Recommend me an OS..

Hello,

I've got an Gateway P-7811 FX that needs an OS. I plan on installing WinXP Pro 32-bit, unless someone can recommend something better. Things appear to be getting progressively worse post-XP.

Thank you.


Sincerely,
Bravo

 

windows 7,
best OS by microsoft by far.

 

Second vote for 7. It's the new XP.

 

Looks like it came with Vista, so I'd agree with everyone else so far and go with Windows 7 (Vista done right).

XP has been in use for a long time and there are no remaining hotfixes or patches from Microsoft, so it's only a good option if you plan to keep the system offline.

 

Linux Mint 17.3 x64

 

This is the Windows subforum, so I'm assuming OP meant a Windows version...

 

oops, your right. In that case I would choose windows 7 x64. (and also get a ssd).

 

I'd like to learn and go for Linux, but I play games.

 

Windows 7 ran great on my p6860. Should be even better on the p7811.

 

Same here..W7 and add a SSD to give it a little more speed.

 

+1 for Windows 7. Also you can use the same 32 bit key to activate the same version on 64 bit.

 

Late to the game but I got Windows 7x64 Ult Sp1 installed on there and it works fine. I did upgrade the CPU to T9900 and Ram to 8gigs DDR3 though and added factory BT. If you have to get the x64 Windows 7 version stay away from x86 Windows 7 even if they give it free to you.

 

Since these were Vista machines the 9c.17.00 bios makes Windows 7 a no-brainer. Windows 10 is doable along with other iterations but there is no real advantage. As mentioned a SSD is the best day to day upgrade you can do for these machines.

 

Windows 7 is the best program M$ put out, Vista Kernel(GB huge) was large it kept writing all the time, Windows 7 has a very small footprint-Kernel(150MB or so) and is the stepping stone for future kernels including windows 10 or at least thats what M$ said so.

Im using windows 10 pro after privacy fixes its actually good, I have not had problems,you do understand the win 10 get regular platform updates,, windows 7 had theres and there will probably be no more or at most very little, yet for your application it fits.

USB 3.1, M2 and so on will be native to windows 10 successor platforms-builds, ect, not so with Win 7,,see, they would have to be slip streamed in so as to speak or have non M$ universal drivers installed.

Windows 7 x64

Update win 10 natively supports usb 3.1 type C, Gen 2 , ect(20V 5A) and more new USB 3.1 features:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn915125(v=vs.85).aspx

https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/hardware/dn915086(v=vs.85).aspx

Cheers
3Fees

 

8.1 (with classic shell, metro\tile (cr)app removed) behaving very well here, stable and reliable.
Could call it 7.1

 

Why?

If this has anything to do with compatibility I'd like to know. I use programs from the 90s-present and many oddball 3rd party programs I find online (Ex: Fan-made modding tools, like a decompiler/recompiler for C&C cinematics).

 

There are many versions of many editions of Win7 I notice. If I go the Win7 route, which do I choose?

I like my systems to be as bare-bones/uncluttered, unrestricted, fast, and compatible-with-all-things as possible. Don't want any stupid surprises or gimmicks (One edition can't have multiple monitors or change the wallpaper? HUH??)

And "activation" irks me to no end.. I think it is a hindrance and don't want it there.. Any advice? I'd almost be willing to reinstall it every 120days.

Thanks again!

 

Well, with Windows you don't have a choice as far as activation goes. It's non-free (in both senses of the word) software that must be paid for, and activation is part of that process if you have a legit copy of Windows.

Personally, I don't see much of a problem spending a whole few minutes (worst case scenario) of putting in the code and pressing "OK" or whatever the button's label is.

 

The problem is having to connect to something outside your property in order to have functioning software. Takes away from your independence. I don't use any game, software or hardware that requires any form of internet-connection, radio or phone-call in order to operate.

Unfortunately, the OS is something I don't have a choice with (unless I get Linux). I'll do what I can to get around the "activation" if possible. I own it, paid for it and have the recite; it's mine.

 

You don't actually own the software; it's leased to you (go ahead and reread the EULA). Pretty much most (if not all) commercial software these days is leased to customers (with maybe the exception of software created by a contractor you hire). If you want to use Windows, you need to activate, whether you like it or not; that's just how it is. On the bright side, if you don't want to do an online activation, there's always the phone option (so you never have to connect the computer to the outside world).

 

If your primary goal is to avoid activation and use Windows, I'd recommend Windows 2000. Although technically Windows ME was the last version of Windows not to include activation, 2000 is more likely to be somewhat compatible with newer machines. Alternatively, if you have a machine that was shipped with XP, with an OEM BIOS, and you use the OEM XP install disc, activation is automatic and you don't have to enter a key at install or have an Internet connection. Can't remember if Vista allowed this or not, but Wikipedia indicates probably not.

Practically, 7 x64 is probably what you want. Very stable, none of the auto-update business of Windows 10 (heard another story of a botched auto-update from a real-life friend earlier this week), and will run on pretty much anything these days. From a user perspective, XP would work nearly as well (I have it on my laptop since I already had a license), but there are downsides such as 32-bit limiting RAM usage, the lack of updates (though at least there never were forced updates), and the fact that you will still have activation with XP.

 

Wh

What you bought is the right to us it. You don't follow the rules (EULA) you loose the right to use there software. Do I like it...NO but once you put that check mark in the "I agree" box you have no choice.

 

Thankfully, tin foil hats require no activation. You buy the roll, and all the hats you want to make are yours.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Sure, there's that angle, but there is a more sane reason for not wanting it. It's annoying, assumes that I'm guilty before proven innocent (I possibly copied it from a warez site), and (not activation, but phoning home in general, especially Windows 10) it really is an invasion of privacy unless you go through a bunch of aggravating steps to reduce/kill off such processes.

 

I have two W7 64bit laptops and both of them had that damn "upgrade to W10" thing.

 

StormJumper said: ↑
"If you have to get the x64 Windows 7 version stay away from x86 Windows 7 even if they give it free to you."

There are many versions of many editions of Win7 I notice. If I go the Win7 route, which do I choose?

I like my systems to be as bare-bones/uncluttered, unrestricted, fast, and compatible-with-all-things as possible. Don't want any stupid surprises or gimmicks (One edition can't have multiple monitors or change the wallpaper? HUH??)

---------------

Bump.

 

I believe the third post of this thread has instructions on how to get rid of it. Haven't tried it myself since the only 7 system I've had recently, outside of an enterprise environment where the corporation controls the updates rather than Microsoft, was Enterprise Edition, and thus not eligible for the upgrade to 10.

 

I did finally get rid of it using the script from the link in my sig plus a whole lot of other crap too.

 

The 'Starter' edition of Windows 7 didn't allow you to change the wallpaper but all of the other versions do.

Wikipedia explains it pretty well

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions

If you want more than 8GB of RAM then you need Home Premium (16GB limit) or above. If you want more than 16GB of RAM (Up to 192GB) then you want the Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate version.

Basically, get Home Premium unless you need the features of Pro.

From an academic perspective, a cursory glance at Google vis activation will yield some information as to how it might theoretically be possible to 'bypass' it - this being a techo term which I don't profess to understand.

 

Decided to stick with XP because I'm tired of being treated less than dirt, no more M$.

I managed to get an SSD drive put on my FX P-7811 and get XP-Pro installed, but most hardware is unrecognizable.. can't connect to internet.
Next door on a friend's computer trying to find drivers.. found this: http://www.driverscape.com/manufacturers/gateway/laptops-desktops/p-7811fx/8503 .
Ethernet driver won't install without SP2, so now am back next door again.

M$ doesn't have SP3 on their site for download, where can I find it?

 

7 Pro, in case you accidentally wind up with more than 16GB of RAM as I did.

 

Old reply but I will say get Windows 7x64 Ult Sp1 and install Vista 64bit drivers into it and that will do more to improve computing and also upgrade the Processor. I forget which one I got but I got the highest it could take and upgraded and got 8gb of RAM also update your BIOS to the latest before upgrading the CPU. I had to use vista to update the bios and then did upgraded.

 

Late to the table here, but Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit is my OS of choice; sanitised to remove all telemetry updates and Win10 nagware......

I'll stick with this as it does everything I want and nothing I don't want.

You can get 'under the bonnet' too which home versions don't allow, and unlike 'certain other newer versions' you can maintain a degree of control over it.

 

Windows 7 Professional SP1 hands down the best OS that Micro$lop ever made, I used to have the Ultimate on my machine but needed full UEFI, So Win8.1 now and Don't go for that Win10 (No user control, Explicit M$ EULA with data collection, Ugliest UI, cluttered settings, Auto borking of drivers with auto update bs, gpedits don't work either, need a ton on reg tweaks, gpedits, 3rdparty apps to fix the broken UI and settings, Meh what a mess they made \end of rant)

Spoiler: Optional

Get WHDownloader from MDL or Portable Updater and download all required updates gives you classified options, which types a user needs and can be selected explicity (I think the SP1 is more than enough) and Slipstream them using NTLite or a few other tools, try lifehacker they have some pretty good articles, as for the activation just letting you know, DAZ Loader doesn't need a background proc and no issues at all. Check the SHA, MD5 from MSDN for the ISO to have a clean untouched windows for any ISOs..

Tool for checksum integration to windows