Windows 7-review

OS tested:-
Windows 7-ultimate-X64-RC
================================
Hardware used:-
AMD 64 Athlon-2800+
2.5GB DDR400 RAM
K8V-X MB-SATA-RAID support
HDD-
SATA-80 GB+250 GB
IDE-20GB
ODD-
HP DVD RW
SONY DVD/CD RW
Pinnacle media center TV tuner
APC Back-UPS ES 500(with auto-shutdown)
================================

Pros

1. Installs without a problem
2. Activates without a problem, takes only seconds
3. Definitely faster and more flexible than VISTA
4. Good 32 bit backward compatibility
5. LAN and bluetooth driver embedded
6. Good bluetooth security(generates a random multi digit security code while pairing a new device), you may have to install latest software for your phone to avail all features of bluetooth mobile
7. Bluetooth dial up works like charm
8. Installed AVAST and updated without a problem
9. GUI is almost 99% similar to vista, but was more flexible and transitions like aero effect and the window thumbnails are smoother and gentler
10. Graphics drivers are updated, no need to install any extra driver for high end cards unless essential
11. Very good media center program embedded, even better then original media center OS
12. Hibernation worked fine(good for laptop users)
13. very low CPU usage, do not worry if your CPU is slow or old
14. Programs open quick
15. Installed k-lite and played video just fine, media player is very good, no lag at all
16. good tablet PC support
17. good set of tools embedded ,like the all new "MS paint"
18. CD/DVD writing worked fine without any third party software like NERO
19. Almost all the drivers for VISTA worked for Windows 7 also(applicable only for my hardware).
20. My UPS hibernated the PC successfully during power failure while in Windows 7.
    

Cons

1. Does not support installing from SATA optical drives while booting , you have to log in to a secondary windows OS to install if you have SATA DVD drive.
2. Very high RAM usage even while no major programs are running, at least 1GB RAM needed
3. My hardware is 5 years old still my on board sound card was not detected, MS should have provided most vital drivers .
   
4. Even if you activate your OS , a text message shows on the bottom left of the screen--"Windows 7, Evaluation copy-build-7100"
5. Occasionally when system faces any problem or an unexpected delay in opening a program, the desktop goes black without any clue, although it recovers after 3-4 seconds.(occurrence is very rare)
6. If you have a secondary Microsoft based OS and is hibernated but Windows 7 is your default OS, then also the bootloader takes you to the hibernated OS on system start, without showing the default OS or the selection menu.
7. The scariest dream of every Microsoft OS user, the blue screen of death appears if you try to tweak your processor, RAM or graphics chip a little(only happened for me, your hardware may act differently).
8. You can not upgrade from any version lower than vista.
   
9. Whenever I tried to move the taskbar to the top through the left side or to left through top side, a patch of shadow, exactly the size of the taskbar appears on the leaving side. This also happens if you resize the taskabr if it is no left or top side of desktop.
10. This is not for people who just need it to check mails or for writing documents and like it simple, because they may find the interface more tricky and clumsy.

You have to take time and explore the OS fully to be able to use it properly, if you are not a master in computer usage.




Quote:

This review is strictly for my hardware tested and from only one day of observation, your hardware may not act in a similar fashion.
Corrections and remarks are welcome.
==================================

OS tested:-
Windows 7-ultimate-X86-RC
================================
Hardware used:-
AMD 64-X2-2.6ghZ(DUAL)
2.0GB DDR2 RAM
M2N-MB-SATA-RAID support
HDD-
SATA-320 GB+250 GB
ODD-
HP DVD RW
APC Back-UPS PRO
================================
================================

Pros

1. No significant difference, everything is the same as the 64 bit version
2. As you can see the graphics was really good inspite of the lack of a graphics card, and the aero effect and window transitions still looked as good as the PC above(used for testing of the 64bit version) with a 512 MB card.
3. This time I did not have to install a single piece of driver like the sound, video and LAN driver, everything was there inbuilt.
   

Cons

1. There was a little bit of lag I felt while using the OS, the lag was really fine, it occurred during HDD access. If you are trying to open a new program which has not been used yet, or trying install something or simply opening a movie. As I said the lag was really very minute and you may not notice it unless you eat and sleep with your PC.
2. If your PC has more than 3GB of RAM and you want to use till the last drop is left then go for the 64 bit version as you won't be able to use more than 3GB of RAM in 32 bit version.
   

Attachment 2772
Attachment 2773

did u download windows XP for windows 7 ??? Its an update frm there site. Then tell us abt the XP mode.
PS: Hide ur product ID plz.

sry 4 off topic, but look at this screen shot of mine.
I got media player running a HD video and GRID and virus scan running in Background. Free memory is 0.
Attachment 2761
Now at idle also(media player with some songs and IE), Free memory is very low(56MB).
wat could be the reason ?

my config:
Attachment 2762

I guess it shows that the RC should be a lot better optimised ?

Originally Posted by rajan1311

I guess it shows that the RC should be a lot better optimised ?

Not actually.

Windows 7 comes with lots of stuff and the 64 bit version mode the processor can use even more RAM as it can address more memory per clock cycle , which is a very good think.

If your RAM usage is more that does not mean it is running inefficiently. Any OS uses some memory for cache and some for real time work and some for future usage.

All these come under the total addressed memory by processor.

As in the 32 bit OS, only 3GB of RAM can be addressed by processor which is not the case if you are using the 64 bit one, the free RAM may be shown as zero, but actually it is good thing because the processor is able to utilize your RAM fully.

Originally Posted by rajan1311

did u download windows XP for windows 7 ??? Its an update frm there site. Then tell us abt the XP mode.

Yes doing it now, will tell you soon.
Actually downloading is not a problem, my hard drives are flooding. I do not have space to install new tools.

Originally Posted by rajan1311

PS: Hide ur product ID plz.

Why ?

It is a free software and is only free for one year.

Even if somebody steals the ID what can he do at max.

I heard this free version shuts down every 2 and a 1/2 hour ..... am i correct ?

^^Thats only after 1st march 2010.

so it it fine that RAM is used up even at idle ?Or is there some issue....

Originally Posted by rajan1311

^^Thats only after 1st march 2010.

so it it fine that RAM is used up even at idle ?Or is there some issue....

I think it is June 2010.

You will have to activate even the free version within 3 days of installation. The free RC version will last for almost a year.

After a year it will shutdown every 2 hours, not now.


Hello friends, I tested the 32 bit version too and I have merged the review with the first post.

Check it out.

Originally Posted by meetdilip

I think it is June 2010.

June 2010 the OS will stop working. Frm march u will get constant re boots.

this is what i found for W7 32 bit, well like puchu faced problem with moving or resizing the taskbar as it leave a shadow, i dint faced it with 32 bit (well he used 64 bit), though dint tested it with 64 bit version
about ram usage, well we can expect this type OS to use bit high but not high as vista, check my screenie below where i was using wmp (was playing a dvd rip) + task manager + win properties window + idm + idm download @ same time
the problems which i faced is with my webcam, well it detected its drivers & installed it, but its not working, also faced few problem with some games as they are not running
test which are not done yet - hibernation test
p.s. 2 weeks ago my 2gb ram module got doomed so have to work with left over 1gb ram module, all the above test are done with 1gb ram

system config -
Intel Quad core Q6600
1GB DDR2 800 mhz RAM
Intel DG35EC motherboard
HDD- SATA-160 GB
ODD- HP DVD RW 1035r
GX card - palit ati radeon HD 4670 512 mb gddr3

Originally Posted by saugatdb

this is what i found for W7 32 bit, well like puchu faced problem with moving or resizing the taskbar as it leave a shadow, i dint faced it with 32 bit (well he used 64 bit), though dint tested it with 64 bit version

Actually it occurred for both 32 and 64 bit tested on totally two different PCs.
And it occurred only in three cases; while moving to left through top and/or top through left and while resizing the taskbar when it was on the left or top(not on right or bottom).

Originally Posted by puchu

Actually it occurred for both 32 and 64 bit tested on totally two different PCs.
And it occurred only in three cases; while moving to left through top and/or top through left and while resizing the taskbar when it was on the left or top(not on right or bottom).

i performed all of these, but i dint faced any problem with this.. any one else tested this thing??

No virtual xp here.

Everything(virtual xp and virtualization plug-in) installs perfectly well , but when I tried to open virtual xp, a dialog box opens which says virtualization not supported or not enabled.

I tried vmware but it worked perfectly.

I booted,

• booted from one intalled xp from physical drive(not image)
• one 32 bit linux from physical drive
• one live CD

from vmware installed on W 7-RC.

So why the virtual xp not working , any clues ?????????????

Windows 7 RC does not allow 3 rd party themes. Just for your information. Found an article on patch to overwrite the theme file.

Well, I downloaded 32 bit
(from Microsoft site) and made a boot dvd and tried.
Set up was canceled with a Error Code: 0x80070570.
I thought it is a disk error and I tried to install virtually from that iso file.
It starts with out problem




And finally ends up with



My problem almost same to this
Error Code: 0x80070570 when trying to install
Whats the problem actually?

the most obvious answer is that the setup files are corrupt.

Originally Posted by nivin

Well, I downloaded 32 bit
(from Microsoft site) and made a boot dvd and tried.
Set up was canceled with a Error Code: 0x80070570.
I thought it is a disk error and I tried to install virtually from that iso file.
It starts with out problem




And finally ends up with



My problem almost same to this
Error Code: 0x80070570 when trying to install
Whats the problem actually?

Did you use the download manager provided by microsoft just before the download ?
If so, then I think it downloaded the ISO but could not consolidate it properly when you pause and resume the download .
Try downloading it once more and try a direct download link and use own download manager like IDM or DAP.

Originally Posted by puchu

Did you use the download manager provided by microsoft just before the download ?
If so, then I think it downloaded the ISO but could not consolidate it properly when you pause and resume the download .
Try downloading it once more and try a direct download link and use own download manager like IDM or DAP.

I Used IDM V 5.15 Build 6
Are There Any genuine torrent ?

As it is free now , so there is no question of ingenuity, just see if you can find a torrent for W-7-RC.

Or I would make and upload a torrent for the same.

torrent was faster for me, perhaps coz of the traffic in MS servers ....

very good review puchu. Reps++++

Originally Posted by puchu

No virtual xp here.

Everything(virtual xp and virtualization plug-in) installs perfectly well , but when I tried to open virtual xp, a dialog box opens which says virtualization not supported or not enabled.

I tried vmware but it worked perfectly.

I booted,

• booted from one intalled xp from physical drive(not image)
• one 32 bit linux from physical drive
• one live CD

from vmware installed on W 7-RC.

So why the virtual xp not working , any clues ?????????????

Dude ur processor does not support it. U need an athlon X2 or higher. Try it. Get a AMD 5600X2 for 2.5k. will give a good performance bump too

Originally Posted by rajan1311

Dude ur processor does not support it. U need an athlon X2 or higher. Try it. Get a AMD 5600X2 for 2.5k. will give a good performance bump too

thats odd. when I tried to install it, it said right away that my proc is not supported.

hmmmmm.
But see his specs, processor is does not support it. So, there is no fix to it. But i guess most of us will NOT be using that feature anyways.

But if vmware and other vitualization tools work fine, why not this stupid virtual xp.

What I think is MS was not able to provide enough vitualization support and you may also see that virtual xp is in beta phase and is not mature till now.

And what about virtualization in LINUX. I have done that too.

If a 64 bit operating system cannot virtualize a lower version of the same or architecture and other 64 bit operating systems on the same hardware do, then that can not be called as hardware support problem, correct me if I am wrong.

Originally Posted by puchu

But if vmware and other vitualization tools work fine, why not this stupid virtual xp.

What I think is MS was not able to provide enough vitualization support and you may also see that virtual xp is in beta phase and is not mature till now.

As far as vmware and other vitualization tools are concerned, they work fully on software basis. meaning that they are slow.

MS's own Virtual PC also works in the same way.

But the new Virtual XP mode, takes advantage of the special instructions in certain modern CPU so that the virtualisation is implemented in hardware, so that its theoritically faster.

May be you are right, it is time to use my PC as a file server and buy a new set.

I lost my 80 GB SATA again, so though of trying W7 for a while. Now I have got a few good things to share or you may say, some addition to the review(on the first page),

There are a few processes in windows 7 which reserve system resources for very little or no use,which slows your system down in not just speed but in many ways .

• Iphlpsvc(IP helper)-->

This service runs automatically at start up and keeps your PC busy even if your not connected to any network. I couldn't find any dependencies , so I disabled it and magic !!!!!!, my system became 50 % more responsive.

• Background Intelligent transfer service-->

I would say a stupid service. This service keeps about 50% of your BW for nothing. My download speed was about 120 which was supposed to be about 230 or so I did a research on the services running and disabled this service. Again magic--- speed was shooting up to 240 just like that.

But this is solely my observation, I have very little idea about how it may work for anybody else. So , only do this if you know how to revert to the default state or you have enough experience to handle any problem arising due to these changes.

You are fully responsible for your acts of stupidity as I am for mine.

Enjoy

Some more drawbacks:-

• Scheduler is too complicated for a new user
• The inbuilt media center software is good ,but eats up a lot of system resource while watching a TV show.
• You cannot place a menu on the desktop in W7(possible in Xp)

Where to find the inbuilt media center software ?

under programs ??? What exactly are you looking for ?

Just wanted to know if there is any inbuilt TV tuner software in W7.

Originally Posted by meetdilip

Just wanted to know if there is any inbuilt TV tuner software in W7.

Yes there is...............
my Pinnacle media center tuner was installed by default. Just had to scan the channels. The software might ask for some update, but will work without it too.

Originally Posted by puchu

Yes there is...............
my Pinnacle media center tuner was installed by default. Just had to scan the channels. The software might ask for some update, but will work without it too.

Where to find. Please give the location.

Originally Posted by meetdilip

Where to find the inbuilt media center software ?

In start menu, third item from I think.

windows 7 rocks.