Windows 7 launch day: what you need to know
By Paul Miller 
posted October 22nd 2009 1:38PM
posted October 22nd 2009 1:38PM
Read the reviews (Windows 7 review | Windows 7 Media Center review)
What's clear from the review and our look at what's new in Media Center is that this is an enhanced version of Windows, but not some sort of revolution that will have Linux users repenting of their open source sins and Apple fans dropping their photorealistic icons. The articles should give you a good idea of what enhancements are in store and whether Windows 7 could truly make your old machine sing.
Pick a version (Windows 7 official pricing)
An age old confusion for Windows users has been slightly simplified here -- most users will end up with Windows 7 Home Premium when they buy a PC, but folks buying a copy outright have some more soul searching to do.
How to upgrade (How-To: Install Windows 7 and live to tell about it)
So you've got a copy, how are you gonna get it onto your Vista or XP box without causing the complete ruination of your digital lifestyle? Microsoft has provided some pretty good tools for this process, but we break it down and help out where we can.
Pick a computer (Launch day hardware spectacular)
Decided to skip the upgrade route and go straight for the sexy new hardware that's accompanying this release, huh? Well, you're in luck. We've rounded up some of the more notable releases, particularly some of the stuff that's packing newer processors, lower price points and a whole lot more touchscreen than last time around.
Nice to see google chrome on the rince out.
Has anyone ever said if you can do a clean install of windows 7 with an upgrade version?
I did this last night. I had the upgrade version and did a clean install.
You can. It works quite well, actually. Your old operating system and files are squirreled away into a folder called windows.old but everything about the OS is a clean install. You can't run your old programs, OS, etc though. You still have to reinstall everything and find drivers (not very many needed, actually) etc. Took me about an hour when my school sold me a copy way too early (sept. 25th lol).
Yep I did this on two computers. One of them was moving from x86 to x64 so I had to startup using the disk and it still let me use the upgrade. Kinda makes me wonder if you can install from the upgrade disk even if you don't have windows already...(it didn't ask for a product key until after the installation and I formatted the drive completely before installation. I was using the digitalriver downloaded copy for students, though)
Hey DOODS N DOODETTES
Question on the family pack: You can upgrade 3 computers with one key: But is it only once? If I reformat one computer in a year or so, and try to install again, does that count as one of the three?
This isn't a definitive answer, but:
I would suspect that if you re-formatted your computer it would install and activate just fine. The activation is tied to the hardware in your computer. For instance with single user copies if you change significant amounts of hardware in your PC it wouldn't activate and you would need to call Microsoft to see if they would reset the key for you.
I would assume the multi-pack would allow for three different sets of hardware, therefore the three PCs you orignally activated it on (minus the exception of significant hardware changes) would always activate and install perfectly fine no matter how many times you install it.
AAH!!! I just finished downloading it! If you're a student, you can get it for 30 bucks through Microsoft. Just google it. I will be setting it up tomorrow (too much homework today..)!!
I've been trying to download it as well, but I haven't gotten past .02mb...my college internet sucks big time
or free through your schools MSDNAA...
I installed Win 7 Home Premium last night. I pre-ordered it from Amazon and as ussual amazon hooked it up by getting it to me the day before release!
I did a clean install with an upgrade version. The upgrade version does a scan of your computer to see if you have a windows OS installed, if you do then it lets you continue.
With the download versions, like the Student version, it's a cluster fuck right now.
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7install/thread/aedb1245-f8f9-42ec-9a0c-1aa932363bbb
A MS guy posted saying they are aware of the issue and are working with Digital River. who knows how long it will take. MS at it's best
Wow.
WTF is it with this transparency shit?
O_O
Areo Peek.
Where have you been? :P
lol.
Aero Peak.
Can you get any more annoying/transparent?
It was okay in Vista.
This is just freaky. It's fugly.
I really hoped W7 will have allowed to further customize the Aero theme, not just the lame windows borders, but actually also the windows contents (I so can't stand the white background!). But, I guess not... so, this for me, actually, is a big let-down and this is the single reason I won't be upgrading from Vista, since I don't have a reason. Vista works perfectly for me, without Aero though, but I don't miss it.
...You've been able to change the background away from white for a long time...Since at least Win 98.
1) I'm not talking about the desktop background
2) Since W98, they've introduced something called Aero, which is very unfriendly when it comes to visual customisation.
Windows 7 is more like Rosanne in a bikini in the Mediterranean, with all the slow bloatware this OS has.
Bloatware has nothing to do with being slow... My computer still runs at the same speed regardless of whats on my hard drive, now if i turned all that bloatware on it might be a different story.
Ultimate 64bit installed here, everything went fine, just formatted my system partition and installed seven smoothly
Running great on my amd phenom II 920 4gb ram geforce9800gtx+!!
Love it so far!
wish I could get my iPhone to work with iTunes on Ultimate x64....
Sounds like you need to talk to Apple about getting proper drivers.
help on the installation please..
I want to order the upgrade as a student from Win741.com. I have Windows XP installed atm, and understand I will have to format it fresh to install Win 7 Pro (64). I don't have a problem with that, but what I would like to know is do I always have to install XP first for Win 7 to allow the upgrade? I am pretty sure the student version for $30 is only an upgrade, but I didn't know if it was an upgrade like OS X 10.6 lets me install without 10.5 present.
Yes, I am a Mac user who is actually looking forward to getting this for his games. No hate here.
I used that service and it doesn't even seem to check if it's an upgrade or a full install(don't quote me on that though, this is just from my experience with it). I did x86 to x64 and it's a bit of a pain since you have to install it by burning it to a dvd(using the method specified in DotNaBox's comment here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproinstall/thread/62675a69-2a19-4695-8c8d-8a83be589708 note that the -1 in that needs to be changed to a -l (1 as in number changed to l as in Larry)) but once I did that, I started the computer from the dvd, chose custom installation, reformatted my whole solid state drive(I wanted to get rid of everything that was there before) and it plugged along and everything went perfectly. So as far as I can tell, it doesn't seem to check if it's an upgrade or a fresh install at all.
LOL "what you need to know" college students with an MSDNAA account (like my fortunate self) have already known since September. ; )
I found the engadget review to be kind of unprofessional. They ask why windows doesn't have multigesture trackpad support built in... But engadget fails to think about the obvious which is patent rights. Microsoft is protecting themself from being sued by apple. It has nothing to do with them not considering it.
picking up an ION netbook with 7, screw it with upgrading, window upgrades are like a mission impossible.
This is so a non-event.
Win 7 been working for me without any issues so far (2 year old box)
Got to hand it to them for giving it away for free to House Party Host, and the party hasn't even happens yet.
(And if this weekend's weather keeps up, it doesn't look like it will :D )
nope. what's on second.
Ok guys, I need some help...
I have a MacBook Pro (not unibody) running Snow Leopard 10.6.1 and have bootcamp running Windows 7 RC1 Build 7100. I'm planning on doing this work around: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/3075/how-to-upgrade-the-windows-7-rc-to-rtm/
Will the effect any of my bootcamp settings?
Windows 7 launch day: what you need to know
1) Windows will still get viruses
2) Windows will still need anti virus
3) Windows will still get BSODs
4) Windows will still need defrags
5) Windows will still come with the worst browser in the world: IE
Basically, more of the same.
Perhaps, but I am literally dying for the moment, I hope with W7, that I dont have to "delete printer" and then "add new network printer" each dang time I restart my PC, aka Vista Ultimate Crap.
Prepare for down voting and grayed out status in 3-2-1...
2 months after the launch of Snow Kitty and what do we need to know:
Still deleting users files
Not in Europe son, we get a choice apparently.
Also, isn't MS releasing their own antivirus software for free?
Just got the shipping confirm for my W7 disc, only a few more days of VISTA ULTIMATE CRAP HELL!! *Sweet*
Be gone with you Vista, the STD of computer OS's!
Sooooooo, what if I don't need my copy of Windows 7 and want to buy my student copy and give it to somebody else who isn't a student? Is it going to be pestering him that he isn't me when he loads it on his computer?
....no
I know I am probably like one of 8 people who care about this, but all I want now is my ATI DCT 1.19 firmware - where is it?
All reports indicated prior to release, release day has come and gone, and it is still not publicly available, what are they (ATI/Microsoft) waiting for?
So, I'm still confused.. Will I be able to upgrade from XP 32bit to 7 64bit or do I have to buy a full copy of windows 7 to do that?
That is a cool wallpaper (or background). What is that from? Who is the artist?
Thanks