Windows 7 Impressions

mr.sly · 10 Jan 2009 at 02:42

If you're happy with XP we get it, this isn't the thread for you. There's hundreds of other threads you can go and ruin.

This thread is for your impressions of Windows 7. First use and after you've given the new features a chance, which everyone should do. No point trying a beta if you're just going to remove everything and make it like XP.

And also to list problems/fixes for programs.

My first impressions are very positive, which isn't a surprise because I was a big fan of Vista. Starting to really like the new taskbar and being able to switch to different tabs without opening IE first. I hope Firefox/Chrome/Opera make sure of the feature soon enough.

Only problem I've had problems with so far is Sizer, which installs with admin rights, but doesn't resize programs.

Natima · 10 Jan 2009 at 02:47

I'm very happy with XP but I'm desperatly excited by windows 7.
I never really got the chance to use XP becuase of my crappy old PC, but soon that will change.
From what I've seen, Windows 7 looks like it could be their best OS to date.

Mint_Sauce · 10 Jan 2009 at 02:49

For the record, keys are still available. I just got one after hitting F5 a fair few times (around 20 minutes).

Edit: Sorry, I somehow managed to post this in the wrong thread :/

KnightStalker · 10 Jan 2009 at 02:53

Impressions eh..well ive been using xp for what seems ages, never bothered with vista, but decided to try this, and all i can say is wow..its actually quite good, its surprised me.

Pyroblaze · 10 Jan 2009 at 02:56

So far it's been mostly good. OS seems snappy and hearing very little hard drive crunching unlike Vista. I'm still trying to get the damn thing to install the 8.12 ati drivers though, just hangs no matter whether its the beta, vista compat mode or not.

thecremeegg · 10 Jan 2009 at 03:15

Pyroblaze said:
So far it's been mostly good. OS seems snappy and hearing very little hard drive crunching unlike Vista. I'm still trying to get the damn thing to install the 8.12 ati drivers though, just hangs no matter whether its the beta, vista compat mode or not.

Weird works fine for me with both the vista drivers and the betas

fornowagain · 10 Jan 2009 at 03:19

Dunno if any one has mentioned this, there is an AMD Windows 7 driver preview pack.

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=39069

beta_w7-32_8-56-1-081203a-72489.exe

beta_w7-64_8-56-1-081203a-72489.exe

Pyroblaze · 10 Jan 2009 at 03:39

Yeah i've tried the normal 8.12s and the betas, nothing is working. It just hangs all the time on installing.

fornowagain · 10 Jan 2009 at 03:46

Have you tried F8 at boot and disabled the driver signing? Or manually selecting the driver from the install directory?

Pyroblaze · 10 Jan 2009 at 03:55

Hmm hadnt tried disabling driver signing, it's been so long since i've had to do that on vista it never even crossed my mind. I'll try it now. Yeah i tried installing it via the Ati folder it extracts to rather than the downloaded installer.

Edit - nope, that didn't work either.

jas72 · 10 Jan 2009 at 08:38

Pyroblaze said:
So far it's been mostly good. OS seems snappy and hearing very little hard drive crunching unlike Vista. I'm still trying to get the damn thing to install the 8.12 ati drivers though, just hangs no matter whether its the beta, vista compat mode or not.

ati drivers installed no problems for me using the 64bit version

My first impressions are that I will deffo upgrade. Perhaps vista is as snappy (i'm still running xp 32bit but playing war last night and it loads faster and is more responsive. installed firefox3 no probs.

Only probs I had was no lan via ms drivers so had to have the mobo drivers ready.

kppanic · 10 Jan 2009 at 08:42

Do we know if we install the beta, and when the final retail comes out we can just use the retail version to "upgrade" -- or "finalize" the beta install we have? Or would it have to be a clean install?

If it's the latter, could Acronis' True Image or similar programs facilitate the migration from beta to retail?

jas72 · 10 Jan 2009 at 08:43

i've got a 4870 and used the vista drivers

https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/gamesite/8-12_vista64_dd_ccc_wdm_enu_72276.exe

Rwac · 10 Jan 2009 at 08:43

One of the chaps at work highlighted the change in Kernel size - absolutely amazed

I shall grab this later and report back impressions.

Duke · 10 Jan 2009 at 09:00

Both the 8.12 and Win7 beta drivers hang for me. Used Driver Cleaners in safe mode but still no joy

weta · 10 Jan 2009 at 09:36

kppanic said:
Do we know if we install the beta, and when the final retail comes out we can just use the retail version to "upgrade" -- or "finalize" the beta install we have? Or would it have to be a clean install?

If it's the latter, could Acronis' True Image or similar programs facilitate the migration from beta to retail?

According to the Windows 7 help page posted on the Technet site yesterday the beta version will expire on August 1, 2009 and there will not be an upgrade path from the beta to final (retail) version.

Balb0wa · 10 Jan 2009 at 10:08

same here, they wont install for me

Rackerz · 10 Jan 2009 at 10:28

Pretty good, the new taskbar takes some getting used to but will eventually lead to good I think as there is now less clutter!

yashiro · 10 Jan 2009 at 10:28

According to the Windows 7 help page posted on the Technet site yesterday the beta version will expire on August 1, 2009 and there will not be an upgrade path from the beta to final (retail) version.

Which will be fixable if you wish to.

kppanic · 10 Jan 2009 at 10:36

yashiro said:
Which will be fixable if you wish to.

OOOhhkay I just got two opposing answers...

What do you mean, Yashiro? You mean it is possible?