Windows 7 Impressions
- Thread starter mr.sly
- Start date
Associate
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Anywhere between a few minutes, to a few hours of refreshing is required.
well i can't get my printer epson photo 830u to work, which was kind of inconvenient as i couldn't print the page with the key on it out.
all other hardware seems to have installed fine for the moment.
couldn't install yahoo toolbar directly i had to install yahoo messenger and get the toolbar that way.
all other hardware seems to have installed fine for the moment.
couldn't install yahoo toolbar directly i had to install yahoo messenger and get the toolbar that way.
Man of Honour
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- 17 Oct 2007
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- 3,871
Hi OCdude, if you have any questions regarding how to get your key, please use the Windows 7 beta - 9th January thread. There is honestly no reason to clutter up this thread.
Just to answer this question though, no you don't, you just need a Windows Live account.
Associate
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- 29 Apr 2007
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- Cambridgeshire
ive jumped into this strait from xp, and i think it looks very good seems so smooth, have only had time to install ive now gota go, but first impressions "i like it"
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- 27 Dec 2002
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- Higham,kent.
Well,run into a problem with my install,cannot get my onboard NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller to install at all (error code 10).
Nothing wrong with it as i`m using it right now on my xp install,tried installing under safe mode....pulling my hair out a bit as i`m itiching to try it out
Ideas anyone?
Nothing wrong with it as i`m using it right now on my xp install,tried installing under safe mode....pulling my hair out a bit as i`m itiching to try it out
Ideas anyone?
Well,run into a problem with my install,cannot get my onboard NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller to install at all (error code 10).
Nothing wrong with it as i`m using it right now on my xp install,tried installing under safe mode....pulling my hair out a bit as i`m itiching to try it out
Ideas anyone?
tried downloading the vista drivers for whichever version i.e 32 or 64 bit of win7 you are using?
Associate
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- 27 Dec 2002
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- Higham,kent.
About to try that now,got the 15.23`s and the 20.08`s to try....i`ll report back shortly
I got a problem with the new Msn live messenger
it installed ok and worked ok
But if I restart windows and then try to start up messenger live
it wants to install it again!
And my IDE HD has a score of 2.9
it was 5 in vista maybe its the drivers?
it installed ok and worked ok
But if I restart windows and then try to start up messenger live
it wants to install it again!
And my IDE HD has a score of 2.9
it was 5 in vista maybe its the drivers?
Man of Honour
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- 17 Oct 2007
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- 3,871
First impressions of the Windows 7 Beta:
I've just managed to install the Windows 7 beta which took around the same amount of time as Windows Vista did.
One of the most notable changes when you first log on in Windows 7 is the taskbar and the effects of open windows. It is slightly bigger compared to the taskbar Windows Vista which I personally didn't like. Though, this isn't because the taskbar is naturally bigger, it's because the icons are slightly bigger. However, this can quite easily be changed by opening the start menu, right clicking on a blank piece of space and then click on "Properties". Then select the "Taskbar" tab and check the "Use small icons" option which will then reduce the taskbar size in itself.
You will also notice that your open applications are displayed as a small icon on the taskbar which I find extremely useful and I'm sure other people will too. If you for example have Internet Explorer 8 open with a number of tabs, you can simply hover over the Internet Explorer icon, wait until the little preview has appeared and then click on which ever tab you would like to visit:
If you are not too keen on the applications that you have open are displayed as a small icon on the taskbar and would just like them to be displayed as they are in Windows Vista as you can see below:
Then simply open the start menu, right click on a blank piece of space and go to "Properties", click on the "Taskbar" tab and where it says "Taskbar buttons" click on the drop down box and select the "Never combine" option.
In Windows Vista you had the ability to drag your applications to the quick launch bar. This isn't available in Windows 7. However, you can still pin certain applications onto the taskbar by right clicking on a particular application and then clicking on the "Pin to Taskbar" option which is just basically like the quick launch in Windows Vista. Though, I wish the icons were slightly close together. Petty I know, but hey.
User Account Control:
When the Windows 7 beta had finished installing, soon after I logged in, I checked the available settings for User Account Control. It would seem the default setting is not the securest option but the first one down from it which is:
Setting:
Always notify me.
Description:
You will be notified before programs make changes to your computer or Windows settings that require the permissions of an administrator. You need to either approve or deny the request in the UAC dialog box to continue with that task, but you can still do other things on your computer while the UAC dialog box is open. This setting is fairly secure.
Security Impact:
Because the UAC dialog box is not on the Secure Desktop with this setting, other programs might be able to interfere with the dialog's visual appearance. This is a small security risk if you already have a malicious program running on your computer.
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The other options you can choose are as follows:
Setting:
Always notify me and dim my desktop until I respond. (Securest option)
Description:
You will be notified before programs make changes to your computer or Windows settings that require the permissions of an administrator. When you are notified, your desktop will be dimmed, and you must either approve or deny the request in the UAC dialog box before you can do anything else on your computer. The dimming of your desktop is referred to as the secure desktop because other programs cannot run while it is dimmed.
Security Impact:
This is the most secure setting. When you are notified, you should carefully read the contents of each dialog box before allowing changes to be made to your computer.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Setting:
Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer.
Description:
You will be notified before programs make changes to your computer that require the permissions of an administrator. You will not be notified if you try to make changes to Windows settings that require the permissions of an administrator. You will be notified if a program outside of Windows tries to make changes to a Windows setting.
Security Impact:
This setting has a medium level of security. It is usually safe to allow changes to be made to Windows settings without you being notified. However, certain programs that come with Windows can have commands or data passed to them, and malicious software can take advantage of this by using these programs to install files or change settings on your computer.
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Setting:
Turn off UAC.
Description:
You will not be notified before any changes are made to your computer. If you are logged on as an administrator, programs can make changes to your computer without you knowing about it. If you are logged on as a standard user, any changes that require the permissions on an administrator will automatically be denied. If you select this setting, you will need to restart the computer to complete the process of turning off UAC. Once UAC is off, people that log on as administrator will always have the permissions of an administrator.
Security Impact:
This is the least secure setting. When you turn off UAC, you open up your computer to potential security risks. If you turn off UAC, you should be careful about which programs you run because they will have the same access to the computer as you do. This includes reading and making changes to protected system areas, your personal data, saved files, and anything else stored on the computer. Programs will also be able to communicate and transfer information to and from anything your computer connects with, including the Internet.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I have also installed Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare which took around the same amount of time to install as it did in Windows Vista. When I got round to playing it, the performance was pretty much exactly the same as it was in Windows Vista which was very good anyway. I also didn't have any problems actually running the game.
Various people have said that the memory usage is slightly lower in Windows 7 than it is in Windows Vista. However, on my system, the memory usage seems to be the same which I personally don't have a problem with. Memory is there to be used and that's exactly what Windows Vista and Windows 7 is doing. Unfortunately though, I'm sure some misinformed people will complain that the memory usage in Windows 7 is as bad as it is in Windows Vista.
One thing I was slightly disappointed with is the Windows Photo Viewer. In Windows Vista, you have the ability to resize a picture by using the "Fix" option. In Windows 7 though, this option is unavailable which is a real shame since I tend to resize pictures for various reasons quite a lot. However, luckily you can download the Windows Live Essentials which installs the Windows Live Photo Gallery which you can then use to resize pictures. A bit unnecessary admittedly but certainly not the end of the world.
The speed and performance of Windows 7 seems to be exactly the same as Windows Vista which I have no complaints about since everything runs brilliant in Windows Vista anyway. Overall, the Windows 7 beta runs absolutely fine and have no complaints so far.
I've just managed to install the Windows 7 beta which took around the same amount of time as Windows Vista did.
One of the most notable changes when you first log on in Windows 7 is the taskbar and the effects of open windows. It is slightly bigger compared to the taskbar Windows Vista which I personally didn't like. Though, this isn't because the taskbar is naturally bigger, it's because the icons are slightly bigger. However, this can quite easily be changed by opening the start menu, right clicking on a blank piece of space and then click on "Properties". Then select the "Taskbar" tab and check the "Use small icons" option which will then reduce the taskbar size in itself.
You will also notice that your open applications are displayed as a small icon on the taskbar which I find extremely useful and I'm sure other people will too. If you for example have Internet Explorer 8 open with a number of tabs, you can simply hover over the Internet Explorer icon, wait until the little preview has appeared and then click on which ever tab you would like to visit:
If you are not too keen on the applications that you have open are displayed as a small icon on the taskbar and would just like them to be displayed as they are in Windows Vista as you can see below:
Then simply open the start menu, right click on a blank piece of space and go to "Properties", click on the "Taskbar" tab and where it says "Taskbar buttons" click on the drop down box and select the "Never combine" option.
In Windows Vista you had the ability to drag your applications to the quick launch bar. This isn't available in Windows 7. However, you can still pin certain applications onto the taskbar by right clicking on a particular application and then clicking on the "Pin to Taskbar" option which is just basically like the quick launch in Windows Vista. Though, I wish the icons were slightly close together. Petty I know, but hey.
User Account Control:
When the Windows 7 beta had finished installing, soon after I logged in, I checked the available settings for User Account Control. It would seem the default setting is not the securest option but the first one down from it which is:
Setting:
Always notify me.
Description:
You will be notified before programs make changes to your computer or Windows settings that require the permissions of an administrator. You need to either approve or deny the request in the UAC dialog box to continue with that task, but you can still do other things on your computer while the UAC dialog box is open. This setting is fairly secure.
Security Impact:
Because the UAC dialog box is not on the Secure Desktop with this setting, other programs might be able to interfere with the dialog's visual appearance. This is a small security risk if you already have a malicious program running on your computer.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The other options you can choose are as follows:
Setting:
Always notify me and dim my desktop until I respond. (Securest option)
Description:
You will be notified before programs make changes to your computer or Windows settings that require the permissions of an administrator. When you are notified, your desktop will be dimmed, and you must either approve or deny the request in the UAC dialog box before you can do anything else on your computer. The dimming of your desktop is referred to as the secure desktop because other programs cannot run while it is dimmed.
Security Impact:
This is the most secure setting. When you are notified, you should carefully read the contents of each dialog box before allowing changes to be made to your computer.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Setting:
Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer.
Description:
You will be notified before programs make changes to your computer that require the permissions of an administrator. You will not be notified if you try to make changes to Windows settings that require the permissions of an administrator. You will be notified if a program outside of Windows tries to make changes to a Windows setting.
Security Impact:
This setting has a medium level of security. It is usually safe to allow changes to be made to Windows settings without you being notified. However, certain programs that come with Windows can have commands or data passed to them, and malicious software can take advantage of this by using these programs to install files or change settings on your computer.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Setting:
Turn off UAC.
Description:
You will not be notified before any changes are made to your computer. If you are logged on as an administrator, programs can make changes to your computer without you knowing about it. If you are logged on as a standard user, any changes that require the permissions on an administrator will automatically be denied. If you select this setting, you will need to restart the computer to complete the process of turning off UAC. Once UAC is off, people that log on as administrator will always have the permissions of an administrator.
Security Impact:
This is the least secure setting. When you turn off UAC, you open up your computer to potential security risks. If you turn off UAC, you should be careful about which programs you run because they will have the same access to the computer as you do. This includes reading and making changes to protected system areas, your personal data, saved files, and anything else stored on the computer. Programs will also be able to communicate and transfer information to and from anything your computer connects with, including the Internet.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I have also installed Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare which took around the same amount of time to install as it did in Windows Vista. When I got round to playing it, the performance was pretty much exactly the same as it was in Windows Vista which was very good anyway. I also didn't have any problems actually running the game.
Various people have said that the memory usage is slightly lower in Windows 7 than it is in Windows Vista. However, on my system, the memory usage seems to be the same which I personally don't have a problem with. Memory is there to be used and that's exactly what Windows Vista and Windows 7 is doing. Unfortunately though, I'm sure some misinformed people will complain that the memory usage in Windows 7 is as bad as it is in Windows Vista.
One thing I was slightly disappointed with is the Windows Photo Viewer. In Windows Vista, you have the ability to resize a picture by using the "Fix" option. In Windows 7 though, this option is unavailable which is a real shame since I tend to resize pictures for various reasons quite a lot. However, luckily you can download the Windows Live Essentials which installs the Windows Live Photo Gallery which you can then use to resize pictures. A bit unnecessary admittedly but certainly not the end of the world.
The speed and performance of Windows 7 seems to be exactly the same as Windows Vista which I have no complaints about since everything runs brilliant in Windows Vista anyway. Overall, the Windows 7 beta runs absolutely fine and have no complaints so far.
Associate
- Joined
- 31 May 2004
- Posts
- 1,936
- Location
- The 'Toon, UK, in Europe
I stuck it on an HP Compaq 6910 latop yesterday.
First impressions are that it's a good bit quicker than Vista x64 Ultimate on the same machine. Really like how the new taskbar works as well, so any naysayers on that one can go sing a song (IMHO)!
Everything apart from the laptop's fingerprint reader was detected straight off, although I did end up putting the HP custom driver set on for the onboard video (ATI X2300 series), which worked a treat.
Managed to get the fingerprint reader drivers installed but couldn't get the OS actually seeing the device through the biometric control panel app, which may be down to using the latest Vista driver rather than the Authentec Windows 7 drivers that have just been released.... when I put the HP ProtectTools suite on (to integrate with log on), the laptop wouldn't get past the first log on screen after putting a password in, so I had to resort to System Restore to get back to usable.
Overall though, seeing as they've got KB961367 for the MP3 issue released now, I'm severely tempted to image the main machine and try it on there day-to-day use.
Very happy with what I see so far.
First impressions are that it's a good bit quicker than Vista x64 Ultimate on the same machine. Really like how the new taskbar works as well, so any naysayers on that one can go sing a song (IMHO)!
Everything apart from the laptop's fingerprint reader was detected straight off, although I did end up putting the HP custom driver set on for the onboard video (ATI X2300 series), which worked a treat.
Managed to get the fingerprint reader drivers installed but couldn't get the OS actually seeing the device through the biometric control panel app, which may be down to using the latest Vista driver rather than the Authentec Windows 7 drivers that have just been released.... when I put the HP ProtectTools suite on (to integrate with log on), the laptop wouldn't get past the first log on screen after putting a password in, so I had to resort to System Restore to get back to usable.
Overall though, seeing as they've got KB961367 for the MP3 issue released now, I'm severely tempted to image the main machine and try it on there day-to-day use.
Very happy with what I see so far.
Associate
- Joined
- 27 Dec 2002
- Posts
- 1,141
- Location
- Higham,kent.
Well,tried both sets of drivers i had,still no luck,just keeps giving me error code 10
Oh well,back to xp till i manage to find a cure.
Installing w7 as we speak, and will probably post some brief impressions when I've had a play around with it. The installation hung on the GUI after booting from DVD which caused me to reboot and start again. It seems to be running fine now so I'll forgive it.
One thing that puzzles me is why there is so much love around for Windows 7, particularly from people wanting to ditch XP. While I'm looking forward to trying out Windows 7, I'm not expecting it to be much different than Vista SP1 with a revamped interface. Maybe its just a question of timing.
One thing that puzzles me is why there is so much love around for Windows 7, particularly from people wanting to ditch XP. While I'm looking forward to trying out Windows 7, I'm not expecting it to be much different than Vista SP1 with a revamped interface. Maybe its just a question of timing.
Soldato
- Joined
- 19 May 2005
- Posts
- 6,896
I love it but I find that on my sig rig it runs better than Vista but on my laptop (1.8Ghz C2D, 2GB ram) it doesn't run as well.
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 17 Oct 2007
- Posts
- 3,871
Hi Skeeter, just out of interest, what are these "crap" bits that were in Windows Vista but are not in the Windows 7 beta? I personally can't notice the difference between either operating system.