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Author Topic: You Guys Digging Windows 7?  (Read 2762 times)

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Offline babyoh

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You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« on: February 10, 2010, 04:53:16 AM »
i'm going to be investing in new hardware- i've been a diehard XP person & wondered how Win 7 measures up (i'm getting conflicting reports from friends).

is it as intuitive to use as XP? good SECURITY? any "surprises"?

- i THINK i'm interested in either Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate. it's a little confusing, they have six different "flavors"-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=7210
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Offline Corrine

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2010, 01:29:03 PM »
I reproduced Ed Bott's comparison chart here:  Which Windows 7 Version Suits You?.  His detailed explanation of the differences is also linked from there.  That may help you determine what fits your needs.

Additional information available from Contemplating Windows 7? and For the 'former' Windows XP User

As to security, yes, it is more secure than Windows XP, particularly if you go for a 64-bit OS.  It is, as expected, different from XP since it is a new OS and you skipped Vista.  People I know like it a lot, especially those who did not like Vista.  As it turns out, I liked Windows Vista so had no issues with it. 

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Offline Corrine

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2010, 10:05:42 PM »
Hi, babyoh. 

I've been thinking about this topic during the day today and about what features I particularly like in Windows 7.  One in particular that comes to mind is the Troubleshooting feature.  Although an old article, this will give you a good idea about the feature: Windows 7's troubleshooting tools | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com.

I think you'll also like the improved search feature.  Just click the start button and begin typing.  Most of the time, what I am looking for shows up before I have typed more than three characters. 

I was curious how Windows 7 would react when I plugged in the USB cable for my older Kodak Easyshare 5300 printer.  Surprisingly, it was immediately recognized and Windows Update provided the link to the Kodak website to download the software for Windows 7.
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Offline Temmu

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2010, 01:47:48 AM »
i like win 7, it appears to run faster than xp on my 4+ year old laptop.
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Offline babyoh

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #4 on: February 15, 2010, 09:51:59 AM »
thanks so much.
this helped out a lot.
good to know 7 recognized your older printer, too, corrinne.
i run an ancient version of FileMakerPro in XP- under compatibility mode for Win 97- guess i'm going to have to be upgrading that.
- i have Win7 Anxiety; i just love my XP Pro so much. (i know how to get "under the hood" quickly- guess it's time to learn something new.)
** Oh Corrinne (this is a little off the subject) -
i've gotten curious to understand malware better.
most of what i've found is either outdated & general, or a bit "blackhat"- some of the sites i'm concerned i might risk infection visiting.
- can u recommend any books, sites etc that deal with contemporary attacks, exploits & so on?
thanks.

 

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Offline Clark76

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2010, 01:09:49 AM »
Quote
i've gotten curious to understand malware better
If you are interested there are several well respected schools online that can teach you a lot more about malware and how to remove it.  If this is something you are interested in, Corrine or myself could give you a list of different schools.  Let us know...
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Offline babyoh

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2010, 10:25:44 AM »
yes, clark, i'd like that.
right now i'm finding useful links like these:
http://cwe.mitre.org/top25/profiles.html#ProfileLang
http://ha.ckers.org/xss.html

but there are gaps in what i'm learning- maybe a good online course would be just the ticket.
Thanks.
(feel free to either email me the info, or post it here.)

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Offline Corrine

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2010, 06:08:24 PM »
Please do note, however, that the purpose of the schools is to teach others how to help with malware removal in the on-line forums.  If that is not your objective, I would suggest expanding your reading.  Below is a sampling from the <*cough*> several hundred <*cough*> blogs in my RSS feed collection.  In addition, spending time reading in the security forums such as Tech Support Forum, Bleeping Computer, Geeks to Go, Malware Removal University, SpywareInfo, Spyware Warrior, etc. will give you a broad picture. 

http://www.krebsonsecurity.com/
http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.schneier.com/
http://anti-virus-rants.blogspot.com/
http://www.eset.com/threat-center/blog/
http://www.sophos.com/blogs/gc/
http://www.viruslist.com/en/index.html
http://securitylabs.websense.com/
http://www.prevx.com/blog.asp
http://www.h-online.com/security/
http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/
http://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/
http://www.vitalsecurity.org/
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/default.aspx
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Offline babyoh

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2010, 08:54:16 AM »
corrine, you ROCK.
i don't know how i missed your last post. either the "new replies to your posts" link didn't show it, or i goofed up.
well, i just found it now.

this list of blogs is fantastic.
i have a bunch i follow already- but you have ones here i've never seen before.
thank you thank you thank you.

 :Hammys pint:

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Offline Brynn

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #9 on: May 05, 2010, 07:13:31 PM »
Gotta say I'm not liking it so far, not 64 bit on laptop.  See my new topic:
http://www.landzdown.com/index.php?topic=42757.new

Also can't figure out whether to install into Program Files or Program Files (x86).  The x86 is meant for 32 bit, but most programs don't tell you if they're 64 or 32.
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Offline GR@PH;<'S

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #10 on: May 05, 2010, 08:49:13 PM »
Brynn,
Quote
can't figure out whether to install into Program Files or Program Files (x86).  The x86 is meant for 32 bit
You are correct the x86 is 32bit I am sure some one knows why it is that and not x32.
Quote
most programs don't tell you if they're 64 or 32
As a rule I personally only install 64bit on my 64bit PC so if a program dose not say it is for x86(32bit) & x64 (64bit)
then I persume it is only for x86 (32bit) and so not install it on my x64 (64bit) PC.

GR@PH;<'S   :Hammys pint:
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Offline Corrine

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #11 on: May 06, 2010, 01:46:54 PM »
Quote from: Brynn on May 05, 2010, 07:13:31 PM
Gotta say I'm not liking it so far, not 64 bit on laptop.  See my new topic:
http://www.landzdown.com/index.php?topic=42757.new

Also can't figure out whether to install into Program Files or Program Files (x86).  The x86 is meant for 32 bit, but most programs don't tell you if they're 64 or 32.

Brynn,

Windows is very smart and knows where to install programs if you allow the standard installation.  When installing a 32-bit software program it will automatically be installed in Program Files (x86).  For example, I had a choice when I downloaded Office 2010 between 64-bit and 32-bit.  I selected the 32-bit version and when I clicked the file for installation, the installer properly selected Program Files (x86).
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Offline Brynn

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #12 on: May 08, 2010, 04:37:15 AM »
Quote
As a rule I personally only install 64bit on my 64bit PC so if a program dose not say it is for x86(32bit) & x64 (64bit)
Well I guess my version (Windows Home Premium) provides the Program Files (x86), so that 32 bit programs CAN be run on the 64 bit.  Although, if I understand everything I've learned over the past few days (definitely brain overload  :tease:),  32 bit programs can run on 64 bit machines and os, period, so I wonder why the special PF(x86) is needed.  But it's one of those questions that doesn't require an answer for me to continue moving along with learning the new w7 and setting up new machine.

Quote
For example, I had a choice when I downloaded Office 2010 between 64-bit and 32-bit.  I selected the 32-bit version and when I clicked the file for installation, the installer properly selected Program Files (x86).
Yes, that's what I finally gathered from responses to my questions at MS Answers.  But they wouldn't come right out and say it, for some reason.  Now I know that when the installation wizard "suggests" or "prompts" installing in x86, that's how I know it's a 32 bit program.  (Long story, but when I was 1st learning how to download and install programs, I let Windows install as it saw fit, then I couldn't find the programs.  That's when I started directing the installation, and when I set up my organization system that I mentioned in the other topic.)

Out of curiosity, if there was a 64 bit version available, why did you choose the 32 bit version?  Is there some advantage in doing  so?
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Offline Aaron Hulett [MSFT]

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #13 on: May 08, 2010, 06:27:51 AM »
Quote from: Brynn on May 08, 2010, 04:37:15 AM
Well I guess my version (Windows Home Premium) provides the Program Files (x86), so that 32 bit programs CAN be run on the 64 bit.  Although, if I understand everything I've learned over the past few days (definitely brain overload  :tease:),  32 bit programs can run on 64 bit machines and os, period, so I wonder why the special PF(x86) is needed.

The two different folders are meant to help organize things.  For example, you might want to install both the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions of something.  Two install locations, one for each type, automatically managed by the OS makes this easier.  Although, in the end, where you install doesn't matter.  I have a program that's 32-bit, but the installer appears to be hard-coded to C:\Program Files rather than using an environment variable (boo!) and that's where I installed it.  Works just fine.

The reason 32-bit applications work on a 64-bit install is the WoW64 subsystem- Windows on Windows 64 (or Windows 32-bit on Windows 64-bit, but most use the first way I put it).  Part of this you can easily see - if you go digging in the Windows folder, you'll see a SysWOW64 folder - this is the "System32" folder for things running in WoW64.  Yes, the System32 folder is for 64-bit programs and this folder name is used for compatibility.  The 32-bit ones go to SysWOW64.

Hope this was useful,

//A
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Offline Brynn

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Re: You Guys Digging Windows 7?
« Reply #14 on: May 24, 2010, 03:38:36 PM »
Hi again,
Follow-up questions/comments:
Thanks for the info Aaron.  The WoW64 stuff is even more confusing.  But I do understand that Program Files (x86) is for 32 bit programs.  And that I should follow the prompt from the setup/installer/wizard.

Quote
Windows is very smart and knows where to install programs if you allow the standard installation.  When installing a 32-bit software program it will automatically be installed in Program Files (x86).  For example, I had a choice when I downloaded Office 2010 between 64-bit and 32-bit.  I selected the 32-bit version and when I clicked the file for installation, the installer properly selected Program Files (x86).
Corrine,  I'm wondering if 64 bit was available, why you chose the 32 bit.  Is there some advantage in doing so?  Or in other words, might there be programs where it might be in my best interest to choose a 32 bit version, even if a 64 bit version is available?

New questions/comments:
I just happened to download a program where the system requirement info says it's compatible with Windows 7 and both 32 bit and 64 bit.  However the setup wizard prompted to install in Program Files (x86).  So that got me thinking again, and trying to understand this issue again.

I wonder if most or all laptop/64 bit operating systems provide this kind of dual compatibility system.  And if many of the various program/applications' creators know this, and therefore claim in their documentation that it's compatible with both 32 and 64 bit OSs?

So now I'm thinking, if that's true, then a program that's truly 64 bit will actually have both a 32 bit and a 64 bit download?  So that there's a difference between a true 64 bit program and a program that's compatible with 64 bit, by virtue of 64 bit OSs that offer this kind of dual compatibility system?

Did that make sense?  Have I finally understood this issue?
Thanks for your help  :D
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