Windows 7

Windows 7: Upgrade or fresh install?

As a general rule in the IT industry we generally advocate clean install vs upgrade, however  when it comes to my home PC I can be lazy at times. I decided rather than doing a clean install I would upgrade my PC from Windows Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate. I ran through the upgrade process and was immediately impressed with Windows 7 and disappointed with some weird issues my computer started having immediately after the upgrade.

1) Any time I opened an application (any application) the PC would free for about 4-5 seconds

2) After any reboot my Internet connection would not work unless I went into device manager and uninstalled and reinstalled my NIC

I attempted to troubleshoot the isssue to no avail. In the end I wiped the thing and did a clean install of Windows 7 and now everything runs beautiful.

So to answer the question of upgrade vs clean install, always do clean install. Really, I should have known better.

Windows 7 - Cracked product key

Check this out:

 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/29/…

You know, its stuff like this that forces legitimate users to have to put up with crap like high licensing costs and stuff like Windows Genuine Advantage. On the flip side it’s  high licensing costs and stuff like Windows genuine advantage that causes people to pirate in the first place so I guess its a pretty vicious cycle all around.

Microsoft announces free upgrades and discounts for Windows 7

Check it out here:

 http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2009/06…

My 2 cents on this. Microsoft should give a free copy to every poor soul who purchased Windows Vista along with a hand written apology.

Microsoft to add new features to Windows 7 to make it more secure

Check out this article

 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/28/…

I commend Microsofts decision to put out a client based OS which isn’t overflowing with security holes and exploits … and it only took them 30 years.

I don’t know why I continue to hope that Microsoft will one day release a product that you might want to use on there advertised release day rather than having to wait till the real release date (SP1). Like a battered spouse I keep going back. Sigh.

Microsoft releases Windows 7 RC go live dates

Check it out here:

 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/26/…

I’m really excited about Windows 7, from everything I have seen it may be Microsoft’s best client OS yet (ok I realize that’s not a high bar to set ….)

Windows 7 Seminar in Winnipeg

I attended a Windows 7 seminar yesterday put on by Microsoft. Windows 7 looks good but that’s likely because they are copying the best features from other more creative entities.

Read more about my experience here:

 http://diaryoftheitranter.blogspot.com/

MS To Keep XP “Downgrades” in Windows 7 Era

http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/04/07/ms.to.keep.xp.downgrades/

This is what you call “hedging your bets”. This will be a great product which revolutionizes the market but in case it flops we won’t totally shoot everyone in the foot. Nice. Way to believe Microsoft, way to believe.

In truth though, I am running Server 2008 64 bit on my laptop with the desktop experience on and it runs fantastic WAY better then XP ever did. If Microsoft can just do the same thing with Windows 7 they may actually have a success here.

Windows 7 inspired by OS X

So here is an interesting article.

 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/28/…

I will give Microsoft credit, they figured out they were going in the wrong direction, better late then never i guess.  Being successful these days is difficult and really requires sticking to your strength’s. Microsoft has accepted that they need a return to their fundamentals, ripping off other people’s ideas and stop trying to have original ones of their own. I foresee a bright future for Windows 7.