Windows 7

[Skuzzy]

You are acting like in 2014 XP will suddenly stop working.  I still run Windows 2000 on a file server at home and it works fine.  Better than XP in some ways, and far better than Vista/Windows 7 could.

If all goes to plan, I retire in 2019. 

By then, I hope Microsoft has something I would consider suitable to replace XP.  I have no problem replacing an operating system when something better comes along.  Vista, nor Windows 7 does not fit that criteria.  Vista/Windows 7 still offers nothing I cannot get with XP for what I use it for.  They both still have the same thread management bugs that XP has.

Then again, when I retire, I really will not have a need for a Microsoft OS.  That will be a happy day.

[Nilsen]

You will never retire Skuzzy, so just let that thought go right now. All your internet children in the AH daycare center would be too lost and confused for anyone to let that happen. Societies would collapse and widespread looting and chaos would break out around the globe.

Sorry sir, you are STUCK 

[RTHolmes]

Is it still possible to buy a new machine with XP? Or do they all come witgh vista now?

HP are still doing XP "downgrades", IIRC it was about £15 install charge.

[Max]

Then again, when I retire, HTC will be owned by Microsoft.  That will be a happy day.

Fixed 

[Bino]

All this back-and-forth on operating systems has me wondering...

From the point of view of Aces High, is there much (any?) difference between Windows XP 64-bit and 32-bit?

Since the 64-bit version can address more memory, would that allow more textures and/or skins to be cached? (Right now I have 2 GB running under Win XP Pro 32-bit, and AH *seems* to fit it all...?)

Does the slight speed increase (throughput, really) of 64-bit memory access make any difference to AH?

Thanks! 

[Rebel]

I'm curious. 

Can you throw Windows 7 beta onto a Windows XP machine and have a dual boot function?  That way I can try it without unleashing armageddon on my poor PC.

[Skuzzy]

64 bit operating systems do not buy much of anything for a 32 bit application, such as Aces High II.  All versions of Windows restrict 32 bit applications to only being able to use a maximum of 2GB of RAM.

[AirFlyer]

As Skuzzy said all 32-bit bit applications run even on a 64-bit OS act like 32-bit. That's because a 64-bit OS will just emulate it in 32-bit. You'll notice this in your Processes tab on task manager. Anything being emulated in 32-bit will have *32 to the right of it. Perhaps Hitech will make a 64-bit version of AH some day.

[1azbaer]

I'm curious. 

Can you throw Windows 7 beta onto a Windows XP machine and have a dual boot function?  That way I can try it without unleashing armageddon on my poor PC.

Yes if have enough free space. pop in the DVD, choose custom install not an upgrade. The basic install of Windows 7 is 9GB which is a tad larger then Windows XP with SP3

[Skuzzy]

My understanding is, there is no upgrade from XP to Windows 7 available and Microsoft has no intention of offering an upgrade for XP users.

I have not substantiated that, so please do not go about the net claiming it is fact.  Has anyone tried?

Personally, I would be happy to see them not offer an upgrade.  Those things cause more trouble than they are worth.

[Getback]

I've always been told to not upgrade but instead start with a fresh install by IT guys.

[Reschke]

I am beginning to like Windows 7. It reminds me of XP in many ways and I am doing a clean install just like I did with Windows XP Pro. I have only heard of two versions of 7 coming out but can't find any more information than that. It recognized everything right off the bat and runs nicely for the average home user and all of my current games will run on it without issues for now.

Also it seems to like PC Anywhere which is good since that is how I connect with my office desktop when I have a need for a file that is there and not at home.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

My understanding is, there is no upgrade from XP to Windows 7 available and Microsoft has no intention of offering an upgrade for XP users.

I have not substantiated that, so please do not go about the net claiming it is fact.  Has anyone tried?

Personally, I would be happy to see them not offer an upgrade.  Those things cause more trouble than they are worth.

It's true the upgrade path is available only from Vista, not XP.

[Bino]

64 bit operating systems do not buy much of anything for a 32 bit application, such as Aces High II.  All versions of Windows restrict 32 bit applications to only being able to use a maximum of 2GB of RAM.

Thanks for the info, Skuzzy. 

If, hypothetically, there were a 64-bit version of Aces High, would there be a perceptible difference in the user experience?  I'm just curious. Other than the specific issue of large memory use for certain kinds of applications, there just does not yet seem to be a compelling reason to go 64-bit. Not yet, anyway.

[BaldEagl]

Thanks for the info, Skuzzy. 

Other than the specific issue of large memory use for certain kinds of applications, there just does not yet seem to be a compelling reason to go 64-bit. Not yet, anyway.

Well there could be if you wanted to run a lot of memory intensive applications at one time.  Even if they were all 32 bit apps and limited to 2 Gb of RAM 32 bit Windows is limited to 4 Gb max overall.  64 bit Windows can see something like 128 Gb of RAM which would allow all those apps to run their full 2 Gb if needed.