Finally trying out Windows 7

[dbhost]

I finally did it. A couple of weeks ago, somebody here had posted about setting up a barebones box from TigerDirect. Well I was needing a 64 bit box with more RAM to work with Red Hat's KVM virtualization for the RHCE exam, and I figured while I was at it, I would need Windows 7 to be able to support client systems...

So I went and bought a new box... Athlon II quad core, 8GB RAM and 2 1TB hard disks, more than enough oomph to do what I need... And installed both Win7 and RHEL 6.1 (Actually the Scientific Linux recompile, but you get the idea). I must say Windows 7 is a MUCH nicer experience performance wise compared to Vista. But what stunned me most, is how many ideas that I first saw in Linux, specifically the KDE, and GNOME desktops, and Compiz 3D desktop enhancements. The snap to, translucency, etc...

And it's not just me that thought so... LOML, a Windows person if ever there was one, noted it first off (she has been using my RHEL boxes on and off for a few years now...)

I haven't had much time to even think about adding my software yet. Pretty much because this is an educational / learning environment box, not production... so I am somewhat wondering if I can run my legacy software like Office 2003, and is there any way, which I doubt, to run my old DOS games on this like I could on XP. Specifically I want to run Redneck Rampage. I kind of suspect I will have to just load my ancient copy of DOS into a KVM 32 bit VM and play it there...

[jking]

Office 2003 will work with Win7. My laptop for work has Win7 & Office 2003. Don't know about the other stuff, though.

[RAFlorida]

Something good with Win7 is "Compatibility".

Open up the folder of your choice, right click on the file/program and select "properties". Click on the "Compatibility" tab. Choose all the way back to Win 95.

[dbhost]

The apps I am most concerned about are...

Redneck Rampage
Redneck Rampage Rides Again
Redneck Rampage Suckin Grits on Route 66 (notice a theme here?)

Other less important apps are...
Adobe Photoshop 5.0 (yeah old I know, but it works with XP...)
Office 2003 Professional

I am liking the new version of Microsoft Windows Movie Maker, so my old DVD authoring stuff may just go away...

Does 7 have native DVD / CD burning software?

[jackellis]

I use a Windows 7 laptop and a Windows XP desktop. The Win 7 machine gets rebooted about once a month, if that. The Windows XP machine goes about a week. I open and close a lot of stuff, and I typically have 50 tabs open in Firefox at a time (looks like my real desktop - cluttered). When applications hang on Win 7, I may have to wait a couple of minutes for things to sort themselves out, but I've discovered it's typically not necessary to reboot.

Also, the application I use to reprogram a data card for my airplane's GPS stopped working on XP, but it works like a charm on Win 7.

[Cochese]

Depending on which version of 7 you bought, you would have Virtual Machine that all those programs could run on.


7 really is the best OS they've made, IMO, and it comes the closest to rivalling the ease of Ubuntu and Mac OS.

[dbhost]

We got Windows 7 Professional 64 bit.

Actually a VM isn't a terrible thought. I can configure a basic lower requirement (allocate 1 CPU, 256MB RAM and about 4gb) to a networkless Windows 95 OSR-2 install (I still have the media) and stab my games on there... I wonder how 95 would run on a 3GHZ CPU...

[RAFlorida]

Dave, did you not read my post?

..................

[Cochese]

We got Windows 7 Professional 64 bit.

Actually a VM isn't a terrible thought. I can configure a basic lower requirement (allocate 1 CPU, 256MB RAM and about 4gb) to a networkless Windows 95 OSR-2 install (I still have the media) and stab my games on there... I wonder how 95 would run on a 3GHZ CPU...

I actually meant to say XP Mode. And you have it.

[natausch]

If its not outside of your budget you'll notice huge improvements with Office 2007 or 2010 for Word and Excel. OneNote is also a great program you have a hard time living without once you've learned it.

If only for stability W7 is a huge improvement, but all of the graphic and UI tweaks make it very difficult to use my XP box anymore.

[dbhost]

I am taking a few college continuing education courses, mostly in scripting languages, so Office 2010 Pro Academic Edition is not out of the realm of possibility... But yeah, funds are tight. I may or may not have mentioned that LOML and I are down to one income, and we are busting our tails off to get out of debt. So we are living kind of lean, which is a HUGE part of the reason I drive my Saturn instead of my pickup most of the time. At my height, and with my back problems, folding over to get into a short compact car is NOT what I call fun... Especially after my 5' 0" wife has been driving... She puts the seat all the way forward, I slide it all the way back...

Come to think of it...
Aside from Gas Mileage, I miss my 1977 Thunderbird...

[phrog]

I've been trying to install Photoshop 5.0 and PageMaker 6.5 on Win 7 Home Edition. So far I have been totally unsuccessful with every program I often use. The "Compatability" tab has been useless. In researching I found this site which might be helpful:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/com...s/default.aspx

Also, I have read that many people have successfully installed PageMaker 6.5 after upgrading to the Ultimate or Professional edition and using XP Virtual Machine. May be worth a try since nothing that I use will work with this operating system. Just hate giving Bill Gates more money.

[Cochese]

I've been trying to install Photoshop 5.0 and PageMaker 6.5 on Win 7 Home Edition. So far I have been totally unsuccessful with every program I often use. The "Compatability" tab has been useless. In researching I found this site which might be helpful:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/com...s/default.aspx

Also, I have read that many people have successfully installed PageMaker 6.5 after upgrading to the Ultimate or Professional edition and using XP Virtual Machine. May be worth a try since nothing that I use will work with this operating system. Just hate giving Bill Gates more money.

PS5 is a 16-bit installer, there's no chance it will work in Windows 7. That's an extremely old program you've got there. PS5 will work in XP Mode, but you may run into problems because the memory is limited.

If you want to continue to use those programs the best bet would be to build a cheap XP box or upgrade those titles. The former would be infinitely cheaper, as refurb corporate machines can be had for around $100.

[phrog]

PS5 is a 16-bit installer, there's no chance it will work in Windows 7. That's an extremely old program you've got there. PS5 will work in XP Mode, but you may run into problems because the memory is limited.

If you want to continue to use those programs the best bet would be to build a cheap XP box or upgrade those titles. The former would be infinitely cheaper, as refurb corporate machines can be had for around $100.

Actually, the reason I mentioned PS5, in particular, was because the OP asked about it in his post. It works fine on my XP machine and for that reason, I though it might work in XP mode. I can continue to run it on my desktop where it is currently installed (XP). Thanks for info, CocheseUGA.
PS - very interesting screen-name.