Two days ago I attempted to install Windows 7 to a clean HDD and encountered numerous problems like sluggish downloads, frequent interruptions to the Internet, lack of drivers and having to go to the distributor's Web pages to get them, then having Windows 7 reject them, and having to accept a package of programs when all I wanted was the email program; and there were many others minor nuisances which I have now forgotten. One of the first problems was Windows 7 would not recognise the HDD then when it subsequently did it said there was insufficient space! The HDD is a 500 GB model. After 12 hours attempting to install Windows 7 and for the fourth occasion I surrendered and returned to the best that MS has yet produced, XP! It took just 45 minutes to put XP back on the system! Am I the only one who has come stuck with Windows 7?

Previously I purchased Vista and enjoyed this operating system but a Web page to which I have a paid subscription could not be downloaded on Vista so I returned to XP. This problem may have been resolved by now. I still have Vista installed on another PC that I do not normally use.

Noted too that the distributors of Ubuntu are restricting the free issue of the OS to one per application as the demand is heavy. Would this be a sign of the times; like witnessing the death throws of Microsoft Windows OSs?

I am now scared to attempt to re-install Windows 7 but as it has been registered I am wondering if I could have it removed so that someone else may benefit from it if they feel competent at installing it.

You really need to run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. It will tell you what (hardware and software) is not compatible with Windows 7. Not all computers are capable of running it. A lot depends, as you've already found, on the availability of driver for it. In all cases I've seen so far, Vista drivers will work with Windows 7 so that's one way to get it running right.

You could even run this now, with Windows 7 installed I believe.

One main problem may people who try to upgrade will run into is their video card/chipset is not capable of running the new Windows 7 Aero interface.

I've been running the Pre-release RC1 version since the 2nd week in October and I really like it. It runs great on my Dell Precision 370 (3.4Ghz / 4GB / 2 SATA & 1 IDE hard drive) system. I will definitely upgrade to the released Windows 7 Pro version, probably around Christmas time when I hope there will be some sales.

I have the Windows 7 Home Premium and as I said, I am a tad reluctant to attempt to re-install it owing to my first experience. I take it that Windows 7 (32/64bit) could be dual booted with XP Professional (32 bit) rather than installing it on a clean formatted disk? My PC can take the 64 bit.

(I note that you are located at central Florida; Marco Island, Naples, or thereabouts possibly? It is a few years since I have been in the States but when last at Florida I went through Homestead which then had been devastated by hurrican Andrew and what a disaster that was. You live in a lovely holiday region and I look forward to returning sometime and hopefully in the near future).

This post has been edited by Duparc: Oct 28 2009, 07:12 PM

Run the Upgrade Advisor. What does it tell you?

I'm located on the Space Coast. I can watch the shuttle and other liftoffs from my back porch!

This post has been edited by Ztruker: Oct 28 2009, 04:51 PM

1. Where did you get Windows 7 and what version are you trying to install? (include if it's 32 or 64 bit)
2. Are you doing a clean install, or an upgrade?

The more information you give us, the more 'feedback', 'help' you'll get.

for the heck of it I have been running RC Ultimate on a machine that has an intell board.
2.8 Ghz /512 megs DDR2 / 1 80 gig ide drive and so far been running good, it give the mule a little more kick a gig of ram would help. Now I did a clean install and no problems here, TBH I did not even think 7 would run on this system. now this is 32 bit not 64

So the new one I am building quad core 2 gigs or 4 mabey not sure yet, the system should be a killer.

quad core 2 gigs or 4 mabey not sure yet

If I were you and building a new computer, I would settle for nothing less than 8GB of the fastest ECC RAM I could find and run Windows 7 64 bit. There is no such thing as too much memory!

Well as for going 64 bit, my problem with that is a lot of software I am still using will not run in 64 bit, went that way and had a few problems. Most of what I paid for and still use is not even in 64 bit. So I am kinda stuck in what I am using atm. Playing with xp mode now to see how it will work, seen their a 32 bit and 64 mode file to download, will try it and see what happens, what can go wrong except reformatting and reinstalling lol.

This post has been edited by Jimbo1: Oct 30 2009, 03:34 PM

Jimbo1, please post back with results of XP Mode. I'm curious how/if it works

I ran the upgrade advisor to discover that the graphics adaptor needs upgrading but that the desktop is otherwise ready to accept Windows 7 on either 32 or 64 bit. It also said that I had 3 GBs RAM when I have installed 4 so possibily a problem here. I am leading a busy life (who isn't) so I am not always able to respond immediately to your advice but I am following it and still reading about what Microsoft says on Windows 7. The unit purchased is Windows 7 Home Premium. I am considering dual-booting if this is feasible but I am still reading in the middle of volumes of other material!.

(Incidentally, I have been to the Kennedy Space Centre and the technology and engineering there is amazing).

This post has been edited by Duparc: Oct 31 2009, 06:46 AM

The adviser only reports 3GB on a 32bit system. On my Windows 7 system, System Properties shows 4GB present, 3GB useable).

Will do, just got back after being out of town this weekend. Going to install the xp mode file today and see what happens.

Ztruker

Follow up going have to dig into this xp mode and find out whats going on. Downloaded the 2 files MS says to download.

1. Windows XP Mode and the other is
2. Windows Virtual PC

The xp mode file installed ok with no problems, but when I went to install the windows Virtual file I get an error = The update is not applicable to your computer, huuummm this is nice..

Like I said going have to do some reading, searching the MS Database to see whats up with this, because in my other post when I did the advisor everything checked out on my pc, with the exception to many of the programs I use in my everyday hobbie working on pc's. My database for informations, and my music programs recording and sound editing for the church and others are old programs, some from pre-xp days. Strange part if a lot of these programs tested on Vista Premium, but on 7 no responce, stange.

2nd option = If I cannot find an answer to see if I can get this xp mode thing to work, my other thought was duel boot options, which will kinda be a pain because that means shutting down 7 and booting to xp and then back to 7, kinda making multi-tasking hard.

3rd is to keep a pc with all of the programs I have (xp machine), take what will run on 7 for the new system and go with it like that.

When I get more info will post.

This post has been edited by Jimbo1: Nov 2 2009, 10:37 AM

Windows Virtual PC requires that your CPU support virtualization. This is often not the case and I suspect that is what is happening. I have the same problem.

I installed Sun's VirtualBox. I then installed XP Pro as a guest and it runs very well. I have also setup a Ubuntu Linux guest under VB so I can have Windows 7 running, and boot XP Pro and/or Ubuntu.

This might give you what you need. Worth looking into.

This post has been edited by Ztruker: Nov 2 2009, 01:18 PM

Okay, I am dual-booting with Ubuntu and XP using WUBI. I am trying to find a way of adding Windows 7 to this system but cannot find any method to partition (freeware that is) the HDD in nice simple easily understood terms; something that does not have too much jargon! XP is the Pro version and while I am able to open the HDD and the external HDD too there seems to be no way to partition the disks. The advice MS provides does not appear to apply to this OS so I am stuck. On attempting to open the URLs that interest me on Ubuntu I am unable to do this . I cannot recall why at this moment but it seems connected to an over-reaction to security measures.

When it comes to 'virtual' (whatever this is) then I am virtually lost; I am truly in the dark! What is it, and what is its advantages? I cannot see why I should have a PC and not have all what I can use on it to gain the maximun pleasure. Incidentally, does anyone actually watch television these days?

[Jacee, I bought Windows 7 from MS and it is the Home Premium edition and includes disks for the 32 and 64 installations. I attempted miserably to do a clean install and became frustrated by the numerous obstacles encountered in the process. Having attempted to install it on four occasions, I gave up and hence why I am now considering dual-booting (if I don't once more become frustrated on doing so). I understand that there exists problems when Windows 7 is dual-booted with XP connected to the system restore feature]!

This post has been edited by Duparc: Nov 2 2009, 05:44 PM