Author Topic: Windows 7 RC is up for download! (Read 1745 times)

MCD · « **on:** April 24, 2009, 10:23:58 PM »

http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2009/04/24/secret-no-more-revealing-virtual-windows-xp-for-windows-7.aspx

Quote

XP Mode consists of the Virtual PC-based virtual environment and a fully licensed copy of Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3). It will be made available, for free, to users of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions via a download from the Microsoft web site.

Quote

users can run Windows XP-based applications (like IE 6) alongside Windows 7 applications under a single desktop.

Quote

they can claim almost complete Windows XP compatibility, or almost 100 percent compatibility with all currently running Windows applications.

screen shots: http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/xp_mode_pre_shots.asp

SUP DAWG

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #1 on:** April 24, 2009, 10:32:37 PM »

Quote from: MCD on April 24, 2009, 10:23:58 PM

SUP DAWG

do you mean YO DAWG

MCD · « **Reply #2 on:** April 24, 2009, 10:33:52 PM »

i wanted to edit it but was too busy looking at my newly shaved balls.

Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2009, 11:06:26 PM »

Is this thing gonna be a virtual machine or an XP-based app wrapper?

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2009, 11:06:44 PM »

that is hot shit

does this mean games that are janked on vista (like the brothers in arms games) will run in this environment

Ecrofirt · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2009, 11:20:20 PM »

Bebpo · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2009, 02:58:23 AM »

Man, if it can run all those old 90s PC games I'd totally be willing to go Windows 7 when it hits retail. Classic PC gaming is what's keeping me on XP since so many games are no good on 64-bit OS.

cool breeze · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2009, 03:02:05 AM »

Quote from: Eel O'Brian on April 24, 2009, 11:06:44 PM

that is hot shit

does this mean games that are janked on vista (like the brothers in arms games) will run in this environment

that would be amazing if it works out. I wanted to play through System Shock 2 the other day but it wouldn't work on Vista.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2009, 04:05:20 AM »

I am taking this over as the official Windows 7 RC thread

RC1 is out! 7100

I'm trying to decide between 32-bit and 64-bit installations. Any reason not to go for 64-bit on my desktop? I know driver support has been spotty in the past, but I'd like to think that a few years of Vista and now 7 is gonna change that. Any advice on which to pick? I have Core 2 Duo desktop w/ 4 GB RAM.

TVC15 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2009, 04:08:34 AM »

Quote from: Synthesizer Patel on April 25, 2009, 04:05:20 AM

I'm trying to decide between 32-bit and 64-bit installations. Any reason not to go for 64-bit on my desktop? I know driver support has been spotty in the past, but I'd like to think that a few years of Vista and now 7 is gonna change that

You know, I've been running x64 Vista and Win 7 exclusively (aside from my EEE) for about a year and a half now, and I haven't come across a single issue with apps or hardware. Note that I don't play many old games (although the entire Blizz catalog, I can confirm, runs fine in Win 7 64 and Vista 64) and I only buy good hardware that is unlikely to have shady cheap parts. I was a holdout on x64 until one of my machines came with it, and I had no problems, so it became my standard.

All my main machines have 4 gigs of RAM and I get upset if they are can only take advantage of 3.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2009, 04:11:56 AM »

Quote from: TVC 15 on April 25, 2009, 04:08:34 AM

Quote from: Synthesizer Patel on April 25, 2009, 04:05:20 AM
I'm trying to decide between 32-bit and 64-bit installations. Any reason not to go for 64-bit on my desktop? I know driver support has been spotty in the past, but I'd like to think that a few years of Vista and now 7 is gonna change that

You know, I've been running x64 Vista and Win 7 exclusively (aside from my EEE) for about a year and a half now, and I haven't come across a single issue with apps or hardware. Note that I don't play many old games (although the entire Blizz catalog, I can confirm, runs fine in Win 7 64 and Vista 64) and I only buy good hardware that is unlikely to have shady cheap parts. I was a holdout on x64 until one of my machines came with it, and I had no problems, so it became my standard.

All my main machines have 4 gigs of RAM and I get upset if they are can only take advantage of 3.

Good to know. Yeah, I have pretty standard hardware (max-rated Newegg DIY special) so I don't think I'm gonna run into anything nutty. I'm prolly gonna go back from my Audigy SE to on-board sound, though. For my setup (desk speakers, living room speakers, headphones) I want three outputs, all 2.0 stereo. My AC97 shittastic on-board lets me specify any port as input/output. Audigy SE drivers only let me pick 2.0, 4.0, or 5.1. :/ :\ :/

MCD · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2009, 06:22:09 AM »

I had some issues with my ati 2600 xt, WMP12 freezes when in dual monitor mode.

but i was using beta drivers back then so i think it should be sorted by now, other than that no problems with 32bit.

the one thing i really miss is the on the fly audio switching, i can switch between pc speakers and hdmi without having to play the video/music again unlike vista.

RC1 should be out officially on May 5, can't wait to make it my default OS.

MCD · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2009, 05:58:57 PM »

http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2009/04/25/xp-mode-and-gaming-not-so-much.aspx

not for gaming.

ManaByte · « **Reply #13 on:** April 25, 2009, 06:41:59 PM »

Quote from: MCD on April 25, 2009, 05:58:57 PM

http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2009/04/25/xp-mode-and-gaming-not-so-much.aspx

not for gaming.

It's licensed only for Windows 7 Pro, Enterprise, and Ultimate.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #14 on:** April 25, 2009, 06:43:58 PM »

i guess i will have to bite the bullet at some point and just dual boot, if i can get hold of a copy of xp

MCD · « **Reply #15 on:** April 25, 2009, 07:25:37 PM »

if all works in 7 then why bother with dual boot.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #16 on:** April 25, 2009, 07:36:06 PM »

Quote from: MCD on April 25, 2009, 06:22:09 AM

RC1 should be out officially on May 5, can't wait to make it my default OS.

do you know anything about RC1 vs. RTM? I want to install Windows 7 asap on my desktop, but not so early I need to reinstall in like 2 months once RTM comes out.

will RC1 be fine through, say, Christmas? can it be Windows Updated and everything? hmm.

MCD · « **Reply #17 on:** April 25, 2009, 08:07:06 PM »

well i know for a fact the the beta can be updated and patched via windows update just fine so i don't see why the RC1 can't if it needed emergency patches.

as for RTM, i know nothing about it but rumors say that it might come with a new UI and the release date is early October or so.

i would suggest waiting for further impressions before you install RC1, read the GAF beta thread and here or other sites you know.

Guybrush Threepwood · « **Reply #18 on:** April 25, 2009, 08:11:30 PM »

Quote

users can run Windows XP-based applications (like IE 6) alongside Windows 7 applications under a single desktop.

smh

MCD · « **Reply #19 on:** May 05, 2009, 03:33:32 AM »

http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/05/05/exclusive-windows-7-rc-download-goes-live
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx

bump for RC download.

downloading.

Powerslave · « **Reply #20 on:** May 05, 2009, 09:30:01 AM »

Brehvolution · « **Reply #21 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:10:10 AM »

Protip: After downloading the WIN 7 image, mount the image using your favorite mounting tool and extract everything to a folder on C: and run setup from there. It's quicker and you don't run the risk of dvd read errors midway through an install.

You cannot upgrade from XP, only Vista.

recursivelyenumerable · « **Reply #22 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:38:19 AM »

I want to install it, but I'm afraid I'll regret it when March 1 comes around and I not only have to shell out $200 for a release version, but have to waste a bunch of time recreating my system as well

Purple Filth · « **Reply #23 on:** May 05, 2009, 11:34:47 AM »

well time to update my version then

border · « **Reply #24 on:** May 05, 2009, 07:59:40 PM »

Doesn't it strike anyone as not-so-great marketing if the biggest feature touted so far is "You can run Windows XP on it!"?

What is the selling point on Windows 7, beyond compatibility modes? The compact installations for netbooks sound cool, but I'm not sure why I should run it on a desktop.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #25 on:** May 05, 2009, 08:37:50 PM »

because it's awesome wowsome jawsome

outperforms Vista AND XP in everyday operations

Aero Peek is the way windows (lowercase-w) should work

new taskbar takes the best parts of Windows Taskbar and OS X dock and combines them into a sexy tantric lovechild

looks great, stable as a rock, free to install, what's not to love

demi · « **Reply #26 on:** May 05, 2009, 09:32:51 PM »

Free to install? Isnt there a time limit?

MCD · « **Reply #27 on:** May 05, 2009, 09:34:15 PM »

Quote from: demi on May 05, 2009, 09:32:51 PM

Free to install? Isnt there a time limit?

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. (Learn more about installing Windows.)

enough time to "buy" it by then.

Bloodwake · « **Reply #28 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:32:45 PM »

downloading soon.

Quick question: is the RC like a standard OS install with a format and everything?

FatalT · « **Reply #29 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:55:57 PM »

Quote from: Bloodwake on May 05, 2009, 10:32:45 PM

downloading soon.

Quick question: is the RC like a standard OS install with a format and everything?

Yessir!

patrickula · « **Reply #30 on:** May 06, 2009, 12:17:22 AM »

If I install the 64 bit version will my 32-bit apps break? Or will I just be missing out on 64 bit benefits?
I'm running Vista 32 now and want to upgrade to 64 eventually anyway, though I don't have the RAM to take advantage of it at the moment.

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #31 on:** May 06, 2009, 02:43:21 AM »

How's Win 7 for games? That means more to me than anything else.

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #32 on:** May 06, 2009, 02:45:40 AM »

Quote from: patrickula on May 06, 2009, 12:17:22 AM

If I install the 64 bit version will my 32-bit apps break? Or will I just be missing out on 64 bit benefits?
I'm running Vista 32 now and want to upgrade to 64 eventually anyway, though I don't have the RAM to take advantage of it at the moment.

Based on Vista 64, most 32 bit apps run just fine and often even faster on 64 bit Vista. However, there are a couple of 32 bit programs that are wonky on 64 bit Vista.

Overall, a 64 bit OS is simply faster than 32 OSes for Core 2 Duo and newer processors.

border · « **Reply #33 on:** May 06, 2009, 03:42:50 AM »

Quote from: Synthesizer Patel on May 05, 2009, 08:37:50 PM

looks great, stable as a rock, free to install, what's not to love

Well at some point the all-important "free to install" thing will expire sooner or later. Everyone says Windows 7 is great, but I'm just a little unclear on what makes it great. Vista is already stable and looks fine -- so am I just supposed to upgrade for a faster OS? Surely there must be more talking points, whether practical or impractical, interesting or uninteresting.

At this point I can't imagine what more I'd want out of an OS. I just started running Vista with a new PC I got in October, so I don't feel like anything is pushing me towards an upgrade. Both Apple and Microsoft seem to be in this unenviable position of pushing new platforms when the current ones seem to meet the needs and desires of most everyday users. I was hoping by this point we'd have some kind of breakthrough in touch-interface or voice-recognition that might keep pushing things forward, but I guess we are not there yet.

TVC15 · « **Reply #34 on:** May 06, 2009, 04:26:44 AM »

Actually, have you tried out the voice recognition in Vista? It's pretty impressive--not quite there yet, but it's pretty close. Actually, iirc, the biggest problem with it was that the interface for manipulating windows/selecting menus was a miss.

News:

Author Topic: Windows 7 RC is up for download! (Read 1745 times)