Some people like that route but having to go into the BIOS every time would drive me nuts. I will do some digging around, see if I can find a better answer for you.

Well I googled it to death and couldn't find anything so thanks for responding.

And what about the end of my last post, am I missing out on anything because I'm using the release candidate or should I dig for one of the other versions?

Manic_Skafe, is the following what you did? I'm guessing no...

"You'll be fine.. Just boot off the Win 7 disc and start the install process as you normally would than once your at the partition manager just select the HDD you wish to install 7 to then let it install.. Once it's done you'll encounter the Boot Manager each time you boot up your machine.. This is where you choose which OS you want to boot into..."

If not, then you can either reinstall Win 7 following the instructions above (Both hard drives plugged in and working), or get a boot loader. Here's a link to one: Download GAG 4.10 - free boot manager. Allows boot of up to 9 different operating systems - Softpedia

I have not used that boot loader so it's not a recommendation from me, just an option. I hope this helps you, maybe others will chime in with some better ideas. I only use the built-in Windows boot manager. To be honest, if I was you I would just start over. Best of luck! Windows 7 is definitely worth the hassle. After a couple of weeks I bet you won't even want to look at XP.

---------- Post added at 06:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:12 PM ----------

I'm using Build 7229, x64. But the RC is probably fine for you. That is unless you are comfortable with Bit Torrent and checking hash numbers.

Yeah I don't know Manic_Skafe...I had vista and windows 7 installed on separate hard drives and it always asked me which one I wanted to boot into when I started it up. Sorry...

Thanks guys, I'll give that boot loader a shot as I figured this would happen. While installing a ran into a seemingly irremediable No Required CD DVD Device that wouldn't sort itself out until I pulled all pata devices from my mobo - 1 cd drive and the hdd that has XP installed on it.

Oh well. And you're right Wyodiver33 - less than 24 hours in and it's already on my tower and two of my laptops. :thumbsup:

Windows 7 is just an all around better experience than vista or xp. It seems to always feel responsive and when I boot the system is useable much quicker. I did an upgrade from vista not a clean install. I imagine it will be even faster with a clean install.

I have a rather weird thing to report...

My computer is running a little slow, by this I mean the clock is losing a few minutes here and there. I have been resetting the clock with an internet server at least once a day.

I will try and run XP for a while to see if it is my computer or Windows 7

dohrk, I doubt it's because of Windows 7, although anything is possible. More than likely it's a BIOS issue, probably the CMOS battery. Is it an older computer? Like 3 years or so? If it is the battery don't stress, they are cheap and easy to change. Don't change it until you do some research first, though. I'm pretty sure you will see the same problem in XP.

Windows 7 pricing out!

Gizmodo - Windows 7 Pricing: Good News, Mostly - windows 7

Glad I don't have to pay for it until next March! If I buy it at all. Might go back to XP Pro.


I'm kidding! After using Win 7 for six months, going back to XP Pro would require gouging my eyes out. No thanks.

Well, I booted into XP yesterday, with no time loss, today in Win7, lost time right away. I will do a more controlled test in the next day or two, and let you all know how it goes.

I bought my W7 upgrade today.

Me too. Got screwed out of 15$ due to the Canadian exchange rate, but I think the pricing is very reasonable after playing with the RC. Glad I got it for half off...anymore and I'd probably go for the OEM version whenever the hell thats released.

So give me the lowdown...the bottom line:

Upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7. Will it be worth it?

I want to take advantage of the half-price dealio if this is the case.

Unless it is a burden to spend $50 on it, I think it is a good idea.

See if there are new drivers available for your motherboard. Even a bios update (read first about dangers of bios upgrades).

Yours
Zb