Windows 7

[Mr Eagle]

I didn’t at first, but it has really grown on me.

The libraries in particular are really cool. Love the way you can combine a whole bunch of related but separate directories into the one customised virtual folder.

Is that what 'libraries' were all about? I found it really odd to have libraries followed immediately by the user's music/pictures/docs directories in the tree. Just seems needlessly complex unless you're the sort of person who can't keep a hard drive organised - my 'music' library would basically just be a shortcut to my 'music' directory!

 

[weevil]

Is that what 'libraries' were all about? I found it really odd to have libraries followed immediately by the user's music/pictures/docs directories in the tree. Just seems needlessly complex unless you're the sort of person who can't keep a hard drive organised - my 'music' library would basically just be a shortcut to my 'music' directory!

Yeah those are all libraries. They can be as simple as shortcuts to single directories, but you can also do the combined virtual folder thing if you want to.

 

[weevil]

I'm loving Windows7, Media center is way better.

Yeah set up is a thousand times better.

Still have to do a registry hack to add enough record padding after a program. And I sometimes get a minor decoder bug on startup.

But other than that it is way more stable. Have replaced my production Vista install on our HTPC with the 7 beta.

 

[Rawhead]

The inclusion of a search bar on movie play back was well needed, though I cant get any functionality out of the DVD library function as all my rips are AVI format, and it doesn't seem to recognise them.

Easily fixed with the Mediabrowser plugin, which I recently found out craps all over MyMovies. Actually this plugin deserves it's own thread, it's completely awesome.


No crashes on Windows7 so far after a week of running, no problems whatsoever actually, impressive for a beta release. Fast install, didn't need to install a single additional driver, and the 'desktop peek' integration is a clever addition.



It's all about Media center functionality for me, and Windows7 and Media center go hand in hand, finally Microsoft are impressing me in a small insignificant way.

 

[Rod Stroker]

Microsoft looks to have hit the jackpot with its new version of Windows, Windows 7 is classes above the problematic Vista

A good read that pretty much confirms my experience so far. I like these lines:
"Windows 7 is far more mature than Windows Vista or XP were at the same point in their own histories"

"Microsoft hopes that through this first-hand experience, enthusiasts and early adopters will help spread the word that Windows 7 is nothing like Windows Vista - except maybe that it is Windows Vista done right"

"The good news - perhaps the best news - is that Windows 7 is faster than Vista.

It's quicker to start and open programs and it shuts down sooner. It's even faster and more reliable than XP for putting your computer into standby mode and awakening from this power-saving slumber state, which is good news for laptops and desktops alike.

In short, Windows 7 looks set to be Microsoft's best-ever operating system - it's everything Vista should have been and much more"

 

[spitlizard]

So far so good in the gaming department. So far Call of Duty _World at War and Left4dead both working fine on my W7

 

[Ant_]

Does the Beta have a expiry date?

 

[Rod Stroker]

Does the Beta have a expiry date?

If you mean expiry date, then yes. August 1 2009 according to the EULA:
"This software will stop running on August 1, 2009. You may not receive any other notice. You may not be able to access data used with the software when it stops running."

But I figure that by then there will either be a second beta release out or an update fix to extend the life of the first one.

 

[Ant_]

Thanks for that, and yeah was a typo.

 

[spitlizard]

If you mean expiry date, then yes. August 1 2009 according to the EULA:
"This software will stop running on August 1, 2009. You may not receive any other notice. You may not be able to access data used with the software when it stops running."

But I figure that by then there will either be a second beta release out or an update fix to extend the life of the first one.

I found this on M/S's own website: -
Removing the Beta

The Windows 7 Beta will stop working on August1, 2009. To continue using your PC, please be prepared to reinstall a prior version of Windows or a subsequent release of Windows 7 before the expiration date. We recommend doing a custom (clean) installation.


- I interprete this as M/S will be releasing newer versions right up until release

One other thing, apparently build 7032 is out there somewhere. Does anyone know where to get it?

 

[Rod Stroker]

One other thing, apparently build 7032 is out there somewhere. Does anyone know where to get it?

It's on mininova. Not sure if there is any benefit in installing it though if you're already running the Beta release or Build 7000 and have been taking all the updates? For me, I couldn't be arsed doing another fresh install and then have to load all my apps and settings all over again. Think I'll stick with Build 7000 for a while as I've just got everything set up nicely and I know it works.

 

[Borgsta]

I installed this on my home laptop on Sunday and so far it is great.

It is amazing how much of a difference it has made to my wireless networks.

With Vista I would download at a max of 210 - 230kBs. Just now I am getting 650kBs.

Had some minor teething issues with my SD card but that is working now.

General startup time is a heck of alot quicker.

 

[Rod Stroker]

I installed this on my home laptop on Sunday and so far it is great.

It is amazing how much of a difference it has made to my wireless networks.

With Vista I would download at a max of 210 - 230kBs. Just now I am getting 650kBs.

Had some minor teething issues with my SD card but that is working now.

General startup time is a heck of alot quicker.

Awesome. I installed it on my Mrs lappy a couple of months ago and it's been running great. Fresh install was quick, it automatically fetched and installed whatever drivers it needed and the performance has been excellent.

The only problem we've had on both her laptop and my desktop is a failed Windows Update package KB963660, which was apparently "to resolve issues with Media Player or Media Center". It would always try to activate this update during startup and then fail at 75%, so I rolled back to an earlier system restore point before the update was installed and when it asked to install the update again I un-ticked it and chose to "hide/ignore" that particular update package. Hasn't given me any problems since.

4 months on, I'm still happy to say it's the best Windows OS yet.

 

[weevil]

Yep still going strong. I have since installed one of the interim builds, which is not quite as polished but works brilliantly with Media Centre.

The public Release Candidate due in a month, I’ll certainly be giving it a spin as well.

 

[sblack]

On 7057 atm. Waiting for new billing period to get 7077, or whatever it is up to by then. Hopefully 7105 leaks soon

 

[spitlizard]

On 7057 atm. Waiting for new billing period to get 7077, or whatever it is up to by then. Hopefully 7105 leaks soon

I'm using 7057 ATM...no majors yet apart from the desktop.ini file issue but thats no biggie.

Still a few small niggly issues but all in all this is the Vista there should have been

 

[Rod Stroker]

I assume you guys are doing clean fresh installs of these new releases as they come out? If so then you're keener than I am. Don't you find it a hassle to re-install all yours apps and settings on top of the OS again after each install?

I would have thought that by taking all the Windows updates on Build 7000 until now (as I have been doing) would mean that I'd be on the equivalent of the latest build anyway, no?

 

[Rod Stroker]

The public Release Candidate due in a month, I’ll certainly be giving it a spin as well.

Due for release end of May. First beta release of Office 14 due out in early July as well.

 

[sblack]

I'm using 7057 ATM...no majors yet apart from the desktop.ini file issue but thats no biggie.

Still a few small niggly issues but all in all this is the Vista there should have been

Yeah. What is with the desktop.ini thing?

Never looked into it

 

[weevil]

I assume you guys are doing clean fresh installs of these new releases as they come out? If so then you're keener than I am. Don't you find it a hassle to re-install all yours apps and settings on top of the OS again after each install?

I would have thought that by taking all the Windows updates on Build 7000 until now (as I have been doing) would mean that I'd be on the equivalent of the latest build anyway, no?

Nah I installed 7048 as an update over 7000. Took around 15 min, very simple no dramas at all.

And no the builds are different to the Windows updates.

 

[Rod Stroker]

Windows 7 to make public debut May 5

The release indicates that little is likely to be changed in the final version of Windows 7

 

[sblack]

Already have 7100 running. After a little trouble with ATI drivers, it is all good now.

 

[weevil]

Yeah been running it for a few days on my HTPC. Works perfectly straight out of the box, except for a slight under-scan problem. Bizarre feeling for it to work so well without having to install any drivers or software at all.

Already have 7100 running. After a little trouble with ATI drivers, it is all good now.

Was about to install Catalyst CP to fix the under-scan. What were the ATI driver problems you were having blacky? ...And how did you fix them?

 

[spitlizard]

Already have 7100 running. After a little trouble with ATI drivers, it is all good now.

LOL, the builds are coming out so often now it's KILLING my download limits

 

[sblack]

There has been a lot of problem regarding CCC and the 9.3/9.4 driver versions. Especially in regards to mobility drivers...which I am using on my laptop.

A quick google will probably show quite a few hits. Some people have had to mod the drivers and stuff like that...which I tired but didn't work. Some people get lucky and are able to use 9.4 straight up

I stupidly forgot to check WU for and updates for my card ...I opened up Wu and there was an 'ATI Xpress 1150' update waiting. Although it isn't an official ATI driver, I have settled with it because I cannot get 9.3/9.4 to work.

Hopefully you get some luck

EDIT:

I reckon you should have absolutely no trouble. Just had another update waiting for me which was an official ATI driver. Fixed up my monitor really well...didn't realise until now how the brightness was so harshly affected by a Windows Driver

I am on version 8.561.0.0 which is still in the 8.x stage, but they are working up to the better drivers fast