Making the move to 7.

Sukh · 11 Oct 2009 at 19:27

So I haven't had the need to format the PC in a few year and recently got a new HD which allows me to move some stuff around and now have the need for a fresh install as things are starting to get a bit bloated.

My question is, should I stick with the tried and tested XP or make the move to 7 and 64 bit at the same time. Will programs made for 32bit run in 64bit operating system?

For example VLC media player is 32 bit or Microsoft office, will they need to be run in VM or something?

Sukh · 11 Oct 2009 at 19:58

So it is just drivers that need to be 64bit? Programs that are native 32bit will work as normal?
If so when 7 comes out I will try to make the switch to 64 bit. I just don't like the first few weeks when I don't know where things are, like I do in XP, but I figure it is about time I make a move forward.

Sukh · 11 Oct 2009 at 20:06

Cool, I will have a gander at drivers for all my main bits before making the jump.
I have a 8800gt and Q600 and IP35 based board so fairly newish (about 2 years old?) so hopefully it will be fine, hardest bit will be the sound card which is slightly older.

You don't still need a floppy disk for installation with SATA drives? I would have hoped things have moved on!

Edit: How much space is required for installation, currently have 25gb for my OS partition, and how can I make it bigger without having to empty the whole disk?

Thanks for the help people

Sukh · 11 Oct 2009 at 22:58

How much space did it take up?

Sukh · 12 Oct 2009 at 11:37

Anyone who has used a partition sizing app, does the loss data extend to all partitions on the disk or just the one you are resizing.

Further say you have 80gb of music, if you take a disc image as a backup, how much space would it take up?

Sukh · 12 Oct 2009 at 12:21

Can you make the shortcuts (in XP on the left hand bar) for my documents go to a different path?

Sukh · 12 Oct 2009 at 12:43

Sweet, so OS on 20gb partition and then all other stuff including my desktop on another partition means I don't have to mess about with paritions.

Sukh · 12 Oct 2009 at 12:48

Oh right, might move my music to an external HD so that entire disk can be messed with.
In w7 does it give you the option to delete/create partitions like in the XP installation disc?