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    win 7 or vista?

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by mr_fro2000, May 10, 2009.

  1. mr_fro2000

    mr_fro2000 Notebook Consultant

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    Im going to reformat my hd and will install a x64 os... the question is win7 or vista?

    I understand that the RC will always only be a beta version... but that aside, which should I go for?

    I read the 'win7 problems' thread below, but am unsure what is being talked about (im pretty computer dumb)... inf files being modded, latency, etc. not sure what any of this means...

    What has peoples win7 experience been like so far? how does alien fx work (esp the x64 bit)? any driver issues?

    Any feedback would be appreciated... thanks!
     
  2. GabeZ

    GabeZ Information Technology

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    Hi mr_fro2000,
    I personally favor Windows 7 over Vista. Windows 7, although very similar to Vista, is a lot more efficient in terms of resources, overall speed, and performance. You're correct in that the the release client is still just a beta. However, it's one of the most stable betas I've ever used, and I haven't had any major issues.
    Based on my prior experience with the m15x and Windows Vista, proprietery programs (FX, Stealth) never really worked great. The programs were fairly glitchy, and you could never rely on them 100% of the time. I can only imagine that the same programs will perform exactly the same with Windows 7. Supposedly, anything that works with Vista is compatible with Windows 7. Unfortunately, I have found a few applications that fail to work.
    If you want it to be as stable as possible, I would suggest installing a fresh copy of Vista. If you're a dare devil, and don't mind a little debugging, shoot for Windows 7. Keep in mind that Windows 7 is fairly close to retail launch, so you might just want to wait for an official copy.

    Thanks,
    Gabe
     
  3. nguyenhoangvk

    nguyenhoangvk Notebook Guru

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    I'm running W7 RC and I notice that the Command Center doesn't work totally, you can only use AlienFX, the AlienFusion causes a CPU over loading and it eats RAM second by second. The keyboard is not very responsive.

    I'm new at Alienware and I'm not sure if these problems are only caused by OS. I will try to install Vista later.
     
  4. The_Moo™

    The_Moo™ Here we go again.....

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    yea thats a memorey leak in AF no problem though

    i use win 7 on my SSD and i use it 90% of the time i will never go back .....
     
  5. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    I respect the Moo and so I also use Windows 7
     
  6. HeavenCry

    HeavenCry Notebook Virtuoso

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    +1 for windows 7. Just a suggestion to download build 7077.. 7100 has some issues at least on the m17.. dont know about m15x.
     
  7. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    Anyone calling themselves "computer dumb" should NOT be using a release candidate as a primary operating system.
     
  8. HeavenCry

    HeavenCry Notebook Virtuoso

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    I dont think anyone >calling themselves "computer dumb"< would try to install an os by himself.
     
  9. Fr33m4n

    Fr33m4n Notebook Consultant

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    Since I don't depend in any way on my m15x I have installed the RC. In the first few minutes of using it I really hated it. Out of the box Win7 is slower then a tweaked Vista, but a tweaked win7 is mostly the same as a tweaked vista and maybe slightly faster in some instances. There are quite a few smaller issues and you'll find that some software simply won't work. Some people can live with it or they tweak/mod their way around it.

    If you want something that simply works, you'll find higher compatibility with vista.
     
  10. Snowm0bile

    Snowm0bile Starcraftologist

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    "Anyone" can use the RC...Its not like its a big deal. And if you think ur not computer illiterate, then most likely ur not.

    Maybe you should get some help for installing Windows 7, but using it...doesnt take much knowledge if you have already been using Vista.
     
  11. Pman

    Pman Company Representative

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    I have reformatted my M17, made 3 partitions, one for vista, one for Win7 and one for storage

    all seems ok at the moment

    having problems with direct x, wont allow world of warcraft to run :mad:

    Pete
     
  12. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    did you get the new Graphics drivers... I know at least nvidia has released a driver for windows 7
     
  13. Pman

    Pman Company Representative

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    yeh i got those, its the directx that appears to be the problem for some reason
     
  14. RobertFontaine

    RobertFontaine Notebook Guru

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    Other than the cool factor I don't see a compelling reason to move to win7. Had msft managed to include native blu-ray or some other got to have it feature I might be excited but I've only just now got vista x64 stable and working
     
  15. shadedurza

    shadedurza Notebook Consultant

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    I have windows 7 RC on my desktop/sever and it works great. No bugs. I want to know what would happen If I installed on my m15x. As far as somehow getting back to vista if 7 fubars how is alienrespawn affected? Does the ability to f10 into respawn at boot erased? Is it possible to get it back?
     
  16. tonytoff

    tonytoff Notebook Deity

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    Hi guys,

    If I was you I would not install Windows 7 if your not computer literate...you will lose access to your Respawn partition and you need some PC knowledge to get it back, Im still struggling with this issue. You apparentally need to use a piece of software called Gparted but I cant make head nor tail of it.
    As well as the fact that if you install the RC(7100) you will have to download the modded ATI graphics drivers posted on here in another thread and learn how to disable driver signing and other similar things that require tech knowledge.
    Apart from this Windows 7 is absolutely awesome and out of this world. It runs as Windows should run and doesnt need all these unnecessary background services/processes that Vista does. Its much faster, simpler to use and visually superior to Vista.
    I too would second the suggestion to download 7077 build instead of the RC if you are insistent on using Win 7. For some reason it worked better on the M17 than the RC(7100) as well as the fact that the ATI drivers worked properly. The only issue I had with it was a BSOD when I pulled out my Xbox 360 controller from the USB port on my PC, apart from that is was a cracking build...if your gunna get it then get this build.
    good luck.
     
  17. mr_fro2000

    mr_fro2000 Notebook Consultant

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    Thanx for everyone's feedback... will stick w/ Vista... will follow oceanus's guide...

    I am actually reformatting the drive bc/ somehow windows actually reloaded on my computer, wiping out lots of my data and files... I've actually purchased software that allowed me to retrieve some stuff, but a lot of the other 'broken files' are still in drive.

    If I am going to reformat my hard drive... i assume that means that I will no longer have a 'respawn' partition... is this the wisest thing to do?
     
  18. shadedurza

    shadedurza Notebook Consultant

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    Does anyone know how to use to Gparted to get the respawn partition back? I'm sure there are tons of guides on the disabling driver signing and that sort of thing. I do consider myself at lest somewhat computer literate.