Windows 7

[Wizer]

I am contemplating installing windows 7 when it comes out in October.  However, I need to know if Windows XP be "upgraded" to Windows 7 or if I have to remove XP from my computer and then install windows 7??

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Upgrade edition is cheaper so you can upgrade your XP to 7. However afaik it will not be an upgrade in traditional sense but verifying you have a legit license and installing 7 on top (especially if you get a 64-bit version of 7 like you really should).

While 64-bit OS may not be necessary today I'd expect the legs of 7 to reach a few years forward where the situation may well change.

[Ack-Ack]

Thought that with the upgrade from XP to W7 will require a clean install and not the usual upgrade patch of over-writing the existing OS?

Will people have the same RAM limit limitations with the 32-bit version of W7 like there is with XP?


ack-ack

[Ghastly]

Will people have the same RAM limit limitations with the 32-bit version of W7 like there is with XP

Yes, because it's a function of binary math, not the OS.  2 to the 32nd is 4,294,967,296 ie. 4 GB.

<S>

[Chalenge]

You can do a clean install which should be the recommended route even though with a Vista system you could lay W7 on top of it through the upgrade method.

[Skuzzy]

Concerning upgrading to Windows 7 from XP.  Not going to happen.  It will require a full release of Windows 7, not an upgrade release, and the computer will hard drive will need a clean partition to install Windows 7.

I wonder if they will stick to thier guns on this given how many businesses did not upgrade to Vista. 

Sort of like choosing not to buy a rotten banana, then being forced to buy it in order to get a fresh one.

[Spikes]

I hope my dad's work will buy the corporate version so I can upgrade my laptop (Vista 64) and maybe my gaming computer (XP 64).

[AirFlyer]

IMO your better doing a full reinstall anyways. It actually very easy and will likely save a lot of headaches. The only problem is if you only have one partition you'll need to find some way to backup things on your HDD.

[FLS]

Concerning upgrading to Windows 7 from XP.  Not going to happen.  It will require a full release of Windows 7, not an upgrade release, and the computer will hard drive will need a clean partition to install Windows 7.

I wonder if they will stick to thier guns on this given how many businesses did not upgrade to Vista. 

Sort of like choosing not to buy a rotten banana, then being forced to buy it in order to get a fresh one.

You have to do a clean install for XP but you can do it with an upgrade release.

[RipChord929]

Maybe a silly Q:  Are the new i7 chips and mobo's designed specifically to work together with W7???  Or are the 7's just coincedence?
If so, did Microsoft, and Intel collaborate on the new Chip/OS's coming out?

RC

[Fulmar]

Maybe a silly Q:  Are the new i7 chips and mobo's designed specifically to work together with W7???  Or are the 7's just coincedence?
If so, did Microsoft, and Intel collaborate on the new Chip/OS's coming out?

RC

The naming, I'm not sure about that.  Design wise?  See below:

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Intel-CPU-Windows-7-Optimizations,8337.html
"Intel helped Microsoft make Windows 7 faster.

Zoom

One of the biggest challenges for Microsoft when designing any piece of software is maintaining compatibility for the nearly infinite different configurations of hardware. This is especially true for an operating system, which is why Microsoft worked with hardware partners as closely as possible when developing Windows 7.

Intel, being the largest chip maker in the world, played an important part in optimizing Windows 7 so that it'll run well on Intel CPUs.

Joakim Lialias, Intel's Alliance Manager for Microsoft explained on the new Partner blog some of the optimizations: "Working with Intel, Microsoft implemented a new feature called SMT parking, which provided additional support for the Windows 7 scheduler for Intel Hyper-threading Technology, enabling better performance on hyper-threaded, multi-core Intel processors. This will help users get the maximum benefit from multi-tasking."

"Also, Intel and Microsoft jointly analyzed the boot/shutdown/sleep/resume times on Intel platforms during the development of Windows 7 to identify opportunities to optimize Intel drivers and BIOS as well as Windows 7," Lialias continued. "Our mutual goal was to provide the most responsive compute experience possible. Another key part of the performance and responsiveness was our collaboration to optimize Intel Solid State Drive technology for Windows 7.""

[RipChord929]

Thx Fulmar!  Normally I figure that most coincidences, AREN'T...  TomsHardware huh? I'll have to add that to my computer stuff category, Thx again...

  RC

[Fulmar]

Thx Fulmar!  Normally I figure that most coincidences, AREN'T...  TomsHardware huh? I'll have to add that to my computer stuff category, Thx again...

  RC

There performance charts and benchmarks part of the site are really good IMO.  Give you a good cross section.  Monthly they put out an article called Video Cards: Best Bang for the Buck.  With product 'reviews,' like any ad sponsored site, read between the lines if you can.  But Toms has been around the block for quite a while.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Concerning upgrading to Windows 7 from XP.  Not going to happen.  It will require a full release of Windows 7, not an upgrade release, and the computer will hard drive will need a clean partition to install Windows 7.

I wonder if they will stick to thier guns on this given how many businesses did not upgrade to Vista. 

Sort of like choosing not to buy a rotten banana, then being forced to buy it in order to get a fresh one.

IMO that article is simply saying you need to do a clean install of W7 when upgrading from XP. This means you get the license much cheaper but the installation media allows a clean install after verifying a valid license to upgrade from exists (just as Vista did).

However there is controversy surrounding the wording 'valid installation of windows'. This would mean in theory that you need an activated and installed XP as basis for the upgrade. Now considering an 'upgrade' also voids your previous OS license - what happens when you want to reinstall? You can't reactivate XP since you migrated to 7 so you have no upgrade path..

This will most likely be solved with a call to MS but from the looks of it the upgrade version is worth it only if you're counting your last pennies.

[Skuzzy]

I have to admit, there is some 'gray' information concerning whether or not you can use the W7 upgrade on an XP system at all.  Initially, Microsoft had stated they would not provide an upgrade path from XP, and that the upgrade disk would only work for Vista users.

However, since the intitial position, they have been floundering around.  Personally, I think it would be huge mistake not to offer XP users the upgrade to W7.  XP being a larger marketshare than Vista, they stand to generate more revenue if they do offer that upgrade option.

Frankly, Vista users should get that upgrade for free.  Anything MIcrosoft can do to get that operating system off the market as soon as possible would be a good thing.