So I've got this copy of Windows 7...

Professional Edition

from Elemental Forums

I just got back from going shopping and then out to dinner with the wife and while I was out I picked up a copy of Windows 7 Professional ($299.99). I wanted Ultimate but they didn't have any in stock anywhere and I didn't want to wait to order one online so I got this one. The only two things "Supposedly" that Ultimate has that Professional doesn't is a encryption tool called Bitlocker and some extra languages.

Over the course of tomorrow I'll be installing it and doing some upgrades to my home network. I have some new memory for my wifes system and if she likes Win 7 on my system I'll be installing it on hers as well and just buy another OEM number off line and use the install disk I have here. I'm upgrading two systems from XP Pro 64. Make that three systems if I upgrade my mothers system too (probably will).

I've got a ton of information to back up before I start the install of the new OS so I may put off everything until tomorrow. I can't wait to dig into it though and really see what the 64 bit OS can do. I got the latest issue of Maximum PC today in the mail and reading the article in it about Win 7 is what pushed me to break down and the get the new OS sooner rather then later. That and I've been itching to push my GrfX card into DX 10 and 11.

The real pain in the arse is that I just had to re-wipe my system and re-install everything 6 months ago due to some gunk getting in my motherboard somehow and causing me to send it back to the manufacturer. Plus going through the hassle of getting back online and setting up emails again....*sigh*. Also, I'll be doing all that for at least two systems...maybe three. I'm going to update the "Elemental Ideas" Comprehensive list one more time then the next time I'll update it will be on Monday some time as I'll be busy re-installing almost two terabytes of data all day Sunday and that night. After the re-install I'll spend some time evaluating the new OS and I'll probably write up a review for those who haven't updated yet and aren't sure about spending the cash.

Some interesting features I'm looking forward to trying tomorrow are:

Shadow Explorer

Symbolic Link

Home Networking with HomeGroups

Windows Disk Image Burner 

18,014 views 12 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I'm pretty certain Ultimate also has 'XP Mode', which does exactly what it says on the tin.

Unless you've got a ludicrously new graphics card, it won't deal with DirectX 11. I've got a GTX 260, and as far as I know, it only gets as high as 10, but I'm using XP, so it's not a big deal. I'm waiting until I can push my RAM above 2Gbs (should have had 4, one of my sticks fried the moment the warranty ran out) to upgrade to Windows 7.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Nosrick, reply 1
I've got a GTX 260, and as far as I know, it only gets as high as 10, but I'm using XP, so it's not a big deal.

I've got the GTX 280 1Gig card. It should handle DX11 when it comes out. I think yours will too. I could be wrong about that but I'm pretty sure both our cards will.

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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

What apps are taking up that 2tb of data? Seems very excessive

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting vStyler, reply 3
What apps are taking up that 2tb of data? Seems very excessive

All kinds of stuff. I think I have at least 30 games installed at the moment. Not to mention 3DsMax, Maya 3d, AutoCad, my programming guide to MEL and C++ API, Adobe Photoshop CS4, Dreamweaver, Hex Workshop, numerous Burning and Imaging tools, tons of .ISO and .Rar files, important documents for my Modding works in progress, movies, my entire CD collection ripped to my hard drive (I have about 250 albums by various artists). I more or less live on my PC and as such I accumulate a lot of files and programs.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

All u had to say was games ;P

 

Dont u have an external or two for music, movies, resources?

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting vStyler, reply 5
All u had to say was games

 

Dont u have an external or two for music, movies, resources?

Nada, instead of buying a external I went for another 1 Tb HD in the system as a secondary storage drive. When I make backups normally I burn them to Dual Layer DvD's or to blank Blu Ray disks.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Ok. Win 7 installed pretty easy actually. It even auto-detected my internet and network settings without me having to manually configure them. I'm still getting used to the interface. It's slick, but I'm still not sure how much I like it. Most likely that's because I'm so used to the old school system that's been in place since 95. I like a lot of the new functions Win 7 has. I'm still re-installing apps and most likely will be most of the night. I don't like that it moved (seems like it hid them) a lot of simple common tools and simple functions that aren't where they used to be. The interface is very intuitive for the most part but there are still spots that seem jumbled and could have been handled a little better, like configuring musics lists in Windows Media Player. I have noticed a speed increase across the board in most respects. I haven't tried any games yet except the Elemental Beta (stability is still shot to shit Btw). I was hoping upgrading to Win 7 might fix some of the Elemental Beta's issues...no luck there.

Overall though I'm quite impressed with Win 7 so far. Once I get used to the UI and figure out how to access all my old favorite tools I'm sure I'll be good to go.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Raven, reply 2



Quoting Nosrick,
reply 1
I've got a GTX 260, and as far as I know, it only gets as high as 10, but I'm using XP, so it's not a big deal.


I've got the GTX 280 1Gig card. It should handle DX11 when it comes out. I think yours will too. I could be wrong about that but I'm pretty sure both our cards will.

The only cards currently DirectX 11 compatible according to newegg.com right now are the ATI 5700 and 5800 series card. Oh how I do love ATI.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

ATI - yuck. ATI has always has issues for me.

Reply #10 from Demigod Forums Top

don't expect too much from the symlinks. they are still not really at a point where other os have them since 40 years. you cannot use them to access over network. i mean if you have a directory structure hosted as a web server, using symlinks in it, hey won't work. symlinks work only if you sit at the machine.

there are many many such compied featueres that are only half hearned implemented, just stupid fakes and usually cause more trouble than they help.

at least for the home user it may be for some interest.

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

Homegroup works very well :) About your card, it's a DX10 card, it won't support DX11.

Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top

Although like early DX10, until some good games come out that use it it's not worth thinking about.  The 5770 is good value for money right now, but it's probably best to hold on the 5800 series until NVIDIA comes out with something new to force prices down.