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Frogboy
Frogboy
Join Date 03/2001
+2412 sdemperor

Living in Windows 7: Part 1

February 2, 2009 12:15:01 PM from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums

I’m running the BETA of Windows 7 and it’s been running so well that I’ve decided to make it my quasi-production machine.

Windows 7 is a massive usability upgrade from any previous version of Windows.  Much of the changes are just minor in terms of effort but just make the whole system feel a lot better designed.

For example, if I want look at my connected devices I see this:

image

Notice I don’t see a bunch of crap. I just see the stuff actually connected to the machine. It’s a very nice change from what has been in Windows before.

One of the purposes of this series of articles is to let you know what programs I have problems with, and which ones work right.

Over the coming weeks and months I’ll give you generalized reports on the progress of our software (Stardock’s) running on Windows 7 as well as highlighting cool little touches in Windows 7.

Now, for the purposes of making life hard on Stardock, I’m not just running a beta of Windows 7, I’m running a beta of Windows 7 64-bit.  By the time Windows 7 is released, all applicable Stardock software must run on this machine.

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Frogboy
ArileenDesign
Join Date 08/2006
+119
Reply #1 February 2, 2009 12:28:09 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Windows 7 looks definitively interesting

Wish i'll have the money when it'll be release and another desk though a 4th PC won't fit the one i've already

 

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Frogboy
DrJBHL
Join Date 04/2002
+4172 moderator
Reply #2 February 2, 2009 1:06:18 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

From everything I've read and heard, I'll probably be upgrading. I wonder if going from Vista to W7 will be as problematic as going from XP to Vista. Judging from appearances, probably not, but I'm wary of anything that's not a "Clean" install.

Thanks for starting this series, Frogboy. WC is definitely looking up...DX, JJ's "From Zero to Theme" and The Photoshop posting show a definitely good and desirable direction.

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Frogboy
landisaurus
Join Date 06/2008
+154
Reply #3 February 2, 2009 1:08:38 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

which software doesn't run on that machine?

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Frogboy
CharlesCS
Join Date 08/2006
+81
Reply #4 February 2, 2009 1:21:08 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

So what do you think about the idea that Microsift should give Windows 7 for free to rhose who have Windows Vista?

Link

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Frogboy
Philly0381
Join Date 11/2004
+844
Reply #5 February 2, 2009 1:38:10 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

CharlesCS something tells me you should not hold your breath on that one.  Just ask yourself have they done it after other versions of the OS that were flawed?  Why only folks who chose to update to Vista?  Seems the rest of us saw the 'hand writing on the wall' and stayed with what ever we were running.  Sorry, just had to get that in.

Windows 7 needs to be priced so that it developes consurmer confidence back, not just in the product but the company also.  I suppose we don't need to mention that it doesn't need 4 to 6 different levels either.

With this go around of a new OS I just might change due to the fact that it's also time to upgrade the computer.  Lets see in dog years my computer is.................oh never mind. 

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Frogboy
vStyler
Join Date 11/2004
+919
Reply #6 February 2, 2009 1:59:14 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Living in Windows

We really do don't we

 

Nice article

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Frogboy
elvee
Join Date 03/2001
+113
Reply #7 February 2, 2009 2:33:07 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

So If I want to try out the Beta...I should download the 64 bit Version...

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Frogboy
CharlesCS
Join Date 08/2006
+81
Reply #8 February 2, 2009 3:09:05 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

harlesCS something tells me you should not hold your breath on that one. Just ask yourself have they done it after other versions of the OS that were flawed? Why only folks who chose to update to Vista? Seems the rest of us saw the 'hand writing on the wall' and stayed with what ever we were running. Sorry, just had to get that in.

Hey, I thought the idea itself was insane. I don't know any company that gave anything away, at least not something like Windows 7. But the article seemed to have an interesting point. I was hoping to get a view based on the concept of why Microsoft should give it away as per the writer and not a view based on "yea right, you wish". I already had the "yea right, you wish" thought cross my mind.

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Frogboy
GamerJD75
Join Date 03/2002
0
Reply #9 February 2, 2009 6:39:47 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
IconPackager definitely doesn't work right now. Unfortunately, all my icons are toast after upgrading a Vista Ultimate 32-bit machine to Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit. Since I can't get IconPackager back on there, I can't fix my icons. Hopefully a beta version that works on 7 will show up soon.
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Frogboy
Fungus
Join Date 07/2001
+6
Reply #10 February 2, 2009 6:44:34 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I've been running the beta (32 bit). I like that this OS, unlike most of the recent Windows versions, doesn't inherently cater to computer noobs. It's a bit more advanced right out of the box. I'm looking forward to seeing how W.7 plays with Stardock...
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Frogboy
Sir Kight of Camelot
Join Date 08/2006
0
Reply #11 February 2, 2009 7:01:26 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

This is the OS that my folks have been waiting for since of the many cons of Vista. A year ago when my father heard about it he wasn't going to get Vista. So we are running Windows XP Media Center SP3. I can't wait to get W7.

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Frogboy
The_Regicide
Join Date 02/2005
+22
Reply #12 February 2, 2009 7:08:51 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

I want to have a very close eye to this thread...

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Frogboy
jpmurph1
Join Date 02/2005
+33
Reply #13 February 2, 2009 7:14:59 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I had a minor problem dual booting Windows7 and Vista, apparently somehow, when i install new software etc, i always do a manual "restore point" which i did on both 7 and vista as i was using them doing something, anyways, somehow, these restore files were overwriting each other, as i tried to do a restore and the file was damaged, and the same in 7, so i did a test run, created a restore point in 7, then went to vista, created one there, went back to 7, file corrupted or damaged, back to vista, and same thing, dont know how this happened, so away goes windows 7 until the final release, reformatted, installed vista,restore point test, and everything is just fine. this turned into a real time consuming affair
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Frogboy
Heavenfall
Join Date 07/2008
+441
Reply #14 February 2, 2009 7:19:03 PM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums

Hmm, I haven't bothered with windows 7 even though most are quite positive bout it. Guess it's time to buckle down.

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Frogboy
GhoS
Join Date 03/2001
0
Reply #15 February 2, 2009 7:36:30 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
IconPackager definitely doesn't work right now. Unfortunately, all my icons are toast after upgrading a Vista Ultimate 32-bit machine to Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit.
Its your mistake dilmonen for upgrading over your existing Vista. It is never recommended you do that no matter how good the beta. Especially where no company has officially said their software works correctly on Win7. I like the direction that Win7 is going and it is very usable. Interesting to read Frogboys notes as he uses it. Especially with the progress of Stardock programs to use on it.
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Frogboy
michaelpedersen
Join Date 11/2008
+2
Reply #16 February 2, 2009 9:54:23 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I don't find that Vista is so bad. To me Windows is Windows, until they scrap DOS and go with a more Unix-like kernel it will always be a mess. I really don't have high hopes for Win7, I just expect it to be Vista with different icons, more wallpapers, more code and higher hardware requirements. Same problems that will be fixed with service packs. I'm ok with that, I almost with Microsoft would just come out and say, this is it. Yeah it kind of sucks but overall it works, here ya go.
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Frogboy
LightStar
Join Date 12/2002
+1577
Reply #17 February 2, 2009 10:39:04 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I did a clean install of Windows 7 on my laptop, and unfortunately nothing from Stardock runs right on it.
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Frogboy
JavaFiend
Join Date 08/2007
0
Reply #18 February 2, 2009 10:53:37 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I have been running the beta 64bit for a few days now. I must say I am very impressed. I didn't mind vista, but it had some things I didn't care for. But, windows 7 seems to me like a big improvement. This is my first experience with 64bit too, and I installed on my laptop with 0 problems. I went from boot-from-cd to desktop with internet access in 45 minutes and had to download nothing extra. Just the install dvd and network passkey. I am actually very excited for this to be released so I can run it full time on my other machine.
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Frogboy
Leo the Lion
Join Date 05/2003
+100
Reply #19 February 3, 2009 12:33:02 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I'm dual booting XP and Windows 7 and I am finding W7 to be a great experience wherever I look. And that's on a three year old laptop with a pretty pathetic CPU (in todays terms) and a gig of ram. Microsoft are really going to win back the public with this new OS. I've got two freebie Vista Ultimate discs and they've been gathering dust after I installed them last year on my better rigs and they performed like a pig...........so went back to XP.........but now there is light at the end of the tunnel   

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Frogboy
AG3
Join Date 02/2006
+4
Reply #20 February 3, 2009 3:11:19 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

I'm dual booting XP and Win 7 x64 at the moment. I like Windows 7 a lot more than I do Vista (which I have to deal with on a regular basis at work and when playing IT support for my parents), but it's behaving very beta for me, with BSODs not being very uncommon; usually get 1 per day or so, sometimes more. But I did expect that when I installed the beta.

Win 7 is going to be my cue to go 64 bit, and get some more RAM on my game rig

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Frogboy
-=XX=-Nephilim
Join Date 02/2008
+4
Reply #21 February 3, 2009 3:39:37 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

It all looks nice and fine but I hope you wont mind me being frank...

 

1. I remember number of similar "wow great" threads / sites / blogs during Vista beta and at the end it turned out to be pile of crap

2. So far what I read about Win 7 it feels like nothing else but "Vista patch" which is good news for sure but nothing to get me remotely excited...

3. Again, so far, I haven't read anything about fundamental redesigns to OS meaning that most probably we will have nice and fast system when freshly installed and then bloated hog 1 year down the line when we will eventually reach the point of full reinstall just like with every other incarnation of windows... Registry is still there, it is still not based on Unix, security issues are still there etc...

4. I also see constant attempts to rip of OS X - pretty much continuation of Vista experience in that sense which I find pathetic to say at least... why not go for something original, inspire industry and put OS X in such position so its forced to rip of Win for a change...

5. Put functionality aside, aesthetics are still shit... I mean cant they at least employ designer or two so they make it at very least look nice!?

6. Sure... At this point Stardock comes in with Blinds, Dock, Desktop X etc... to fix the disaster. Which is great news but then again this thread pretty much turns into add for Stardock software which user should install to get out from usual Win visual hell... When I was Win user I had more less all of Stardock products installed just to make my experience of using computer remotely comfortable and modern...

7. I am 101% sure OS X 10.6 will take a piss out of Win again...

8. Win to gain trust and driving force again needs to be redesigned from scratch! - Untill then...

9. ... EPIC FAIL!

 

My 2 cents with hope no one got offended in any way

 

 

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Frogboy
jpmurph1
Join Date 02/2005
+33
Reply #22 February 3, 2009 8:55:35 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I know i am probably in the minority, but I will continue to use Vista, even after 7's release, vista has been so stable and "good" to me, never once have i had a BSOD, plus all the years i have been using pcs, vista by far is the easiest to install and setup

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Frogboy
Heavenfall
Join Date 07/2008
+441
Reply #23 February 3, 2009 9:54:00 AM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums

I formatted C:\ straight up, all installs and a lot of things I should have backed up but didn't gone.

Anyway. The install of windows 7 was flawless. The only thing that didn't work from the start was my 4870x2. Originally I thought windows 7 had completely broken, because I didn't get any start menu or icons or anything. However, it turns out windows 7 has a new system to arrange multiple screens (which is really good by the way!) and it had put my stuff on the wrong screen. Took me a while to figure that one out, as I did numerous "flip displays" in ATI cc and it didn't help.

So far, everything plays, couple of bugs noticed with the UI, but...

... where's the ZAZZ! THE SPARKLE-CRACK-POP! Not once have I gotten the feeling that I am dealing with something MORE than vista here. Vista may have been a drain on resources, but I had those plenty so windows 7 is definately not an upgrade there. Arguably, windows 7 did configure itself almost perfectly from the start - I think "newbies" will find that invaluable. But - once again - not a reason to upgrade from a working setup. A lot of people also talked about how the start menu has improved - what? It's an identical clone of the start menu from Vista. NOTHING HAS CHANGED! The taskbar finally adopts the "dock" system almost everyone uses anyway. It is good - real good in fact. But is it an upgrade? No.

So far, windows 7 hasn't blown me away. Ignoring a few lacking settings and bugs because it is beta, I would still say I am not better off with windows 7 than I would be with a fresh vista install. I've worked about 12 hours in windows 7, so maybe I haven't found the really neat features yet. I hope I haven't. Because I would hate to upgrade from vista to windows 7 when it releases, to find that all I got was a better way to arrange which display is shown where.

 

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Frogboy
GamerJD75
Join Date 03/2002
0
Reply #24 February 3, 2009 12:19:43 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Ghos said: Its your mistake dilmonen for upgrading over your existing Vista. It is never recommended you do that no matter how good the beta. Especially where no company has officially said their software works correctly on Win7. I like the direction that Win7 is going and it is very usable. Interesting to read Frogboys notes as he uses it. Especially with the progress of Stardock programs to use on it.

Ah, so by performing my duties as an official beta tester for Windows 7 & seeing how things broke during said upgrade is "my mistake"?

I'm aware that there are very few companies that have stated their software should work correctly on Windows 7. However, Microsoft themselves stated that if it works on Vista it should also work on Windows 7. Finally, the next point is that during the upgrade checks, absolutely none of the Stardock apps were listed as being "incompatible" with the upgrade. However, until I uninstalled every application from Stardock that was installed on Vista, the Windows 7 upgrade would not complete.

If you notice, I never stated I upgraded with the software actually installed on the machine. In fact, I even stated that I was unable to get IconPackager back onto Windows 7. It does not show up in the list of apps under Impulse.

Perhaps, some people should really think before they "open their mouth" & criticise someone for something when they have absolutely no clue about the situation.
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Frogboy
lee3908870
Join Date 11/2007
+2
Reply #25 February 4, 2009 1:57:24 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums

For all of you reading this post here are some of the Stardock applications (skinning) that will work with win 7 (32 & 64 bit):

Will work:

   Impulse

   Objectdock (freeware) - not sure of object plus (do own)

   Rightclick

WILL NOT WORK:

   Iconpackager

   Windowblinds

   Soundpackager

   Bootskins (crashes the system - run restore)

   Logon studio (crashes the system - run restore)

   Windowblind Developer 6 & pro

Thus far these are the only ones I have tested.  I know that Stardock is doing so also, but I am a big fan of being able to skin the OS; so the first thing I tested was the Stardock products.

Also, there are some interesting changes in the "MY MUSIC' folder which could make music collection applications obslete.  It is without a doubt one of the best changes to date.

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