The thread wherein Windows 7 is discussed...

[Salamok]

I wonder if it will do multiple XP configs, like an ie6 config, an ie7 config and an ie8 config thats pretty much the only thing i use VMware for at present so if it did that i could ditch VMware entirely.

[Hayduke]

I think it's the same thing as their Virtual PC software, which they've released for free.  Just, more integrated or whatever.  I've never used the Microsoft versions, but I used the old Mac versions when it was still owned by Connectix (they also made the first PSX emulator) and would run Win2K on it.

[Yegolev]

I took a stroll amongst the eyepatch crowd and didn't find anything I'd deem reliable.  I suppose I have until August to figure out some bridge to retail.

[raydeen]

Apparently MS is releasing the RC on the 5th and it will be free to use for a year.

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2009/04/24/windows-7-release-candidate-update.aspx

Edit: Damn. Didn't check to see if it was mentioned before I posted. Sorry. Was news to me.

[fuser]

RC is out

download is at the bottom of the page

[Yegolev]

As for forcing an upgrade from beta to RC, the instructions are here.

Here’s what you can do to bypass the check for pre-release upgrade IF YOU REALLY REALLY NEED TO:

   1. Download the ISO as you did previously and burn the ISO to a DVD.
   2. Copy the whole image to a storage location you wish to run the upgrade from (a bootable flash drive or a directory on any partition on the machine running the pre-release build).
   3. Browse to the sources directory.
   4. Open the file cversion.ini in a text editor like Notepad.
   5. Modify the MinClient build number to a value lower than the down-level build. For example, change 7100 to 7000 (pictured below).
   6. Save the file in place with the same name.
   7. Run setup like you would normally from this modified copy of the image and the version check will be bypassed.

The first article reports that an upgrade path seems to produce a slower machine, which is probably not surprising to anyone.

[fuser]

So the huge ZOMG news of today is the 2hr shutdowns after March 1, 2010.

Watch the calendar. The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you'll need to install a non-expired version of Windows before March 1, 2010. You'll also need to install the programs and data that you want to use.

Retarded people of the hour.. Gizmodo

Really? Really guys? You know, if you wanted us to stop using RC1 on March 1, it'd be totally fine to just have it expire. That's cool. The trial's over, time to move on people. But turning the entire OS into a crippling piece of harassmentware? Way to turn something awesome into a huge douchebomb moment for yourselves.

The user comments are just 

That's totally absurd. I agree - just have it f***ing expire rather than do this BS.
Makes me not want to download it at all.
Douchey move.

Whats really silly is the 120 trial versions usually just shutdown, but instead now you get a 2hr window to copy stuff if you want.

[rattran]

I've seen the same wailing as people notice the beta will start doing the same July 1. Shutdown every 2 hours.

[Hindenburg]

Is there any reason why one shouldn't suppose that someone will find a way to deactivate that script until that date?

[fuser]

I've seen the same wailing as people notice the beta will start doing the same July 1. Shutdown every 2 hours.

What I don't even understand its a beta release candidate, not a final product. This isn't a gift from microsoft, its not a trial its a testing release. Microsoft has the warning on the release page and heck if you read the FAQ

Q: Can I upgrade from the RC to the final version of Windows 7?
When you install the final version of Windows 7, you'll need to do a clean installation. So plan on backing up your data then reinstalling your applications and restoring your data.

I wouldn't be surprised if they stop patching the RC once RTM hits.

[Yegolev]

I really don't care about any of that as long as I don't have a gap between W7RC failing and W7Retail.  If there is a gap... bah.

[Krakrok]

I installed the RC today. First run through the installer it bluescreened because I didn't delete all the Vista partitions I guess. Second time through it worked fine. Seems fast enough. Network file transfers are just as slow as Vista.

[Engels]

People have probably alrady commented on this on the earlier version, but has anyone had any compatibility issues with the 64 bit version?

[NiX]

People have probably alrady commented on this on the earlier version, but has anyone had any compatibility issues with the 64 bit version?

Like? Driver? Software?

So far:

PunkBuster will not work with 64 bit W7

[Engels]

whoa, good to know. I'm a CoD4 addict. There go those installation plans.

I'm not convinced Win7 32 is a serious upgrade from Vista 32.

[NiX]

The memory handling alone is worth it, though if you're a COD4 addict, I suggest you google around about 32-bit W7 and Punk Buster. As far as I could tell it's a 64 bit issue.

[Big Gulp]

I'm not convinced Win7 32 is a serious upgrade from Vista 32.

Why are people still installing 32 bit operating systems anyway?  RAM is dirt cheap, and you need an x64 OS to address it.

My plan is to go on an install frenzy on my two computers this saturday.  Got the RC downloaded yesterday, but I'm sitting on it until I have a good chunk of time devoted to the install.

[Krakrok]

The antialiasing in W7 64 is working on making me go blind. 

[Yegolev]

People have probably alrady commented on this on the earlier version, but has anyone had any compatibility issues with the 64 bit version?

From off the top of my head, GameTap mostly does not work on any 64-bit OS.  The client is fine but the encryption driver for PC titles is 32-bit only.

SC Diskinfo also does not work on W7 but I'm not sure why.

[Koyasha]

I hope the next Microsoft OS after W7 is 64-bit only.  Hell, I wish Windows 7 had been 64-bit only.  It's times like this where absolute dominance of the consumer operating system market would be a good thing, if MS would just decree 'henceforth all things shall be 64-bit.  So it is written, so it shall be!'  All these other software/hardware makers often lag on or simply fail to supply 64-bit drivers because they know they can, since more than half of the install base uses 32 bit still.  Presumably they just don't want to go to the expense of creating the new version of the drivers.

[Yegolev]

The W7 upgrade requires 11GB free on my C: partition, which is only (ha!) 20GB and I just have 7.5GB free.  So, anyone have any suggestions on free repartition tools?

[Numtini]

The W7 upgrade requires 11GB free on my C: partition, which is only (ha!) 20GB and I just have 7.5GB free.  So, anyone have any suggestions on free repartition tools?

Try doing a google search, I'm pretty sure Win 7's installer has a built in repartition tool.

Edit: for giggles, I tossed the newly downloaded RC into a spare PC here at work and apparently it doesn't have the full repartition. Am I thinking of Vista?

My addition to the thread, anyone running an ATI card under Win7? I've been quite happy with my nvidia's performance in Win7 which was better than XP or Vista, but it's an old 8800GTS/320 and yesterday it started to throw all sorts of hardware failure looking errors whilst playing Eve, so I'm contemplating a new PC.

[NiX]

My addition to the thread, anyone running an ATI card under Win7? I've been quite happy with my nvidia's performance in Win7 which was better than XP or Vista, but it's an old 8800GTS/320 and yesterday it started to throw all sorts of hardware failure looking errors whilst playing Eve, so I'm contemplating a new PC.

Running an HD4850 under W7. So far I've run every game without a problem, though I haven't played EVE under this video card or OS.

[rattran]

I'm running a 4870/512 with no problems.

I have to admit I was really excited when I realized after installing new drivers, I didn't have to reboot. My favorite thing about Win7 so far.

[Yegolev]

My wife's machine has a 4870 on W7 and it works fine.  Well, nothing attributable to the ATi card has gone wrong.

[Engels]

Windows 7 installs a 100 mb 'admin' partition. Anyone know what that's all about?

[schild]

Windows 7 installs a 100 mb 'admin' partition. Anyone know what that's all about?

Porn storage. The worst of it.

[NiX]

Windows 7 installs a 100 mb 'admin' partition. Anyone know what that's all about?

[raydeen]

Windows 7 installs a 100 mb 'admin' partition. Anyone know what that's all about?

My guess is it's their answer to a root account with protected backups of key system files. Seems like it from the screenshot.

[Yegolev]

I'm seeing something weird as well.



Basically I can't access Things that I should be able to as an administrator.  I'll try making a new user and see what I can see.

[Engels]

Documents and Settings directory is a 'virtual' directory as a compatibility thingie for XP. Vista and Windows7 store all that under C:\Users now.

[Yegolev]

Apparently I just never noticed this before.  The view from a cmd window is very different than from explorer.  I'll have to either ignore it or fiddle around with the settings.

The reason I was dicking around in there was to disable a startup entry, but I got that via regedit.  I need to stop learning things and reinstall my games.

[Sky]

After years of working with OSX, the Windows file hierarchies make me crazy.

I need to stop learning things and reinstall my games.

This would be why I'm using 32-bit XP still.

[Yegolev]

Touche, however your adherence to the Old Ways will betray you... in time.

[Hindenburg]

Don't need to reinstall your games to have them working on win7 or xp64.