Well, while I was typing up all the below- I see some other posters beat me to the punch so to speak...
Quote:
| For my rig what would be the better operating system Windows 7 or Vista? Im going to be using it mostly for gaming and also video editing. |
Grab a copy of WIN 7 RC 7100 (or whatever) and test it... it should run faster than Vista..
Download it, burn ISO, stick in CD/DVD drive, reboot, install.... Only downside of RC is that you should do a clean install of the Retail version when /if you get it... So you'll have to install your apps again...
Quote:
| Can someone please explain to me what is going on with windows 7 because i am confused. It isn't released until October 22nd but Newegg is selling it for some reason. |
Windows 7 official "Retail" release date is Oct 22, 2009.
(In the USA) The
Pre-Order pricing was a "SALE" that ran from 6-26-2009 thru 7-11-2009. It allowed for "Pre-Ordering" of (AFAIK) the "upgrade" version of Win 7 ($49 for Home Premium, $99 for Pro.) thru various vendors. The catch being the product will not ship until OCT 22, 2009
The below vendors all offered the "Pre-Order offer":
Amazon.com (Does not charge credit card till ship)
BestBuy
Costco.com (Does not charge credit card till ship)
Newegg.com
Office Depot
SamsClub
Walmart
NOTE:
If you missed the pre-order sale the only other options are to buy Vista- and you'll get a coupon for WIN7, or buy a new PC with Vista that qualifies for a WIN7 coupon. In all cases product will not ship until after Oct 22,2009.
Quote:
| There are people who have a version that doesn't expire until March or April 2010 that they got for free or something. |
3:
The "FREE- VERSION" people are talking about refers to WIN 7 RC 7100.
RC refers to "Release Candidate"... "Release Candidate" meaning it's "pretty much" the final product.., the 7100 being the build number.
(FYI: RC 7100 is the only "legal" version released to the general public..).
What is this talk about the RC shutting down, then expiring?
The RC will expire June 1, 2010, and the bi-hourly shutdowns will begin on March 1, 2010. Due to such, you'll need to rebuild your test PC to replace the OS and reinstall all your programs and data.
Quote:
| When i go to the windows website they have Windows 7 RC. What are the differences? |
What are the differences between the RC, and the final retail version... Exactly that... one is a Release Candidate, and the other is the final retail product.
(BTW: No-one unless they work for Microsoft will have info that explains in detail all the differences.)
10 limitations of Windows 7 RC build 7100 you must know
(Note this info may be dated- Or specs have changed.)
http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/a...you-must-know/
NOTE: IF you HURRY- the RC is still available thru a FREE DOWNLOAD at Microsoft,
Downloads will be available until August 20, 2009. After that, you can still install the RC and you can get a product key if you need one.
Both the 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 RC are available in five languages: English, German, Japanese, French, and Spanish
Here's the offical RC 7100 download link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win.../download.aspx
Quote:
| Would I have to have Vista already installed on my computer? Or can I just install it fresh. |
For the "Win 7 upgrade" the official method is you have to have a installed OS.- and you can do either a upgrade, or a fresh install.
For the WIN 7 RC 7100 You will do a "Fresh-Install".... If you have a pre-existing OS you will need to create some "Free-Space". (so the installer can create the needed partition(s).
In Vista (or via partitioning software) the process is to shrink an existing partition to enable the creation of a "FREE-SPACE", about 25-30gb in size.
(NOTE: As a "test" I've installed WIN7 on a 10gb hard drive- but note you need a decent sized partition for restore points /backups.)
Once you have re-sized your Vista partition and/ or have created a free-space, pop the WIN 7 Cd in and reboot-
If you have your BIOS to look at the CD/DVD first... Installer will run, Select the CUSTOM/ADVANCED tab when it asks what kind of install you want to do, then on the next page select the "free space" you created and hit the NEXT button.... Installer will run it's course, machine will reboot a time or two and you should have a boot menu that appears that gives you the option to dual boot between WIn 7 and Vista.
(NOTE:
1: You do not have to enter in a serial number during the install, the only thing you do is point the installer to the "free space" you created, tell it what kind of keyboard /language you prefer and the time zone...
2: Creating "free-space" and letting the installer partition creates a 100mb partition that is used for the bitlocker app....
(PS: Installing to "free-space" also reduces the chance of installing to a active partition..)
3: You may have to set your BIOS to look for the CD/DVD during boot... Additionally right after you've rebooted machine with the WIN7 RC 7100 install disc in, you will be asked to press any key... so remember to do so.
4: Time to install WINDOWS 7?... From start to finish- 20- 35 minutes....
TIP #1: When creating partitions (or using additional hard drives) Label the partitions!!!
EG:
Partition 1= XP_PRO
Partition 2= WIN_7_RC_7100
Partition 3= APPS (Alot of programs will "work" if the OS crashes /burns and is "restored", if the apps are on a separate partition...For those apps that require a re-install separate partition this preserves configuration data - plus gives you a listing of your apps-
Partition 3= DATA
TIP #2, Create a DATA PARTITION... NEVER EVER STORE IRREPLACEABLE FILES ON A OS PARTITION!
(Doing so is like having irreplaceable pictures, and items from your Great-Great-Great Grandmother in the kitchen- and then crying when there is a cooking fire...)
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