You can buy an upgrade version, but it should still allow you to do a clean install. I'm pretty sure the only difference between the full and upgrade versions is that the upgrade version is cheaper (and requires you to own xp or vista)

Thora wrote:

Good timing. I'm thinking of getting Windows7 for my Dad for his birthday this week. Pls excuse the basic questions - I'm not particularly techy and find myself trying to help out someone who's getting a bit older.   

After reading this thread, I understand that a clean install is better than an upgrade. Am I correct to assume that 2 versions are available (upgrade and complete) and the complete version would cost more?

Dad has 2 computers - one XP and one Vista. Things are working fine, but having to remember 2 different systems can be a bit much and there are some networking issues. Will I have a problem installing Win 7 (upgrade or complete) on the 2 computers? Appreciate any advice.

Edit: I've since read that clean install is the only option for XP.

Save yourself some money and don't buy overpriced software

Last edited by bombpersons (2009 October 28, 4:18 am)

Zarxrax wrote:

You can buy an upgrade version, but it should still allow you to do a clean install.

Thanks. Good to know. Saved $$.

Bombpersons wrote:

Save yourself some money and don't buy overpriced software

Does this mean we can look forward to your arrival in Canada this week to set us up on Linux, train us and stick around for support?   But I agree - it seems the Ultimate version is needed for languages... and 2 copies to upgrade 2 computers. $220x2=$440! hmm  I don't get the one computer only license. It almost makes more sense to buy a new Win7 computer (with 50% off second win7 license).

Thora wrote:

But I agree - it seems the Ultimate version is needed for languages...

Vistalizator (http://www.froggie.sk/notes.html) seems to support Win 7 now.

Perfect. Thanks! I've gone from $640 for 2 ...to $420 for 2...to $150 for 3!

I wish I'd know about Vistalizator before. (I foresee a name change)  With Japanese MUI, I think I can use my own Tablet laptop for Japanese handwriting recognition. Be fun to at least play around with it. Has anyone tried it?

A final question (re 32-bit vs 64-bit): After reading a few sites, I understand that even if the computer has a 64-bit processor, I'm better off installing the 32-bit version of Windows 7 if there are old peripherals (drivers might not work) and/or software and no plans for heavy multimedia use. If I shouldn't be following this advice, perhaps someone could let me know?  http://www.w7forums.com/windows-7-64-bi … -t484.html

Thora wrote:

I'm better off installing the 32-bit version of Windows 7 if there are old peripherals (drivers might not work) and/or software and no plans for heavy multimedia use. If I shouldn't be following this advice, perhaps someone could let me know?  http://www.w7forums.com/windows-7-64-bi … -t484.html

What sort of old peripherals? Anything made in the last few years should work fine (unless you got a printer from the 90s or something). There's also the option of changing the compatibility mode for certain drivers (worked well with my old ati drivers before I updated).

OK, I'll do some searching first.  I might be dealing with a few relics however. :-)

I thought compatibility mode was just for programs, so good to know I might be able to use it for drivers. Thanks again friends.

ahibba wrote:

No one use Win98?

One of my friends does, I mean.. he turns off the xp theme so it looks pretty much the same

I do the same thing in all my xp PCs, but I do the contrary in one of my Win98 PCs. I use a software called Aston with XP theme

I just installed Windows 7 on my Vista machine a few days ago as a separate OS.

So far so good, but I haven't installed anything in Windows 7 yet, so there's nothing to do. All of my goodies (=games) are in Vista, which I have loved using since day 1. Before Vista the only OS I trusted was XP, but I think Vista is definitely superior to XP in a lot of ways, such as a sound mixer (control the volume of different programs separately? Yes, please!), the UI in general (so pretty!), speed (Vista boots faster than XP on this computer, and I've used both about the same length of time now using pretty much the same programs. Vista's also been super good about waking up from sleep (quick!))...etc.


I hope I can see all these good points in Windows 7 as well. One of these weekends I'll spend some time in 7, installing software that will make it nicer to use (mostly, firefox).


And although just a minor detail, I like that I can change the entire system locale into Japanese or Korean. This way I have to know words like "delete", "paste" or "administrator" in Japanese to use my computer o_o.

Last edited by ocircle (2009 October 30, 6:55 pm)

Windows 7 is basically what Vista should have been the first time round...

Sometimes it's not how good the OS is, it's how good your computer is. My old computer ran horribly with XP, and my new one runs very nicely with Vista. My old computer was failing all around even after buying new parts and a newer version of XP.

There are some differences actually.  Windows 7 actually uses up less memory because in Vista, each window (surface) needed to have a buffer to store a picture of itself in main memory at all times. Windows 7 was changed so that wasn't needed (except in certain instances, such as having multiple video cards of different types).  It's called WDDM 1.1.  This also allows graphics to be faster because it can utilize acceleration on the video card once again:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Di … l#WDDM_1.1

Vista will be able to use WDDI 1.1 drivers but they'll act like WDDI 1.0 drivers. (Forward compatibility?)  They're also updating stuff on Vista so that you can develop for Windows 7 and it'll still work with Vista.

Of course, the new taskbar is pretty awesome too, (in my opinion).

Last edited by drivers99 (2009 October 31, 4:14 pm)