Windows 7 official pricing released; select pre-orders start tomorrow (6/26/09 - 7/11/09)

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: tk149
1. there's a very good chance none of my XP games will run properly (and as quickly) on Windows 7 Professional.

2. The Home version of Windows 7 will not run any XP programs.

Can I upgrade from XP Pro to Windows 7 Home Premium?

You can upgrade from ANY version of XP to ANY version of Windows 7. You'll have to perform a "clean install" (Microsoft definition). You'll have to copy your data elsewhere and move it back and will have to re-install your applications.

If a game runs under XP and doesn't run under Vista, it will likely have problems running under Windows 7, too. Vista and Windows 7 will run "XP" programs fine if those programs follow the strict security rules that Microsoft has been trying to promote and to follow for several years now.

Windows 7 Home Premium doesn't have the "XP Mode" option. But that mode is not designed for running "modern" games. Any game that will run fine in a 1993-era computer will probably run fine, though.

Finally, beware that "XP Mode" will only run on a processor offering AMD or Intel "virtualization extensions". MOST current desktop PCs containing Intel processors DO NOT have Intel VT extensions available. You can check Intel's web site to see if your Intel CPU has VT extensions.

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

You can upgrade from ANY version of XP to ANY version of Windows 7. You'll have to perform a "clean install" (Microsoft definition). You'll have to copy your data elsewhere and move it back and will have to re-install your applications.

If a game runs under XP and doesn't run under Vista, it will likely have problems running under Windows 7, too. Vista and Windows 7 will run "XP" programs fine if those programs follow the strict security rules that Microsoft has been trying to promote and to follow for several years now.

Windows 7 Home Premium doesn't have the "XP Mode" option. But that mode is not designed for running "modern" games. Any game that will run fine in a 1993-era computer will probably run fine, though.

Finally, beware that "XP Mode" will only run on a processor offering AMD or Intel "virtualization extensions". MOST current desktop PCs containing Intel processors DO NOT have Intel VT extensions available. You can check Intel's web site to see if your Intel CPU has VT extensions.

Thank you for answering. Are you sure about the "1993" date? Seems a bit...dated.

I want to build a new PC this year, and was hoping to switch OS's, but Windows 7 isn't looking very compelling.

 

[CrystalBay]

What happens if you order the Technet sub for one year and don't renew it ? Will you still be able to use and update your software legally? My guess is no...

 

[1ManArmY]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: 1ManArmY
Does anyone know what Microsoft did with dream scene or animated desktops? It was a feature in Vista Ultimate just wondering if it will be present in Windows 7 and if so which version?

They removed it from Win7, but you can get it working again, if you follow this.

How does the new desktop slideshow in Windows 7 compare to dreamscene that was present in Vista Ultimate?

 

[Crow550]

Pre-ordered 7 Premium.

Unless Pro has any uses for home users....

Vista Premium was fine for me. I hope 7 is too.

R.I.P Vista. We hardly knew yee.

It wasn't that bad was it?

 

[4537256]

Originally posted by: 1ManArmY

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: 1ManArmY
Does anyone know what Microsoft did with dream scene or animated desktops? It was a feature in Vista Ultimate just wondering if it will be present in Windows 7 and if so which version?

They removed it from Win7, but you can get it working again, if you follow this.

How does the new desktop slideshow in Windows 7 compare to dreamscene that was present in Vista Ultimate?

no comparison cause slideshow is just 2d wallpaper changing. dreamscene is video as a desktop background

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: tk149

I'm not especially tech savvy, but it sounds like:
1. there's a very good chance none of my XP games will run properly (and as quickly) on Windows 7 Professional.

2. The Home version of Windows 7 will not run any XP programs.

Can I upgrade from XP Pro to Windows 7 Home Premium?

Define "XP games" and "XP Programs"?

Virtual XP Mode is for business programs that simply will not run on anything but Windows XP, for whatever reason. It's not for gaming, and your average home user does not need it, either.

 

[dawks]

Originally posted by: Raduque

Originally posted by: tk149

I'm not especially tech savvy, but it sounds like:
1. there's a very good chance none of my XP games will run properly (and as quickly) on Windows 7 Professional.

2. The Home version of Windows 7 will not run any XP programs.

Can I upgrade from XP Pro to Windows 7 Home Premium?

Define "XP games" and "XP Programs"?

Virtual XP Mode is for business programs that simply will not run on anything but Windows XP, for whatever reason. It's not for gaming, and your average home user does not need it, either.

Yea, unless you're talking about some crazy wacked out very rare program that hasn't been updated in 10+ years, you'll be find with it on Windows 7. The vast majority of programs/games that run on XP will run just fine on Win7. As said, XP mode is for rare occasions where businesses are still running legacy programs. In our case, we just stopped running an old DOS based accounting program that only ran on Win98 or older. We have one user who still needs to reference it occasionally so I have Virtual PC with Win98 installed on her XP system so she can still run it easily.

 

[KeypoX]

does any of the preorder sites guarantee release day delivery, without extra fees/shipping. IE amazon you can pay $100/year for prime and get it or $6.

 

[hendermd]

You can download the upgrade from the Microsoft store.
http://store.microsoft.com/mic...id=winonline_win7promo

 

[KeypoX]

Originally posted by: hendermd
You can download the upgrade from the Microsoft store.
http://store.microsoft.com/mic...id=winonline_win7promo

thanks man great first post!!!!!!! Do they also send you the box and such?


Ahh nevermind if you click order you get

"# lease select a delivery option:
# Preorder Download[?]
$49.99
Preorder Download +
Backup Disc[?]
$49.99+$14.95
Preorder Ship It[?]
$49.99"

Hmmm decisions decisions. I dont really need the box. But on the other hand i bet i can find it for download and just use the 30 days till i get my key...

 

[KeypoX]

i ordered from newegg... since they have 1% cashback...

 

[sactoking]

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
wow, great job microsoft, pre-order available, yet almost nobody knows for sure whether for upgrade you have to have existing installation or you can do the clean install.

Direct from MS website:

* Running Windows Vista?
* If you have Windows Vista, you can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade versions. You can do a clean install (back up your files, clean install, and reinstall your applications) or an in-place upgrade (Windows 7 installs over Windows Vista).

* Running earlier versions?
* If you have Windows XP or Windows 2000, you can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade versions. But you must back up your files, clean install, and reinstall your applications.

 

[JaBro999]

I still don't think that this issue of what Windows 7 Upgrade will allow for clean install is settled.

From WinSupersite blog today, there is a quote from a source that indicates Windows 7 Upgrade will require a valid version of an earlier OS to first be installed:
http://community.winsupersite....-exactly.aspx#comments

Paul Thurrott is somewhat sceptical that there is no clean install workaround to avoid having to install a previous Windows OS, but he can only guess about what other options will be available to Windows 7 Upgrade owners:

The thing is, with Windows Vista, you could actually clean install the OS using Upgrade media, without having a previous Windows version installed on the PC. (I documented this over two years ago in How to Clean Install Windows Vista with Upgrade Media.) Will this method work in Windows 7?

I believe it will. But of course, I will need to test that to be sure. And to do so, I need actual Upgrade media. I've asked. It may be a while.

As a Windows Vista HP Upgrade (32 bit) owner who would like to get the cheap Windows 7 HP (64 bit) upgrade for $50, I feel conflicted. Sure, the first time I install Windows 7 Upgrade it won't be a big deal, but what if I want to re-install it in a year or so? I would freakin' hate to have to re-install Vista first (two times, actually, to get it activated because I own Vista HP Upgrade). It does not look like we will have an official answer to this question until later, certainly after the Windows 7 Upgrade promotion has ended.

 

[Athena]

Originally posted by: JaBro999

As a Windows Vista HP Upgrade (32 bit) owner who would like to get the cheap Windows 7 HP (64 bit) upgrade for $50, I feel conflicted. Sure, the first time I install Windows 7 Upgrade it won't be a big deal, but what if I want to re-install it in a year or so? I would freakin' hate to have to re-install Vista first (two times, actually, to get it activated because I own Vista HP Upgrade). It does not look like we will have an official answer to this question until later, certainly after the Windows 7 Upgrade promotion has ended.

Somehow, I don't think you'll have to wait until release to get a clearer answer. Microsoft's marketing lines are burning up with these kinds of queries and I expect they will get some answers out sooner rather than later.

 

[Majic 7]

To JaBro: You can always cancel your order anytime up to the release date if we ever get any clarification on re-install procedures. That is the only thing that bothers me about the upgrade version. What do I have to do if I have to re-install.

 

[sactoking]

Originally posted by: JaBro999
I still don't think that this issue of what Windows 7 Upgrade will allow for clean install is settled.

From WinSupersite blog today, there is a quote from a source that indicates Windows 7 Upgrade will require a valid version of an earlier OS to first be installed:
http://community.winsupersite....-exactly.aspx#comments

I would say that the "source" is either ill-informed or wrong, or that MS is setting itself up for a class-action lawsuit. Their website specifically says that the Upgrade can be done with a "clean install" or an "in-place upgrade" and goes so far as to define each of those terms. If it ships otherwise that's pretty blatant lawsuit material.

 

[Athena]

Inadvertent duplicate

 

[Athena]

Originally posted by: sactoking
I would say that the "source" is either ill-informed or wrong, or that MS is setting itself up for a class-action lawsuit. Their website specifically says that the Upgrade can be done with a "clean install" or an "in-place upgrade" and goes so far as to define each of those terms. If it ships otherwise that's pretty blatant lawsuit material.

There's nothing at the Microsoft site that defines a "clean install" as installing on a blank disk. What they say is that Vista users can upgrade what's there or let the installer clear the machine and do a fresh install.

The Windows marketing team may well add some clarifying language to the web site before the upgrade packages ship. The actual process is not going to change; it's built into the installer because that's the way they want it. Microsoft has no interest in letting people create an infinite number of new systems piggybacking on previous licenses.