Ok My laptop has arrived...

But I have a few questions!
Since I bought it with Windows Vista I now wish to put my copy of XP on it! Where are the wallpapers, backgrounds and other logos stored? I'm talking specifically of the one for the System Properties dialog box!

I bought an M9750 btw!

 

what are you asking?

ps, make sure you can find drivers before whipping.

 

there is an alienware desktop theme manager downloadable off the website
I am using it on my acer just to get me in the mood

if they have a vista specific application that themes the machine that may not work on xp

drivers should be easy to find, go to the manufacturers' sites Nvidia, Realtek, Intel etc for the various drivers.
you should be able to get detailed parts info from sisoft sandra (which can be downloaded for free)

 

Why not just leave it with Vista? If you want to change the way it looks, go to the control panel or right click the desktop, and do "personalize"

 

I think simonpoulton wants to put xp on for the same reason I do when I get mine
some of it is because I am used to xp and know my way around , and have long since gotten rid of annoying popup questions.

and the other is because I see a marked difference in performance

I am not too fussed about direct x 10, but when I do need to go down that path, I shall go to vista

I like vistas looks and some of the widgets are pretty cool, but its just too bloaty right now, and still has various problems that need sorting out

 

XP is going to die and Vista will only get better. I'd just stick with the newer OS

 

Somebody inside the game industry recently said that Vista won't overtake XP game wise 2-3 years, & Microsoft announced a few months back an extra year of support for XP, XP ftw. And its only another estimated 2 years ( second half of 2009) till the next Windows OS, so Vista will probably never take off quite the way XP did, so for people who don't like Vista I recommend to just wait for the next Windows OS. I love XP to bits & don't particularly like Vista but when I get my m15x I'll stick to Vista, but only because I cba about all the hassle of downgrading back to XP + I got a another computer which runs XP so its not so bad.

 

XP looks like DOGpoop on high resolutions...

Xp is for sistems with less than 512ram

use vista learn to use it correctly and its more powerful/faster/saves a bucket load of time..

or stay ignorant and get outdated in afue years. (even if not by vista)

embrace change embrace change

 

the only thing that will stop me putting xp on is if I am unable to make the stealth mode work under xp, along with various other drivers that may be custom written, but I doubt it

If I was only bothered about the standard parts working then it wouldnt be a problem at all

hey Heathkidd does that mean I should have embraced changed and used windows ME?

 

It will be longer than that. After all the rumors of an '09 release for OS7 came out Microsoft issued a statement saying otherwise. They are planning for 2010 or later.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/windows-7-isnt-headed-for-2009-says-microsoft-more-like-2011/

 

Dear God, thank God my sister got rid of her Laptop with ME on recently. Me personally if I had the choice I would rather have 98 if it was compatible with games, apps, etc.

 

Yeah I thought 2009 sounded to good to be true , I would bank on a late 2010 release.

 

Don't forget that Vista was supposed to be out years ago as Longhorn. They kept pushing it back and finally had to cut features to get it out this early. Rumors are going around that features are already getting cut from OS7, so hopefully the same thing isn't happening all over again.

 

thats the whole problem with microsoft though, they have this idea that a completely new product is required every few years, so that they can sell everything all over again

so they are not in it for the operating system. they are in it for the money

Linux is a fine example of an o/s that upgrades, and yes sometimes you need a certain kernel version for your hardware, but its available (once developed )

if microsoft could come up with a business model that would enable them to make xp move with the times, then they would be on to a winner.

they could even sell addons to keep the revenue flowing, for example AERO could be a product that people who loved eyecandy would buy

 

That'd be a cool way of doing it. The OS after 7 is supposed to be complete refresh (meaning no previous software is compatible), so maybe they'll start a similiar business plan with that. Provided they are still planning on doing that...

 

Right the question i'm asking is how do I get the Alienware logo and Support information file in vista? Aka the one that appears in the system information box!
I got the M9750 with the 7950Gtx's so there is no point in me using vista. I prefer XP and if you vista fanboys are just going to go shouting off about how amazing it is then dont bother posting

 

Wow, nobody is being a fanboy, just giving friendly advice.

 

I don't advice you on using the AW theme, as it conflict with games. i had the issue with playing Gears of wars on XP, i was using AW theme manager. so game was crashing allot . until i deleted the theme manager.

But XP would be best , get all drivers ready then go a head.

for AW support software, try asking AW.

 

Has anyone got the link to the "System Personalisation" download for XP?
Anyone who bought an Alienware M9750 with XP on it should have this download link in My Hive. I've only got the vista one though

 

I know what you are getting at
the modified window boxes in control panels that have alienware logo's on them, will most likely come supplied with their own modified video / sound drivers etc

any other customisation could be done using a theme, but I am not sure (yet) what they have used for that.

is the alienware logo on information panels that important? its purely cosmetic right?

as long as the lights and touch sensitive buttons (they would be a priority for me)
the rest of the hardware should use standard drivers.

watch out for the whole stealth mode thing though, I am not sure what makes that happen yet.

 

Sure it's not essential, but still it would be nice to have! Given that current M9750 owners who ordered it with XP preinstalled will have the download link in there "My Hive" area on Alienware's site, I dont think it would be that hard for them to find out the link and post it here!